Regarding Recent Intermittent DDoS Attacks (Oct. 6)

[NOC_NA]

We would like to take this opportunity to inform you of the current situation regarding the DDoS attacks we have been experiencing since Oct. 4, 2018.

Currently, we are intermittently experiencing DDoS attacks on all JP/NA/EU data centers, targeting our game servers and network equipment. We have been implementing and strengthening various defensive measures against this issue, and have thus far been able to avoid any major server outages. However, the attacks are still continuing to take place, as the method of attack is continually changing.

We will continue to monitor and work on recovery from every possible angle to keep the effect on our customers to a minimum.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may be causing, and thank you for your patience and understanding while the issue is being addressed.

[NOC_NA]

We would like to provide an update on the DDoS attacks that have been ongoing since Oct. 4, 2018.

Our game servers and network equipment are currently still being targeted by intermittent DDoS attacks. Although defensive measures are preventing any major issues, a small portion of our players may still experience unstable network connectivity and server disconnections.

We will continue to do our best to mitigate the effects on our players as much as possible by reinforcing our defenses and developing countermeasures.

In the case of a large-scale disconnection from our servers, we will provide an update through a separate notice.

We understand that our players may be concerned about the current situation. We ask for your understanding as we address the situation with our best efforts.

[NOC_NA]

This is Producer and Director Naoki Yoshida.

I would like to explain the current situation, as the intermittent DDoS attacks* over the past few days have been a cause of concern for our players.

■Target of the Attacks■

The DDoS attacks are currently targeting the game servers and network environment of all JP, NA, and EU Data Centers.

■Regarding Defensive Measures■

The DDoS attacks are being carried out in varying patterns in each region, and we are constantly adapting our methods in order to effectively defend against the attacks. Depending on the pattern of the attacks, we may require maintenance when switching to a different defensive method, in which case we will make an announcement in a separate notice.
We are continuing to communicate and strategize with upstream ISPs as we address the situation.

■Effects on Gameplay■

As the pattern of the attacks received and defensive measures used vary between each region, their effects on gameplay will also vary between each region. Our main priority is to prevent Worlds from going down and services from being suspended, and so we are doing our best to provide optimal defenses in order to minimize effects in each region.

The EU Data Center, which has been the most frequently targeted, had some cases where several hundred to several thousands of disconnections occurred during an attack. The NA Data Centers have also been affected similarly, albeit on a smaller scale.

On the JP Data Center, we observed users of certain ISPs and network routes experiencing several milliseconds of network delay (lag) due to the effects of defensive measures in place.

We are doing our best to provide optimal countermeasures across all Data Centers to prevent major issues, such as all Worlds becoming unavailable. However some defensive measures have had side effects, and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience they are causing our players.

*What is a DDoS attack?
A DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack overwhelms the target with an irregular amount of data, which causes servers and networks to become overloaded and cease to function properly. Because the irregular amounts of data are being sent from various sources all over the world, it is extremely difficult to trace or defend against an attacker.

For instance, imagine if an enormous number of people with fake tickets lined up for a concert. This would disrupt the workflow of the concert staff and prevent them from doing their actual tasks. Because a large number of people are coming from various locations at the same time, it would prove difficult to locate the person distributing the fake tickets or to prevent people with fake tickets from lining up beforehand.

We would like to ask for your patience and understanding as we continue to do our best to address ongoing issues.

[NOC_NA]

We would like to take this opportunity to inform you of the current situation regarding the DDoS attacks we have been experiencing since Oct. 4, 2018.

The DDoS attacks on all JP/NA/EU data centers, targeting our game servers and network equipment seem to have calmed down for now.

However, since there is still possibility of it happening again, we will continue to do our best to address it, and keep the effect on our customers to a minimum.

We would like to ask for your patience and understanding as we continue to do our best to address ongoing issues.