Science & Tech · Cybersecurity · 3 hrs ago
Daiso password notebooks sell out as data leaks rise
Daiso’s paper notebooks for recording passwords are in short supply in Japan as more people look for offline ways to manage account details.
The notebooks, sold by the 100-yen shop chain, were first introduced around autumn 2020, with older people among the intended users.
Sales began rising week by week from late October, around the time reported cyberattack-related data leaks also increased.
A survey counted 193 leak incidents in October, up from 81 in September, and about 161 million leaked login credentials by the end of October.
Japan’s Information-technology Promotion Agency says paper password records are not necessarily unsafe, but warns that a notebook can be lost or seen by someone else.
Paper cannot prevent criminals from stealing login details directly from a service and trying them on other accounts.
The agency recommends enabling multi-factor authentication or passkeys where available and avoiding links in unexpected emails or texts.
Daiso plans to restock the notebooks in November and is adjusting production to increase supply.
Daiso’s paper password-management notebook has become temporarily scarce as sales have risen week by week since late October.
The Japanese retailer said customers are again paying attention to the reassurance of keeping passwords on paper, disconnected from networks.
The sales increase coincided with a sharp rise in reported cyberattack-related information leaks in October.
Japan’s Information-technology Promotion Agency says paper is not necessarily unsuitable, but warns that notebooks can be lost or viewed by others.
The agency recommends setting up multifactor authentication or passkeys when services offer them.
- Who
- Daiso, the Japanese discount retailer, sells the notebook; the Information-technology Promotion Agency (IPA) provided security advice.
- What
- Daiso’s paper password notebook is temporarily in short supply as sales rise.
- When
- Sales began increasing week by week around the end of October; the article was published on November 13, 2026.
- Where
- Daiso stores in Japan.
- Why
- Daiso said the reassurance of keeping passwords on paper without a network connection is drawing renewed attention, amid rising reports of information leaks.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Daiso began rolling out the password-management notebook.
The IPA published guidance on what to do after a leak and everyday security measures.
Sales of the notebook began rising week by week as reported cyberattack-related leaks increased.
Daiso said it planned to restock the notebook during the month and was adjusting production.
- October cyberattack-related leak cases
- 193, up from 81 in September and 72 in August
- Leaked authentication details
- About 161 million cumulatively by the end of October 2026
- Notebook restock
- Planned during November 2026
- Password guidance
- The IPA recommends passwords of about 15 characters, combining uppercase and lowercase letters and numbers
- Source company leak
- SourceNext said on October 15 that up to about 22.52 million member records may have been exposed
What people are saying
the reassurance of managing passwords on paper that is not connected to a network is drawing attention again
We do not necessarily rule out paper
People who can use them may use digital tools for managing passwords