LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 14, 2026--
GMO Internet Group (TOKYO: 9449) fielded a group-wide team in the Capture The Flag (CTF) competition at “DEF CON 34,” the world’s premier security conference, held August 6–9, 2026 in Las Vegas, USA. In the “DEF CON CTF Finals,” contested only by teams that clear the qualifiers, “Blue Water” — an international joint team formed from squads in several countries, including engineers from GMO Cybersecurity by Ierae and GMO Flatt Security — took 1st place in the world.
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After finishing 2nd in the world for three consecutive years, the team has finally taken the long-sought 1st place in the world, once again demonstrating the world-class skills of the white-hat hackers at GMO Internet Group.
GMO Internet Group will feed the knowledge gained on this world-class stage back into vulnerability assessments and product development and, under “GMO will protect your Internet Security,” will help realize a safe future for everyone by strengthening security at companies in Japan and cultivating the next generation of white-hat hackers.
[Participating Teams and Results]
Six teams from GMO Internet Group competed in the CTF at “DEF CON 34.”
[The Team That Took 1st Place in the World]
“DEF CON CTF Finals” Blue Water (Joint Team)
Comment from the team representative
Yuki Koike, Executive Officer / CTO, GMO Cybersecurity by Ierae
“‘Blue Water’ had finished 2nd for three consecutive competitions since 2023, falling just one step short of the championship each time, so we came into this year determined, above all else, to stand at the top. With CTF at a major turning point amid the rapid advance of AI, the competition carried a tension in which a moment’s delay could open a wide gap. But the members who gathered from many countries brought tremendous drive and each was able to bring their own strengths to bear, and I believe that is what led to the win.
I myself have kept competing since 2014, and this was my ninth Finals. To grasp the long-sought 1st place in the world together with my teammates, and to be able to answer everyone who supported us with a result, makes me truly happy.”
[Learn more]
https://gmo-cybersecurity.com/en/
https://flatt.tech/en/
https://group.gmo/en/
GMO Internet Group members who took part in “Blue Water” at “DEF CON 34”
NEW YORK (AP) — After splurging on the World Cup and Amazon Prime Day sales, Americans unexpectedly cut their spending in July by the biggest amount in more than a year.
Retail sales fell 0.6% last month, marking the biggest decrease since May 2025, compared with a revised gain of 0.2% in June, according to the Commerce Department data released Friday.
The drop in spending raised concern among some economists about the resiliency of consumers who have powered the economy forward despite nagging inflation and soaring gasoline prices. Yet it may be too early to declare a retreat by one of the strongest and most consistent forces in the U.S. economy of late.
Still, the weak sales report follows unexpectedly sluggish jobs figures last week, and both suggest the economy could be slowing after strong consumer and business spending in the first half of the year.
Consumers are grappling with persistent inflation that has pushed up prices faster than wages and they may have already exhausted generous tax refunds that helped offset rising costs.
There was also a notable bump in spending in both April and May as Americans dipped into their generous government tax refunds.
While most economists still expect solid growth in the July-September quarter, many have lowered their forecasts in the wake of the retail sales report.
Prices in July, which were not adjusted for inflation, were impacted by falling sales at gas stations. Fuel prices remained low until later in the month when evidence of a stalemate between the U.S. and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz began to grow. Business at gas stations fell 0.9% last month, according to the report.
Gas prices have been rising since the final week of July and ticked higher again overnight to $4.08 per gallon, up from $3.85 a month ago, according to motor club AAA. That's 92 cents more per gallon than Americans were paying last year at this time.
Gas prices typically begin to recede in August as the driving season comes to a close and the AAA said this week that the high cost of fuel for Americans this late in the year is unprecedented.
Excluding sales at gas stations and auto dealers, retail sales in July fell 0.2%.
Business at motor vehicle and parts dealers saw a 1.8% drop from a 1.9% increase in June which was helped by auto makers' promotion incentives.
Electronics and appliance sales declined 0.5%. Online sales fell 2.2% from June when they were fueled by Amazon’s four-day Prime Day event that began in late June, earlier than previous years.
The data offers only a snapshot of consumer spending and doesn’t include activities like travel and hotel stays. The lone services category – restaurants – registered a 0.5% increase.
“American consumers are showing signs of fatigue, “ Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, wrote Friday. “July retail sales were disappointing on all levels."
New data this week showed that inflation declined slightly in July as gas and grocery prices slipped, though it is still rising more quickly than before the Iran war.
Consumer prices increased 3.4% in July from a year ago, down slightly from 3.5% in June, the Labor Department said Wednesday. Inflation had fallen to 2.4% before the Iran war. On a monthly basis, prices rose just 0.1% from June to July.
The modest decline marked the second straight decrease after sharply higher gas prices pushed inflation to 4.2% in May, a three-year high.
Given the volatile economic environment, economists are closely watching how families spend behind Christmas.
Shopping has been steady, though Americans have dialed in on sales as they grow more careful with their money.
Off-price retailers, consumer electronics and office supply retailers have had a “strong early start” to the back-to-school season, said Elizabeth Lafontaine, director of research at Placer.ai.
“Consumers have looked to take advantage of early deals to check off their lists,” Lafontaine said.
Walmart, Target and other retailers have been pushing discounts for the fall season, seeking to lure inflation-weary shoppers.
Target, for example, says that 95% of prices for school supplies are at or below last year’s levels.
Retailers begin reporting quarterly earnings next week.
Stephen Yalof, CEO of the outlet mall operator Tanger, noted an increase in foot traffic this summer because of the World Cup festivities.
More Americans were shopping too, Yalof said, because more people are vacationing close to home to save money.
“We’re rewarding with value, and we’re getting customers to come in … and shop more frequently,” Yalof told The Associated Press.
AP Economics Writer Christopher Rugaber contributed to this report from Washington.
FILE - A person carries a shopping bag in Philadelphia, Dec. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
