Globe blocks 400k malicious sites

MANILA, Philippines — Wireless giant Globe Telecom Inc. has blacklisted more than 400,000 sites involved in malicious activities, such as child pornography and illegal gambling.

Latest records from Globe showed that the telco blocked 404,730 sites from January to September for being associated with illegal activities like child porn and unregulated gambling.

This marks a 45-percent increase from the 278,555 sites blocked a year ago, signaling a resurgence in the volume of malicious players online in the pandemic aftermath.

Broken down, Globe blocked customers from accessing 397,637 uniform resource links (URLs) between January and September. It also restricted a total of 4,795 domains during the period.

Globe chief information security officer Anton Bonifacio said the telco would intensify its efforts to create a safer environment for internet users. Bonifacio said Globe would continue to invest in filter upgrades to prevent dangerous content from circulating the web.

For instance, Globe barred 2,298 domains related to child porn in the nine months to September, vowing to sustain its efforts to combat one of the most heinous crimes against kids.

“We at Globe recognize the critical role we play in combating illegal online activities, especially those that exploit the most children,” Bonifacio said.

“Our increased efforts and investments in blocking access to illegal content are a testament to our dedication to this cause,” he said.

Since 2017, Globe has taken an active stance in the fight against the creation and distribution of porn materials involving children. In line with this, the telco has invested $2.7 million to procure the latest filters to track down malicious activities, particularly child porn.