MANILA, Philippines — The government is bracing for possible attacks by cyber criminals who may take advantage of the long weekend to sow havoc in cyberspace.
The country is currently having a long weekend due to the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections and the All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days.
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) warned the public against various online scams that may occur while they are on vacation or commemorating All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days.
CICC executive director Alexander Ramos said cyber criminals usually take advantage of the holidays, when people are away and busy, to launch attacks.
“We want the public to be more vigilant against various online scam activities, especially when we are out of our homes,” Ramos said.
The CICC said netizens should be wary when connecting to an open and unsecured WiFi network, as these give hackers a chance to collect personal information, which they can use in controlling the devices and stealing the owner’s identity and money.
The agency is advising the public to avoid using public WiFi and use mobile networks instead.
“People enjoy accessing these open WiFi because they are free, without realizing that their open and unsecured nature also makes them vulnerable to attacks,” Ramos said.
He said gadgets could be susceptible to man-in-the -middle (MTM) attacks through open WiFi connections. “An attacker will intercept the communication flow between your handsets and the browser and steal information,” Ramos said.
He urged Filipinos to be on guard against fake e-wallet apps and fake customer service calls or texts.
The holidays can be an opportunity for scammers to launch fake e-wallet apps that look legitimate.
“Scammers can access your real e-wallet credentials if you download and install a fake e-wallet app. The public must download e-wallet from legitimate app stores,” Ramos said.
Cybersecurity
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is fortifying its own cybersecurity measures to avoid falling prey to hackers.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said the agency has enhanced its cyber defenses to keep hackers away.
“Our commitment to digital transformation is not just about advancement. It is also about resilience. We are fortifying our defenses, not just for us, but for every Filipino we serve,” Gatchalian said.
On Oct. 24, the DSWD invited its technology partners to a workshop on DevSecOps – or development, security and operastions – to be able to align with the agency’s forward-thinking “shift left” strategy.
This strategy emphasizes the early integration of security measures in the software development process.
DSWD chief infromation officer and Assistant Secretary Julius Gorospe said the workshop was part of activities aimed to “enhance the security of the agency’s digital infrastructure and assets against potential intrusions.”
“In a landscape marked by increasing cyber threats, it is imperative that we remain not just vigilant but also proactive. This is about safeguarding the welfare of DSWD beneficiaries and ensuring that the services we offer remain uninterrupted and secure,” Gorospe said.
Among the agencies attacked by hackers are the Philippine Health Insurance Corp., Philippine Statistics Authority, Department of Science and Technology, Bureau of Immigration and the House of Representatives.
Meanwhile, cybersecurity firm Kaspersky has warned that cybercriminals would ramp up their hacking activities during long weekends.
“Cybercriminals anticipate long weekend breaks and holidays too, but not to take a break but to break into their victims’ security. They know that during vacation breaks, people tend to let their guard down and are less prepared for serious cyber incidents. It’s usually a time when most of the IT staff of companies are on vacation,” Kaspersky general manager for Southeast Asia Siang Teo Yeo said. — Sheila Crisostomo