All critical government systems remain secure and fully operational despite attempts to deface some government websites over the weekend amid the anti-corruption protest rallies, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) chief said on Monday.
In a Palace press briefing, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said 19 government websites were defaced during Sunday’s anti-corruption protest rally. However, government agencies acted swiftly to contain the incidents, preventing any significant disruption to public services.
“May naitala po kami, 19 na website ng gobyerno ang naka-experience po ng defacement. Ibig sabihin po, kinuha iyong website, binago pero mabilis naman pong nakapag-react ang mga government agencies po,” Aguda said.
Aguda noted that the defacement had an “inconsequential” effect, saying that the 19 sites represent only a small fraction of the nearly 60,000 government websites and digital platforms in the country.
Out of the 19 sites, four were national government agencies, while the rest were local government units, said Aguda.
The official added that no data exfiltration or loss of personal information occurred.
Aguda also reported that no successful cyberattacks from overseas or so-called “nation-state actors” have been recorded.
“Ligtas at maayos ang lahat ng critical government systems,” he said.
The DICT had fully activated Oplan Cyberdome, a whole-of-nation cybersecurity strategy that involved coordination with law enforcement, telecommunications companies, social media platforms, cyber communities, and the private sector to prevent and respond to cyber threats during the anti-corruption protests.
“Sa kabuuan, pinatunayan ng pamahalaan na epektibo ang Oplan Cyberdome at ang matibay na kooperasyon ng DICT, law enforcement, telcos, social media platforms, cybercommunity at pribadong sektor. Pinakita po natin na kaya nating igalang ang malayang pagpapahayag habang sabay-sabay na pinapangalagaan ang kapayapaan upang siguradong maligtas po ang lahat,” Aguda said. | PND
