Photo credit: BOC

The Bureau of Customs was alerted to a breach in its external cloud-based online applications, stemming from compromised user login credentials. The incident, which happened last April 7, prompted immediate action, with reports filed to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), as well as efforts to bolster investigation with their expertise.

While the total number of Data Subjects affected is still being determined, preliminary findings suggest that sensitive information such as names, email addresses, company names, contact details, and Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) may have been involved.

In response, the bureau swiftly enacted security protocols, including the lockdown of compromised accounts and servers, with ongoing efforts by the IT team to reinforce security measures and preempt future breaches.

Acknowledging potential concerns, the Bureau of Customs advises users to promptly change their login credentials' passwords and report any suspicious activities on their accounts. For additional information or inquiries regarding the incident, users are encouraged to reach out to the dedicated support team at BOC-CERT@customs.gov.ph.