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Advocates Philippines
PCG Recovers Full Access To Official Facebook Page After Cyber Attack
Photo credit: PCG
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) successfully regains control of its official Facebook page, following collaborative efforts with cybersecurity authorities.
As of 5:45 AM Thursday, the Coast Guard Public Affairs Service (CGPAS) has announced the restoration of full access to its official Facebook Page, which was compromised by hackers on February 26, 2024.
PCG Spokesperson, Rear Admiral Armando Balilo, revealed that a joint operation involving the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) under the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the PCG Weapons, Communications, Electronics, and Information Systems Command, successfully identified and removed three hackers. The hackers were using Facebook aliases: Fatima Hasan, Murat Kansu, and Vicky Bates.
The CICC confirmed that the cybercriminals had exploited malware to breach the security of the CGPAS Facebook page.
Looking forward, on March 1, 2024, the CICC is scheduled to conduct a comprehensive hardware check on all office laptops and computers used by CGPAS personnel. The objective is to eradicate any lingering traces of malware and fortify the overall cybersecurity infrastructure to prevent potential future breaches.
In a demonstration of solidarity, PCG Commandant, Admiral Ronnie Gil L Gavan, met with DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy. Secretary Uy volunteered to extend the full support of the DICT in resolving the issue promptly.
Admiral Gavan expressed gratitude for the immediate assistance and unwavering commitment of Secretary Uy and the entire DICT team. The collaboration underscores a collective effort to reinforce the PCG's online security and ensure the integrity of its digital platforms. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the ever-growing importance of robust cybersecurity measures in the face of evolving cyber threats.
As of 5:45 AM Thursday, the Coast Guard Public Affairs Service (CGPAS) has announced the restoration of full access to its official Facebook Page, which was compromised by hackers on February 26, 2024.
PCG Spokesperson, Rear Admiral Armando Balilo, revealed that a joint operation involving the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) under the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the PCG Weapons, Communications, Electronics, and Information Systems Command, successfully identified and removed three hackers. The hackers were using Facebook aliases: Fatima Hasan, Murat Kansu, and Vicky Bates.
The CICC confirmed that the cybercriminals had exploited malware to breach the security of the CGPAS Facebook page.
Looking forward, on March 1, 2024, the CICC is scheduled to conduct a comprehensive hardware check on all office laptops and computers used by CGPAS personnel. The objective is to eradicate any lingering traces of malware and fortify the overall cybersecurity infrastructure to prevent potential future breaches.
In a demonstration of solidarity, PCG Commandant, Admiral Ronnie Gil L Gavan, met with DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy. Secretary Uy volunteered to extend the full support of the DICT in resolving the issue promptly.
Admiral Gavan expressed gratitude for the immediate assistance and unwavering commitment of Secretary Uy and the entire DICT team. The collaboration underscores a collective effort to reinforce the PCG's online security and ensure the integrity of its digital platforms. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the ever-growing importance of robust cybersecurity measures in the face of evolving cyber threats.
Feb 29, 2024
