Tag Archive for: philippines

Japan, Philippines, US to Share Cyber Threat Intel

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The US, Japan, and the Philippines reportedly will join forces in cybersecurity defense with a strategic cyber threat-sharing arrangement in the wake of rising attacks by China, North Korea, and Russia.

The initiative will launch during high-level trilateral talks between US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during a trilateral summit in Washington this week, according to the English-language version of the Nihon Keizai Shimbun. The cyber alliance comes on the heels of Volt Typhoon, a group of cyberattackers linked to China’s military, targeting critical infrastructure networks in the Philippines and US territories in the region.

Over the past three months, the number of cyberattack attempts against national government agencies in the Philippines has increased 20% week over week, according to data from Trend Micro shared with Dark Reading. 

“Traditional US allies in Asia — Japan, Taiwan, Philippines — are of high interest to Chinese-aligned attackers,” says Robert McArdle, director of forward-looking threat research with the cybersecurity firm. “There has been an increase in tensions in the region recently as well as important political events including presidential elections that China maintains interest in.”

The cybersecurity concerns come as geopolitical tensions have ratcheted up in the region. China has both expanded its military presence, especially with its claims to large sections of the South China Sea — as far away as 1,000 km from its mainland and encroaching on Philippines territory. The military buildup has been matched by increases in cyberattacks by Chinese state-sponsored actors, such as Mustang Panda, which compromised a Philippines government agency last year. The widespread Volt Typhoon attacks have claimed critical infrastructure networks in the Philippines, US, UK, and Australia.

Philippines at Risk

The dispute over the South China Sea comes at a time when the Philippines has seen significant growth in its technology development and business sectors and increased urbanization and Internet access, says Myla Pilao, director for technical marketing for Trend Micro, who works in the…

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China denies hacking Philippines websites

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MANILA, Philippines — The Chinese embassy has denied Beijing’s involvement in hacking attempts on the websites of Philippine government agencies including the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

“Some Filipino officials and media maliciously speculated about and groundlessly accused China of engaging in cyberattacks against the Philippines, even went as far as connecting these cyberattacks with the South China Sea disputes. Such remarks are highly irresponsible,” the embassy said in a statement on Monday.

The Chinese government, it said, firmly opposes and cracks down on cyberattacks and does not allow illegal activities on Chinese soil or using Chinese infrastructure.

The statement was issued days after the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) revealed that cybersecurity experts successfully blocked hacking attempts from China that targeted government websites and emails.

PCG spokesman Rear Admiral Armand Balilo said he is not discounting the possibility that the cyberattack attempt on its website could be connected to the ongoing conflict in the West Philippine Sea.

Based on the DICT investigation, the hackers were reportedly from China Unicom, a state-owned telecommunications firm.

Cybersecurity center

A cybersecurity center would prevent the occurrence of cybercrimes as the country’s cybercrime laws only focus on investigations, according to the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG).

“It means it already happened and there is a probe to charge the persons responsible,” ACG director Maj. Gen. Sidney Hernia said at a news briefing.

Police officers in cybercrime investigations, he noted, need to improve their skills to remain at par with foreign counterparts.

Over the weekend, the DICT revealed that China-based hackers committed cyberattacks against government websites and emails.

Hernia said law enforcement agencies should beef up security to protect the country’s cyberspace.

The ACG is collaborating with financial institutions and e-wallet services to strengthen their security against online scams.

Online abuse of children

Stronger community-based measures for digital protection and internet safety are being pushed as…

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Shifts in security focus in the Philippines

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Alynna Carlos – Philstar.com

October 21, 2023 | 8:04am

Developments within the Philippine security landscape are continuously shaped by evolving security challenges, encompassing both personal and national levels and moving beyond geographical limitations. The shift in security focus is not only apparent in the Philippines.

Neighboring states are also confronted with the same risks, and these risks present an opportunity for collaboration. This is most apparent in the publication of Indo-Pacific strategies, the intensification of diplomatic visits for the alignment of national interests, and the frequency of military exercises aimed at boosting interoperability. 

Future risks will continue to evolve, as will security policies and strategies. The proliferation of new security risks and the uncertainty they bring signal a shift in security focus in the Philippines, prompting a more attuned approach and signaling the need to upgrade capabilities.

Considering current trends and developments, maritime security and cybersecurity emerge as areas where personal and national security are heavily intertwined.  

On a daily basis, people have become more exposed to cyber risks as they connect to the Internet and perform online transactions. Online scams and hacking incidents have been prevalent. Furthermore, as more information is shared in the digital space, the world has become apprehensive of disinformation and misinformation tactics that shape narratives and propaganda. 

On matters of maritime security, coastal communities worry about their livelihood as more Filipino fishermen are embroiled in territorial disagreements, particularly in the West Philippine Sea. There are also concerns about marine environment damage and loss of marine life in various areas. 

On a national level, the National Security Policy 2023-2028 underscores the vision of “a free, resilient, peaceful, and prosperous maritime and archipelagic nation.” With an emphasis on the country’s maritime and archipelagic nature, the Marcos Jr. administration sets its eye on elevating naval capabilities. Included in the agenda are maritime security as well as cyber, information, and cognitive security. 

Public awareness…

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Medusa ransomware compromises Philippines’ universal healthcare agency

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The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, which manages the country’s universal healthcare system, had its websites and portals disrupted by a Medusa ransomware attack last week, from which it is struggling to recover, reports The Record, a news site by cybersecurity firm Recorded Future.

Impacted systems, including Health Care Institution member portals and e-claims, have been immediately shut down following the discovery of the incident on Sept. 22, said PhilHealth President and CEO Emmanuel Ledesma.

“Affected systems shall be restored at the soonest possible time after the completion of the needed configuration and reinforcement of existing information security measures. We are working to restore these systems on Monday, September 25, 2023,” noted PhilHealth.

Such an attack was admitted by the Medusa ransomware operation a day after its discovery, with the group demanding $300,000 for the deletion of all stolen data and another $100,000 for the extension of the payment deadline. No information regarding the exfiltrated data was provided by Medusa.

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