MANILA, PHILIPPINES- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) fell victim to a cyberattack, resulting in the loss of its entire webpage content dating back to 2013, prompting investigations amid escalating tensions with China.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) found itself at the center of a cybersecurity crisis after hackers targeted its website, leading to the loss of all page content dating back to 2013.
The attack, which occurred on Thursday, raised concerns about national security and the vulnerability of government agencies to cyber threats.
The incident comes on the heels of a two-week block by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) against cyberattacks originating from China.
China, embroiled in a maritime dispute with the Philippines over parts of the South China Sea, denies involvement in the attack, suspicions linger regarding potential state-sponsored cyber warfare tactics.
The PCG promptly issued a statement acknowledging that its X (twitter) account had been “compromised,” urging the public to exercise caution regarding any subsequent tweets from the compromised account.
Investigations into the source of the cyberattacks revealed traces to China Unicom, a state-owned telecommunications company, and three “advanced threat groups,” heightening concerns about the sophistication and intentions of the perpetrators.
Speculation abounds regarding the motive behind the hacking, with the PCG spokesperson hinting at possible connections to the ongoing disputes between Manila and Beijing over the West Philippine Sea.
The incident has prompted Speaker Martin Romualdez to call for a congressional inquiry into the hacking attempts, underscoring the gravity of the situation and the need for swift action to safeguard national interests.
In response Beijing offered to cooperate with the DICT in identifying and apprehending the cybercriminals responsible for the attack. However, the DICT emphasized that the incident underscores the relentless nature of cyber threats, despite efforts to bolster cybersecurity defenses.
As investigations continue and diplomatic tensions persist, the cyberattack on the Philippine Coast Guard serves as a stark reminder of the evolving landscape of modern warfare, where virtual battlegrounds pose significant challenges to national security.
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