Cyber espionage alarms Palace
MALACAÑANG yesterday expressed alarm over the reported hacking by a cyber-spy network based in China to secure vital information in connection with the Philippines’ claims on Spratlys.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said the government is taking very seriously the report on alleged Chinese cyber espionage.
Fajardo said the government will “ensure integrity of our Information Technology.”
Meanwhile, the Department of Justice will look into the reported hacking if the Department of Foreign Affairs will ask for it.
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, however, said if the reported hacking is true, it will have national security implications.
He said the government can press charges against the spy network, once the report is eventually validated.
National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales said he will try to validate and identify which particular computer system was compromised, once he receives the official report on the matter.
DFA officials said they are doing all they can to protect their IT software and networks.
Canadian researchers reported that the cyber-spy network hacked classified documents from government and private organizations in 103 countries, including the Philippines.
The researchers claimed they detected a cyber espionage network involving over 1,295 compromised computers from the ministries of foreign affairs of Iran, Bangladesh, Latvia, Indonesia, Philippines, Brunei, Barbados, Bhutan and in the embassies of India, South Korea, Indonesia, Romania, Cyprus, Malta, Thailand, Taiwan, Portugal, Germany and Pakistan.
Ahron Villena
Eugenio Vagni