PNP partners with Microsoft against cybercrime

MANILA, Philippines–The anti-cybercrime unit of the Philippine National Police has partnered with Microsoft Philippines to advance its capabilities in battling computer crimes.

Microsoft will provide programs, tools and necessary technologies to the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG), the unit responsible in addressing offenses such as online and ATM fraud, cybersex and child pornography.

In a simple ceremony on Thursday, ACG chief Senior Superintendent Gilbert Sosa and Microsoft Philippines’ director for corporate and legal affairs Raul Cortez signed the agreement at the ACG office in Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Under the agreement, the Microsoft will regularly meet with cybercrime policemen to come up with readiness programs, share inputs and knowledge as well as tools to prevent computer-related crimes.

From 2003 to 2012, the ACG monitored a total of 2,778 cybercrime offenses.

“It’s more on assessing current capabilities of ACG and making recommendations of skill-building and capacity-building and also bringing in expertise such as malware detection,” Cortez said in a press briefing.

Malwares, short for malicious software, are used to copy sensitive information or infiltrate private computer systems.

With the advancement of crimes, Cortez said these malwares come in handy for organized crime syndicates to steal money, identity, and even to spread terrorist threats.

Although the ACG had successfully neutralized crimes since its creation in March 2013, Sosa admitted that the unit “cannot do it alone.”

“We need to forge partnerships with the software industry, the user community, and other government agencies to confront cybercrime rings,” he added.

“We hope to lessen cybercrime incidences and help neutralize its painful effects to the economy, families and individual consumers.”
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