Poe tells gov’t units to ‘fortify their website firewall and systems’

Senator Grace Poe (File photo from Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate Social Media Unit)

MANILA, Philippines — All government agencies maintaining an online presence should “fortify their website firewall and systems.”

This statement comes from Senator Grace Poe, following reports Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) had blocked the cyber attacks against the website of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa).

The attacks were traced to have been done in China.

DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Ian Dy revealed on Saturday that the attempted hacking happened three weeks ago.

The incident came from an internet protocol (IP) address traced to a certain location in China.

Although DICT had successfully blocked the attempts, Poe called the recent experience “a stark reminder that cyber attacks have become bolder and more relentless.”

“Government agencies should take a cue from the findings of the DICT on the suspected source of threat actors on our privacy and security,” the senator said in a statement on Sunday.

“Fortifying website firewalls and systems should be the task of all agencies maintaining online presence,” she emphasized.

“All means should be explored to keep the people’s data secure and uncompromised,” she added.

DICT also said it blocked the cyber attacks directed at its mailboxes, Philippine Coast Guard, and the official website of executive branch.

Although the assaults came from China, Uy said they cannot say whether or not Chinese government was involved in the attempted digital breaches.