DICT checking reported hacking of DFA

Inquirer file photo

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), which was recently victimized by a system breach, is verifying a reported cyberattack launched against the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

Assistant Secretary Renato Paraiso of the DICT, in an interview with the Inquirer on Wednesday, said they were monitoring the situation to confirm the cybersecurity incident. He added that they were also ready to assist the DFA.

READ: DICT unit website hacked; exec downplays incident

Cybersecurity group Deep Web Konek earlier reported that a threat actor, identifying as “chengyi,” allegedly stole sensitive email data that is now being sold online.

“[Initial] findings found out that the sample provided contains sensitive documents and is marked as confidential documents,” it said.

This report just came a day after the DICT’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management Division website was defaced by a hacker group.

The DICT was able to regain control in less than an hour, but some employee data was exfiltrated during the attack as well. —Tyrone Jasper C. Piad