BOC probes into hacking of its app users’ personal information

CYBERCRIME/HACKING Stock image/INQUIRER file

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Tuesday said it is investigating a cyberattack that has compromised the personal information of an undetermined number of users in its online applications.

“On April 7, 2024, it came to the attention of the BOC that some of the agency’s external cloud-based online applications were breached using compromised user login credentials,” the BOC said in an advisory.

It added that it has already coordinated with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC).

“The bureau has also sought the expertise of the DICT and CICC to help the agency thoroughly investigate the incident,” the BOC said.

According to the BOC, it is still in the process of determining the actual number of users affected.

Upon initial investigation, BOC says the names, email addresses, company names, contact details and Tax Identification Numbers (TIN) of an undetermined number of users in its online applications were breached.

READ: Customs bureau latest gov’t victim of hackers

On April 7, a cybersecurity group said the BOC experienced a data breach, supposedly compromising over 2,200 employees and 80,000 customers’ personal information.

READ: Hackers gain access to sensitive DOST data

Meanwhile, hackers last week reportedly compromised 2-terabyte worth of data from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) including research plans, designs and schematics.