CYBERATTACKS will become more frequent and more severe next year, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Ivan John Uy warned on Thursday.
Speaking during The Manila Times forum, “Tech trends, financial forecasts,” and in interviews later with reporters, Uy said the DICT has been stepping up its response by closing security gaps and cracking down on cyberattackers.
“Overall, the cyberthreat landscape has been steadily increasing and will only get stronger next year. In fact, this problem is not just here in the Philippines but all over the world,” he said.
He said the DICT has “raided plenty of places where these groups (cybercriminals) dwell and worked together with local enforcement [by providing] intelligence.”
Uy said that because hundreds of cybercriminals have been arrested, “we are already having problems on where we will place them.”
Cybercriminals, however, are using more sophisticated tools to hack into businesses, he said.
“The reason why the syndicates keep doing this is that cybercrimes are very profitable and get plenty of revenue from this sector. They are well funded, organized, and in fact, by next year, we project that the number of cyberattacks in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) will cost [businesses] around $2 trillion.”
Cybercriminals have achieved the same level of efficiency as our business process outsourcing (BPO) companies, “as they have grouped themselves into clusters to steal information,” Uy said.
Cybersecurity must be a group effort, with stakeholders cooperating with each other and the government to make sure that their data is safe, he said.
“I ask the government to give us the budget and resources that we and our partners need to go after these cybercriminals and prevent them from doing harm to our digital infrastructure,” the official said.
Individuals must also practice “cyber hygiene” and remember “the basic rule of online such as not clicking on unsafe links, and reporting and blocking suspicious emails, [since] it only takes one click by an individual to let a cybercriminal in,” he said.
Uy also said the DICT will continue to establish connectivity projects in 2024 and enhance the government’s website.
“We plan to increase the effectiveness of the E-Gov super app next year by providing more online services. In light of this, we plan to deploy our E-Gov pay system as well as our E-visa program [and] move forward with our electronic national ID system as well,” he said.
The department also plans to increase connected areas to 25,000 next year from 15,000 areas this year.
“Currently, we are at around 10,000 areas already,” Uy said.
In today’s digital age, the threat of cyberattacks looms large, and according to DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy, it is only set to increase in frequency and severity in the coming year. Speaking at The Manila Times forum, Uy emphasized the need for a proactive response to combat cybercrime.
While the Philippines is not alone in facing this challenge, Uy highlighted the efforts made by the DICT to close security gaps and collaborate with local enforcement agencies to gather intelligence on cybercriminals. The department has conducted raids and arrested numerous cybercriminals, leading to the need to find suitable accommodations for them.
However, cybercriminals are constantly evolving, employing more sophisticated tools to infiltrate businesses and organizations. Uy explained that these cybercriminal syndicates are well-funded and highly organized, with projections suggesting that cyberattacks in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region alone could cost businesses around $2 trillion in the coming year.
Uy drew a parallel between the efficiency of cybercriminals and the country’s renowned business process outsourcing (BPO) companies. Just as BPO companies have optimized their operations through clustering, cybercriminals have formed groups to steal information more effectively.
Addressing the growing threat, Uy emphasized the importance of collective action, with stakeholders working together with the government to ensure the safety of their data. He called on the government to allocate the necessary budget and resources to combat cybercriminals and protect the country’s digital infrastructure.
While the government plays its role, individuals also have a responsibility to practice good “cyber hygiene.” Uy stressed the need to follow basic online safety rules, such as refraining from clicking on unsafe links and promptly reporting and blocking suspicious emails. It only takes one careless click for a cybercriminal to gain access to personal information or sensitive data.
Looking ahead, the DICT has ambitious plans to enhance connectivity and digital services. The E-Gov super app will be further developed to provide a wider range of online services, and initiatives such as the E-Gov pay system, E-visa program, and electronic national ID system will be implemented. The department aims to increase the number of connected areas from 15,000 to 25,000 in the upcoming year, with progress already made in establishing connectivity in 10,000 areas.
As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, the threat of cyberattacks grows. It is crucial for individuals, businesses, and governments to remain vigilant, collaborate, and invest in robust cybersecurity measures. By working together, we can mitigate the risks and protect our digital infrastructure.
Source: The Manila Times
