HACKERS HIT DOST WEBSITES

HACKERS attacked the systems of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. said three websites were affected by the breach.

Local hacking group Ph1ns reportedly claimed responsibility for the cyber attack.

The group claimed they are doing it for activism.

The cyber attack is being investigated by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

According to the DICT,  the recent cyber attack on the DOST was possibly ransomware or a political attack.

“Ang una ngang mensahe ng mga threat actors natin is somewhat political in nature. So, hindi namin dini-discount that this is part of hacktivism or something more nefarious or devious, DICT spokesperson Assistant Secretary Renato “Aboy” Paraiso said in  a Zoom press conference on Thursday.

Paraiso said no sensitive data were compromised during the recent hacking incident.

According to Paraiso, the DICT was able to recover part of the hacked system but the DOST is yet to have access to its own website.

“We are still isolated and we are still locked out from accessing part of the system,” said the DICT official.

Paraiso said the impact  of the cyber attack was relatively small as it doesn’t involve personal data from the public.

“Mostly data under the custody and care of the DOST. These include proposals for inventions, and even their backup and redundancies were also compromised,” he said.

Paraiso added that the extent of the hack is still being investigated.