Senate eyes probe on gov’t portals’ hacking
‘It is not only a huge case of information theft but an extensive attack against public health and welfare’
Daily Tribune‘It is not only a huge case of information theft but an extensive attack against public health and welfare’
A resolution was filed in the Senate on Tuesday seeking an inquiry over the recent cyberattack incidents against the government agencies in the country.
The filing of Senate Resolution 811 by Senator Mark Villar stemmed from the recent hacking of the "Medusa ransomware" group of the state health insurer Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or PhilHealth's online portal.
The hackers have asked $300,000 or roughly P17 million in exchange for the stolen data for PhilHealth.
It also threatened the government that it would publicly expose the entirety of the hacked PhilHealth data if the ransom was not paid.
Villar said the threat would compromise the confidential information of Filipinos, including names, addresses, contact information, medical records as well as internal memorandums of the agency.
Ransomware is a kind of malicious software that encrypts files in a device or system with access to a computer that is being blocked by hackers. To regain access to the hacked site, cybercriminals demand a ransom.
Villar condemned the cyberattack incident against the PhilHealth.
"It is not only a huge case of information theft but an extensive attack against public health and welfare," Villar said. "These attacks compromise the medical information of the members of PhilHealth."
