MARINA's web-based systems compromised in cyber attack

MARINA's web-based systems compromised in cyber attack
ABS-CBN News Jun 17, 2024 https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/6/17/marina-s-web-based-systems-c...

MANILA — The Maritime Industry Authority is the latest government agency to confirm a system breach as the regulator announced Monday that four of its web-based systems were attacked and compromised over the weekend.

MARINA said it sent personnel to its central office in Manila’s Port Area on Sunday when the attack was detected “to implement expeditious [measures] to ensure the protection of the integrity of the systems.”

The agency, which regulates shipping and seafaring, said its IT team is working with the Department of Information and Communications Technology-Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (DICT-CICC), to investigate the breach and mitigate the potential impact of unauthorized access to private information.

It said it hopes to have its systems operational again to process applications by Tuesday.

The agency did not give details on how the system was compromised, but data breaches increase the risk of identity theft and similar scams.

Online services of the Philippine National Police were suspended in May after breaches into the PNP’s Logistics Data Information Management System and its Firearms and Explosives Office.

The data of at least 13 million members of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. was compromised in a ransomware attack in October 2023.

Speaking after the PNP data breach, DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Dy said that the department had checked government agencies' "online assets" for vulnerabilities but that not all offices acted on the recommendations.

"Of all the reports we submitted, only 14% responded," he said on May 21.

MARINA said Monday that it "commits to strengthen its cyber security protocols to prevent any future cyber attack."