Cayetano urges stronger cybersecurity measures amid rising digital threats

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday emphasized the urgent need for enhanced cybersecurity measures in response to the growing digital threats faced by a number of government agencies.

In a media interview, Cayetano, who chairs the Senate Science and Technology Committee, raised the alarm on "digital highway robbery" to emphasize the vulnerability of accessing data on the internet.

"Ang digital highway ang ating problema. Maraming may akala na noong pinasa natin ang SIM card registration, mababawasan na nang husto ang mga nanloloko. Pero as you have seen, the digital way of extorting money, scams, and schemes is only one way," he said.

Discussing the perils of hacking and its potential consequences, Cayetano said: "Napakadelikado ng hacking for many reasons. One, it can destroy certain institutions and systems that we believe in."

He highlighted the recent hacking incident in Philhealth in which hackers threatened to disclose private and sensitive information to the public.

"Pinaka-concern ako sa Philihealth kasi masyadong sensitive ang data ng treatment mo at ano ang sakit mo. The more important the data in terms of sensitivity, dapat mas pinoprotektahan," he said.

Cayetano highlighted the irony of the current situation, pointing out that one of the controversial issues revolves around the transparency of government confidential funds, while, at the same time, people's private data is no longer kept confidential.

"Napakalaking irony that the biggest issue now is people want to know [kung] saan ginagamit ang confidential funds. On the other hand, things that need to be confidential, like your health records, are now being hacked and exposed to the public," he said.

Concluding the interview, Cayetano emphasized the need for stronger cybersecurity measures, saying action must be taken as soon as possible.

"If we don't solve it, magkakaroon ng mas sinister [na mangyayari] because information is power," he said.

Cayetano nais palakasin ang cybersecurity ng gobyerno sa gitna ng sunod-sunod na hacking

Binigyang-diin ni Senator Alan Peter Cayetano nitong Martes ang agarang pangangailangan para sa mas malakas na cybersecurity ng gobyerno bilang tugon sa tumitinding atake sa mga website ng mga ahensya.

Sa isang panayam sa media, nagpahayag ng pagkaalarma si Cayetano, na chairperson ng Senate Science and Technology Committee, sa banta ng "digital highway robbery".

"Ang digital highway ang ating problema. Maraming may akala na noong pinasa natin ang SIM card registration, mababawasan na nang husto ang mga nanloloko. Pero as you have seen, the digital way of extorting money, scams, and schemes is only one way," aniya.

Punto pa ni Cayetano, hindi lang simpleng pagnanakaw ang epekto ng hacking sa bansa.

"Napakadelikado ng hacking for many reasons. One, it can destroy certain institutions and systems that we believe in, aniya.

Binigyang-diin niya ang kamakailang insidente ng hacking sa Philhealth kung saan nagbanta ang mga hacker na ibunyag ang pribado at sensitibong impormasyon ng mga miyembro nito sa publiko.

"Pinaka-concern ako sa Philihealth kasi masyadong sensitive ang data ng treatment mo at ano ang sakit mo. The more important the data in terms of sensitivity, dapat mas pinoprotektahan," pahayag niya.

Tinawag ni Cayetano na "ironic" ang kasalukuyang sitwasyon, kung saan hirap ang gobyerno na panatilihing pribado ang mga confidential na impormasyon ng mga Pilipino, samantalang ang mga Pilipino ay pilit sinisilip ang katotohanan sa likod ng confidential funds ng ilang ahensya.

"Napakalaking irony that the biggest issue now is people want to know [kung] saan ginagamit ang confidential funds. On the other hand, things that need to be confidential, like your health records, are now being hacked and exposed to the public," aniya.

Sa pagtatapos ng panayam, ipinaalala ni Cayetano ang pangangailangan para sa mas malakas na hakbang tungo sa cybersecurity at mabilis na aksyon.

"If we don't solve it, magkakaroon ng mas sinister [na mangyayari] because information is power," aniya.