DIPOLOG CITY (PIA) – With the integration of technology into the everyday lives of the average Filipino, susceptibility to fraudulent tactics and malicious acts online grows higher with each passing day.
During the recent Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT)-9, which also covers the Basilan-Sulu-Tawi-Tawi (BASULTA) areas, warned citizens against thoughtlessly opening links sent through text or other forms of instant messaging such as Facebook messenger.
According to Regional Director Cheryl G. Ortega, the Sim Registration Act is one of DICT’s strategies in combating online scams leading to phishing and hacking by giving sim owners more accountability regarding their cyber footprint, and hopefully discouraging them from using their phone numbers for malicious intent.
However, Director Ortega revealed that one of the strategies scammers employ these days is to purchase sim cards that have already been registered, offering a higher price to their owners whose information has already been attached to the said card.
She highlighted that citizens and netizens should always hesitate to open unprompted links, especially if coming from an unknown contact.
Meanwhile, with the cyber landscape rapidly changing, the DICT is working towards strengthening national government agencies (NGA’s) cybersecurity posture through their Project Sonar which scans the NGA’s systems, networks, and applications checking for vulnerabilities which they will then work on fixing together with the identified NGA.
Project Sonar leans towards data security and ensuring the safety and privacy of information held by national government agencies. (EDT/PJF/PIA-Zamboanga del Norte)