THE Department of National Defense (DND) yesterday belied reports about a data breach supposedly perpetrated by a group of hackers.
“Contrary to a recent news report, the Department of National Defense has not monitored any data breach over the weekend, and its systems remain secure and fully functional,” said DND spokesman Arsenio Andolong.
A group of hackers called the Philippine Exodus Security claimed it had compromised 10 high-ranking officials from the Philippine Army and obtained highly confidential documents from the Army and the DND.
Andolong said the defense department and the military continue to implement cybersecurity measures to prevent attacks on their information communications technology (ICT) systems.
“The DND, along with its bureaus, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines, continues to implement its cybersecurity to prevent attempts by malign actors to illegally access our ICT systems and infrastructure,” he added.
In a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo last Tuesday, Army spokesman Col. Louie Dema-ala said the attackers merely accessed the Army’s cyber system using a “compromised account.”
Dema-ala said this was not a case of hacking, noting that the Army cyber system is “100 percent working.”
Reports said the hackers were able to collect the personal information of 10,000 active and separated soldiers from 2018 to 2024, including home and office addresses and past and current assignments.
“It remains safe (Army cyber system). What they did was illegal access, meaning they used a compromised account…Our system was not altered, it’s 100 percent working,” said Dema-ala.
Dema-ala said the Army has already identified the persons involved.
“What we can say is that we know the IP address that they used. We know where they are, we know who these people are,” said Dema-ala, adding that the Army is continuing with its investigation on the matter.
