The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in the Philippines recently announced the arrest of three individuals suspected of engaging in hacking activities targeting private and government websites, banking institutions, and Facebook accounts.
Jaime Santiago, Director of the NBI, disclosed that the suspects are linked to the hacking group LulzSec. The individuals in custody reportedly include a data officer from Manila Bulletin, a cybersecurity researcher, and a graduating student. While the identities of these individuals have not been revealed, the data officer alleged that Manila Bulletin’s technology editor and IT expert Art Samaniego Jr. had orchestrated the hacks to generate content for his column and social media platforms.
Samaniego vehemently denied these allegations, asserting that there was no need for him to engage in illegal activities to produce column content when there is already a dedicated AFP beat reporter. The conflicting information prompted further investigation by the NBI.
The arrests followed reports of multiple unauthorized access attempts and breaches. The agency meticulously monitored the movements and activities of the hackers on social media, forums, and public databases to establish patterns and connections.
Initial contact with the suspects was established on June 14 through an informant. This led to the hackers sending a compressed file containing a database on June 17 and hacking Facebook accounts on June 19, ultimately resulting in their arrest.
During the course of the investigations, it was discovered that one of the suspects’ phones contained scripts and databases obtained from local government units, various government websites, and Facebook users’ credentials. The phone also contained data related to at least five banks in the region.
The suspects admitted their involvement in the cybercrimes during the inquest proceedings and have been recommended to be charged with Illegal Access and Misuse of Devices under Republic Act 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, and Unauthorized Access and Intentional Breach under Section 29 of RA 10173, the Data Privacy Act of 2012.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) praised the NBI’s efforts in apprehending the suspects and offered its technical consultancy to further assist in building a case against the individuals. The DICT also confirmed that these matters were thoroughly discussed within the National Cybersecurity Interagency Committee (NCIAC), which aims to aid law enforcement agencies in tracking and apprehending cybercriminals.
The NBI affirmed their commitment to combatting cybercrime during a press conference at their headquarters, pledging to continue their efforts and conduct more operations in the future.
Meanwhile, the military voiced its support for the NBI’s actions and stressed the need for collective action to protect the nation’s cyber infrastructure. They also emphasized the importance of implementing robust cybersecurity measures in response to persistent cyber threats.
This case underscores the ongoing cyber threats faced by the country and emphasizes the significance of fostering responsible online behavior and the dedication of authorities to safeguard against cyber aggressions.
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