Cyber attacks whops 93 percent worldwide; Phl should protect internet users

By Jason de Asis

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, April 9, 2011-Senator Edgardo J. Angara revealed that cyber attacks whopping to 93% from 2009 to 2010 while 42% of mobile phones are more vulnerable against malicious software where he urged the government for the modernization of the Philippine government agencies tasked to watch over this vital sector, following reports of increasing cyber attacks worldwide.

Angara said that now our computer systems are susceptible to cybercrime, there is a need to protect Filipino users by giving the authorities the means and power to oversee this industry where he authored Senate Bill No. 50, otherwise known as “Department of Information and Communications Technology Act of 2010” which seeks to reorganize the existing Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), dividing it into two separate bodies that is one dedicated solely to transportation and the other on the  information and communications technology (ICT). 

To develop and oversee the ICT sector in the Philippines, the proposed Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) shall be the primary administrative and regulatory body of the government tasked and it will also be in-charged in protecting the country’s ICT industries against the growing number of security risks inherent to the nature of technology.

Upon the creation of the DICT, Angara said that it shall take over the powers, functions, records, funds, equipment, property, and personnel of the Commission of Information and Communications Technology, national computer center, Telecommunication office and all operating units in the DOTC with functions and responsibilities dealing with communications which shall be demolished.

The NTC and Philippine Postal corporation shall become the attached agencies of the DITC with the department also taking authority over the postal delivery services industry, adding that the DITC shall be headed by the secretary and offices of the secretary, undersecretaries and assistant secretaries.

“The numbers of mobile and internet users increase, so do the malicious entities intent on taking advantage of the people’s openness to technology; thus, the government must be proactive in keeping up with the digital revolution sweeping the globe to increase the safety and security of the millions of tech-savvy Filipinos,” Angara said. (Jason de Asis)