Gov’t tracking down OSG website hackers

The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) has vowed to run after those who hacked and defaced its website last Tuesday.

“The OSG will see to it that the individuals and institutions behind this act will be prosecuted and punished to the fullest extent of the law,” the OSG said in a statement.

The OSG said the attack of the confidentiality, integrity and availability of its computer data and systems is “a criminal offense under the Cybercrime Law.”

“Any person found guilty shall be punished with up to 12 years imprisonment or a fine of up to a maximum amount commensurate to the damage incurred or both,” it warned.

The OSG said that an entity which identified itself as Phantom Troupe uploaded several files in the OSG job application system at career.osg.gov.ph.

It said the unauthorized access resulted in the alteration of the screen which displayed the message: “Stop blackmailing the NTC! Give ABS-CBN provisional authority!”

It can be recalled that the OSG had recommended to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to no longer issue provisional authority to ABS-CBN network to continue its broadcasting operations since the media giant failed to renew its legislative franchise this year.

In the meantime, the OSG said it has sought “the assistance of the intelligence and investigation agencies of the government in identifying the individuals and institutions responsible for this malicious act.”

“The OSG would like to assure the public that this incident is being taken seriously,” the OSG stated.

“We have augmented our security measures as we assess and investigate the matter,” it added.