PCG: Facebook page break-in may be due to malware

MANILA, Philippines — The cyberattack on the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) official Facebook page on Monday may have been caused by malware or software designed to damage, break into or gain illegal access to a computer system.

“After initial consultation with the Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime Group, the CGPAS (Coast Guard Public Affairs Service) considers the possibility of online security breach through malware (malicious software),” PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo said in a statement Tuesday.

Balilo said the CGPAS is set to meet with Coast Guard Weapons, Communications, Electronics, and Information System Command to recover the social media page using backend tasks.

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The CGPAS monitored two malicious short videos posted on PCG’s Facebook account on Feb. 26. The CGPAS last accessed and posted on the social media page at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, Balilo noted.

The latest disruption to PCG’s Facebook page is the third time since January.