PCG looking at security breach through malware in Facebook hacking

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Tuesday said authorities are looking into a possible online security breach through malware in the hacking of its Facebook page.

“After initial consultation with the Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime Group, the CGPAS (Coast Guard Public Affairs) considers the possibility of online security breach through malware (malicious software),” the PCG said.

PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armando Balilo said the CGPAS already coordinated with Meta and provided the needed details to regain access to the page.

On Monday night, the PCG’s Facebook page started to post malicious videos after an "unknown entity" gained access to the account, according to the agency.

The PCG Facebook page has yet to be recovered as of posting time.

“The CGPAS is also set to meet with Coast Guard Weapons, Communications, Electronics, and Information System Command (CGWEIS) to conduct backend operations for page recovery,” the PCG said.

Based on the initial diagnostic on Monday, the PCG said the unknown entity did not leave any digital trace on the official email address and the mobile phone used to establish a security key as an additional layer of online security protection. 

The CGPAS was conducting a strategic communication plan workshop when the unauthorized access was made, according to the PCG.

Its last access and posting on the page was at 10 a.m. while covering the Atimonan maritime incident of the Coast Guard District Southern Tagalog. 

"As of 6:45PM, the CGPAS continues to diagnose via the official Facebook account, Tanod Baybayin, as well as the official CGPAS email address, cgpao@coastguard.gov.ph," the PCG earlier said.

On February 15, the CGPAS also monitored and resolved the security breach of an unknown entity on its official X (formerly Twitter) account. 

In January, the PCG received an alert from the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) regarding the monitored hacking on the PCG website. 

But upon website review, the CGPAS confirmed that no hacking activity was reported on the PCG website. —VAL, GMA Integrated News