Teams from numerous universities within the National Capital Region (NCR) on Friday took half within the annual Hack4Gov competitors of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
The competitors was began in 2019 and shall be held in different areas as effectively.
“We have been inviting schools, mga academicians for them to, parang contest ito, capture the flag. This involves yung mga simulations ng hacking, among others,” Director Carlos Reyes of the DICT Cybersecurity Bureau mentioned in an ambush interview.
(We have been inviting faculties and academicians to affix this capture-the-flag contest, which includes simulations of hacking, amongst others.)
Reyes mentioned groups shall be given eventualities similar to cyberattacks and so they might want to remediate the state of affairs.
“Kung sino yung pinakaunang naka-remediate (the first ones who can remediate), they’ll be considered the winner,” Reyes mentioned.
“This is a learning experience para sa lahat. Ito ay isang like, parang they compete with themselves, by themselves. Tapos yung mga learning experience nila doon sa kanilang mga competitor, aangat yung kanilang competency,” he added.
(This is a studying expertise for all. It’s like they’re competing with themselves. Their studying expertise from their competitor will enhance their competency.)
Cyber consultants wanted
While the DICT builds the competency of the scholars as future cybersecurity consultants, additionally it is build up a pool of consultants that may assist the nation sooner or later.
“Alam naman nating yung ating (we all know our) pool of experts in cybersecurity is quite declining so we want to build a pool of cybersecurity professionals to serve government, private organizations, hopefully here in the Philipines. That’s one of the intention of this Hack4Gov, for them to build their competency, for them to be hired as professional cybersecurity experts,” Reyes mentioned.
According to Reyes, the DICT Cybersecurity Bureau has solely 60 personnel and the division wants 200 extra cybersecurity consultants. Even if that is realized, he mentioned this quantity continues to be behind different Asian international locations similar to Singapore, which has 800 cybersecurity consultants, and Myanmar, which has 400.
“Actually, hindi lang sa Pilipinas. Anywhere in the world, kailangang-kailangan yung cybersecurity experts (Not only in the Philippines, but anywhere in the world there is a need for cybersecurity experts),” Reyes mentioned, mentioning that wage performs an enormous position in engaging cybersecurity consultants to work within the authorities and even the non-public sector.
Cyber-attacks
But regardless of the shortage of cybersecurity consultants, Reyes mentioned the DICT has thwarted quite a few cyberattacks.
“It does not mean na lahat yon is successful doon sa kanilang attacks and breaches. Most of them are remediated. On the onset pa lang ng pag-attack nila, we remediate it already. So yung mga attacks na yon, probably 10% success. At the same time, yung mga nag-successful attack, we still do actions for it to be remediated as well,” he emphasised.
(It doesn’t imply that every one the assaults and breaches have been profitable. Most of them are remediated, even on the onset of their assaults. Those assaults are in all probability 10% succeessful. At the identical time, for profitable assaults, we nonetheless do actions for it to be remediated as effectively.)
As of now, the DICT mentioned solely 30 authorities workplaces out of greater than 300 are linked to the division’s realtime monitoring. Its goal is for all authorities workplaces to be linked to it by 2028.
Through Hack4Gov, Reyes mentioned he’s hoping that college students will select a profession in cybersecurity.
“We will be enticing them to get their careers specifically majoring in cybersecurity. That’s the real essence of it. Hopefully we could get this realized na, alam mo yon, na parang meron na tayong spare na we can spend abroad pero we could have more na mare-retain dito sa Pilipinas to address our needs as well,” he mentioned.
Learning expertise
Denzel Mana-ay, a scholar of Computer Science on the Asia Pacific College, is competing for the primary time with three of his schoolmates.
“Ito yung sinasabi namin na parang before internship, before work, kailangang ma-immerse kami somewhere. So as future cybersecurity professional, this is a great field or great pool of people na makakatulong,” Mana-ay informed GMA Integrated News.
(This is what we’re speaking about, that earlier than our internship, earlier than work, we have to be immersed someplace. So as future cybersecurity skilled, it is a nice subject or nice pool of individuals to satisfy that may assist us.)
“I’m happy to say na sa sobrang dami ng tao rito na hindi ko ine-expect, there’s a bright future in cybersecurity here in the Philippines and also around the world. I believe na titibay ang ating cybersecurity,” Mana-ay added.
(I’m comfortable to say that I did not count on this many individuals. there’s a vivid future in cybersecurity right here within the Philippines and likewise world wide. I consider na titibay ang ating cybersecurity,” Mana-ay added.
In a video message, DICT Sec Ivan John Uy known as on the individuals to collaborate with the federal government to fight cyber threats.
“In the realm of cybersecurity, lines between hero and villain can often blur. It is within this gray area that ethical hacking emerges as an essential tool in safeguarding digital infrastructure in ensuring data integrity,” Uy mentioned.
“Harness your skills for good rather than evil. With hacking tools and techniques becoming increasingly available, the temptation to exploit vulnerabilities for personal gain and mischief is strong. Yet the choice between becoming a protector and a destructor in the digital realm is clear. Choose the path of integrity and responsibility. Second, collaborate with the government,” he added. —KBK, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
