The holiday season is a time of celebration, but it can also be a prime hunting ground for cybercriminals. As the world goes online to shop, connect with loved ones, and seek holiday inspiration, websites uptick in traffic. While this surge in visitors offers countless business opportunities, it also brings heightened security risks. Cyberattacks, data breaches, and website downtime can make the festive season a nightmare for website owners and visitors.

With this, we prepared a guide on how to protect your website during this festive season. Implementing these measures can protect your online presence, customer data, and reputation. This also ensures that your website not only survives the holiday rush but thrives in the face of potential threats. So, without further ado, let’s get started!

Stay Updated

One of the most common ways websites get compromised is through outdated software. Ensure that your website’s Content Management System (CMS), plugins, themes, and other software are up-to-date. In addition, these updates often include security patches that fix known vulnerabilities.

Apply for a Secure Socket Layer (SSL) Certificate

Ensure your website has an SSL certificate. This not only encrypts data exchanged between your site and visitors but also provides that familiar padlock icon in the browser. This padlock feature signifies a secure connection. In return, users are more likely to trust and interact with a secure website.

Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF)

Implement a Web Application Firewall to filter out malicious traffic and protect your website from threats like DDoS attacks and SQL injection. A WAF can help identify and block suspicious activities before they reach your server.

Do Regular Backups

It’s a good practice to regularly back up your website, including all data and files. A recent backup can save you from data loss and downtime if an attack or technical issue occurs. Store backups in a secure, offsite location.

Implement Strong Passwords and Two-Factor Authentication

Encourage strong password practices for your team and consider implementing two-factor authentication (2FA). This provides extra security and protection by requiring users to provide two forms of identification before accessing.

Monitor Website Traffic

Keep a close eye on your website’s traffic. Unusual spikes or patterns can be indicators of a security issue. So, utilize website monitoring tools to promptly detect and respond to any anomalies.

Conduct Regular Security Audits

Conduct regular security audits to check vulnerabilities in your website. This proactive approach can help you patch potential issues before they are exploited.

Prepare for DDoS Attacks

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks disrupt your website’s availability. Prepare by working with a DDoS mitigation service or implementing DDoS prevention measures.

Educate Your Employees

Train your team on security best practices, especially those who manage the website. Human error is a common cause of security breaches, so education is critical.

Establish Customer Communication Channels

In the worst-case scenario, it’s essential to have clear and accessible customer communication channels in place to address any website issues. Ensure that customers can easily reach out for support and information, particularly during website downtime. This proactive approach not only maintains customer satisfaction but also helps in resolving issues swiftly and effectively.

In Conclusion

With the increased online activity this holiday season, the last thing you want is to become a target for security breaches. By taking proactive steps to fortify your website, you can fully embrace the festive season with peace of mind. Get your website holiday-ready. Let iManila help you!

With 27 years of experience in the industry and an IT company at its core, iManila, having been one of the first Internet Service Providers in the Philippines, is committed to providing our clients with innovative information technology, web, and digital solutions.

iManila is a full-service business web development company in the Philippines ready to help you with WordPress website creation or building an ecommerce website for your business. From web design and development and website update and maintenance, to web hosting, email hosting, and technical, desktop and remote support, we are your team. Aside from this, we are also a website and mobile applications development company specializing in customized web systems for businesses in different industries and a top digital marketing agency that provides a wide range of digital marketing services. Talk to us!

Boo! It’s the time of the year again when people talk about ghosts, monsters, and anything scary as Halloween approaches. However, these spooky creatures pale compared to the actual monsters lurking on the dark side of the internet all year around – hackers!

Unlike monsters from stories, these cybercriminals don’t wait for Halloween to cause trouble. They do it every day, and they’re getting better at it every year. You won’t believe it, but the Philippines ranks second on the global cyberattack list and recorded 3,000 “high-level” cyberattacks from 2020 to 2022. Here are a few recent spooky web security breaches from the Philippines that you definitely wouldn’t want to experience. Let’s explore the dark side of the internet together. 

The Enigmatic Data Breach

In April 2023, the Philippines experienced a massive data breach that raised serious concerns about the security of sensitive information. This breach, under investigation by the Philippine National Police’s Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG), involves an extensive 817.54 gigabytes of data encompassing 1,279,4237 records. Beyond the Philippine National Police, the breach impacts other government agencies, including the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), the Civil Service Commission (CSC), and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

VPNMentor’s recent report disclosed redacted copies of allegedly compromised documents, including certifications, national police clearances, and Bureau of Internal Revenue cards. Additionally, it exposed employee and applicant identification records, scanned birth certificates, diplomas, tax filings, passport details, police identification cards, and education transcripts. Even certifications from the justice department and local and regional court records were laid bare. The full extent of the breach remains uncertain, including how long the database was publicly accessible and whether unauthorized parties gained access.

GCash’s Phishing Nightmare

GCash, one of the Philippines’ most famous mobile payment apps, experienced a phishing attempt in May 2023. In a spine-chilling revelation, the National Privacy Commission (NPC) has concluded that the unauthorized transactions plaguing numerous GCash accounts were not a result of security vulnerabilities with the mobile wallet provider but were orchestrated by cybercriminals through relentless phishing attacks.

Privacy Commissioner John Henry Naga has uncovered a disturbing truth—mysterious “unknown threat actors” seized the opportunity to exploit innocent GCash users. They did so through channels like online gambling websites such as “Philwin” and “tapwin1.com.”

WannaCry Ransomware Attacks 28 Companies

In 2017, over 28 companies in the Philippines fell victim to a global ransomware attack. This malicious software, WannaCry, had previously caused web security chaos in more than 150 countries, affecting around 200,000 companies.

While a cybersecurity expert refrained from naming the affected companies, the most significant impact was on a multinational logistics firm. Fortunately, the damage wasn’t too severe; only about 30% of their computers and servers were infected. To fight back, these companies had to erase their servers and return their data from safe copies.

Anonymous Philippines Hacks COMELEC

On March 27, 2016, Anonymous Philippines hacked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) website, just over a month before the Philippines’ 3rd automated elections. The group demanded the implementation of security features for vote-counting machines (VCMs) and warned the Comelec to take action.

The hacked website displayed Anonymous Philippines’ message at 11:30 p.m. on Sunday but was restored by early Monday morning. Critics had been pressing the Comelec to address security concerns. Particularly regarding digital signatures and voting receipts as security features of VCMs. The Supreme Court had recently ordered the issuance of voting receipts as an added security measure. However, critics argue that these concerns have been overlooked since the country’s first automated elections in 2010.

Anonymous Philippines emphasized that elections are a crucial aspect of people’s sovereignty. Additionally, they raised questions about the integrity of the electoral process amid ongoing controversies. Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez reported that they restored the site and actively reviewed it as part of their security measures.

The $81 Million Vanishing Act

In early February 2016, a staggering $81 million vanished from Bangladesh’s central bank account. The stolen funds were funneled into a Philippine bank and laundered through Manila’s casinos. Over four years later, only $15 million has been recovered. Additionally, only one person, Maia Deguito, the manager of an RCBC branch, has been convicted.

The cyber-heist was meticulously timed, with Bangladesh Bank closed for the weekend and the Chinese New Year festivities in Manila. This leaves no one to notice the intrusion. Hackers employed malware to issue fraudulent transfer requests to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York via SWIFT accounts, transferring $81 million to fictitious accounts at an RCBC branch. These accounts were dormant for a year before the heist and received varying amounts of the stolen funds. Despite investigations and legal actions, the full extent of accountability remains elusive.

In Conclusion

As we’ve delved into these spine-tingling web security breaches from the Philippines, it’s crucial to remember that even the largest organizations can fall victim to the dark forces of the internet. In conclusion, cybercriminals spare no one, and the risks are real.

To ensure the safety of yourself, your business, and your valuable data, it’s wise to explore high-quality web security, web backup, and server management services provided by trusted experts like iManila. We make your online security our utmost priority. Our web backup services serve as a proactive measure against potential threats like hacking or malware. Our server management service ensures that we have a team that remains on standby. So they’re ready to respond promptly to any cyberattack incidents within your server environment.

Don’t be complacent; these stories show that the virtual world can be just as treacherous as any haunted house. Safeguard your digital presence today. Stay safe and secure in the digital world!

With 27 years of experience in the industry and an IT company at its core, iManila, having been one of the first Internet Service Providers in the Philippines, is committed to providing our clients with innovative information technology, web, and digital solutions.

iManila is a full-service business web development company in the Philippines ready to help you with WordPress website creation or building an ecommerce website for your business. From web design and development and website update and maintenance, to web hosting, email hosting, and technical, desktop and remote support, we are your team. Aside from this, we are also a website and mobile applications development company specializing in customized web systems for businesses in different industries and a top digital marketing agency that provides a wide range of digital marketing services. Talk to us!