Culture of security a must among PH netizens: DND chief

“No single nation can fight this alone. As trend in cybercrimes increase, we must show our commitment to come up with more efficient and effective security measures to address this grave threat to our collective security,” the defense chief said. (PNA Photo)

MANILA — With the country’s cyber-security capability still in its infancy, there is a strong need to develop a culture of security among Internet users, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Tuesday.

“We must admit that our country’s cybersecurity capability is still in its infancy and that we need to develop a culture of security among Internet users, especially now that terrorists are actively making use of the Internet, particularly social media, to recruit, spread propaganda, and commit crime,” Lorenzana said during the opening of the two-day “Dealing with the DarkNet: Measures to Prevent Violent Extremism” seminar.

Precautions, he said, are necessary considering that a lot of criminal and other illegal activities could be found in the “Darknet”.

“Consider these things that you find in the Darknet, killers for hire, child pornography, peddling of drugs, trafficking of humans and human parts, and recruitment of terrorists. They are all virtually invisible,” the defense chief added.

Lorenzana also lauded the conduct of the workshop as very timely due to the global nature of cybercrime and inability of a single nation to address the threats it poses.

“No single nation can fight this alone. As trend in cybercrimes increase, we must show our commitment to come up with more efficient and effective security measures to address this grave threat to our collective security,” he said.

Defeating these threats could be done by investing in people, capabilities, and international networks and cooperation, he added.

“I am confident that we can raise the overall quality of cybersecurity in our country, and contribute to regional and international efforts to build a safer and more secure cyberspace,” Lorenzana said.

The seminar, held in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs, was also attended by representatives of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Information for All Programme (IFAP) Intergovernmental Council, the Interpol and other relevant government agencies. (PNA)