CICC says defaced takedowns subdomain was long inactive, replaced by newer cybercrime blocking portal

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) said the takedowns subdomain that was recently defaced had already been inactive for a long time and was no longer part of the agency’s operational systems.

In a phone interview, CICC Executive Director Aboy Paraiso explained that the subdomain had been left on the server but was no longer maintained or updated, as the agency had already migrated to a more modern platform for handling cybercrime site blocking requests.

“The takedowns portal has long been defunct and is no longer used in our operations. It remained on the server but was not updated because the system had already been replaced,” Paraiso said.

According to the CICC chief, the agency now uses a newer system called the Blocking Management Dashboard (BMD), a centralized platform designed to improve the government’s response to online scams, phishing sites, and other malicious online activities.

The BMD is a portal used by authorities to process and track requests to block fraudulent websites and online platforms targeting Filipinos. The system allows government investigators to coordinate with telecommunications providers and internet service providers to quickly restrict access to domains associated with cybercrime.

The CICC chief said said the platform was developed to streamline the process of identifying and blocking scam-related websites, which have proliferated in recent years as cybercriminals increasingly use fake investment portals, phishing pages, and fraudulent online stores to target victims.

Under the system, investigators can submit blocking requests, monitor their status, and coordinate with relevant agencies responsible for implementing network-level restrictions.

Paraiso stressed that the defacement incident did not affect the core infrastructure of the agency.

“The systems currently used by the CICC remain secure and operational,” he said, adding that the defaced subdomain had no connection to the agency’s active cybercrime response platforms.

The CICC, an attached agency of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), serves as the government’s central coordinating body for addressing cybercrime. It works with law enforcement agencies, regulators, and internet service providers to combat online scams, digital fraud, and other cyber threats affecting the public.

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CICC removes defaced subdomain, says core infrastructures remain secure