Press Release
April 5, 2011

ANGARA CAUTIONS PUBLIC AGAINST NEW WEB VIRUS

Senator Edgardo J. Angara advised the public to protect and prepare their computer systems following reports of a new virus hitting millions of internet users worldwide.

The virus, discovered in late March, installs malicious code into websites, redirecting unknowing users to a site called "LizaMoon", then asks the user to install needless antivirus software. As of press time, as many as 4 million individual websites have been victim of this malware.

"We must not wait for these kinds of viruses to hit the Philippines and cause harm before establishing security measures--with the speed and pervasiveness of the Internet, this particular malware can reach the country in no time," said Angara, who chairs the Senate Committee on Science and Technology.

Early in the 15th Congress, Angara filed Senate Bill No. 52, "An Act Defining Cybercrime, Providing for Prevention, Investigation and Imposition of Penalties Therefor and for Other Purposes"--known simply as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2010.

The bill seeks to protect internet users from illegal online activity such as fraud, identity theft, hacking and virus attacks, among many others. Anyone convicted of the said crime would be punished with imprisonment or a fine of at least Php50,000.

"Nowadays, the vast majority of Filipinos have access to the Internet. We must be diligent and set safeguards to protect them from malicious entities wanting to take advantage,"

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