Pagasa website hacked; main page replaced with message

MANILA, Philippines - The website of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) was hacked yesterday.

The main page was replaced with the message: “Hacked by Net user!Just fun a fun !!Team :X-f**k! E-mail:[email protected]!”

PAGASA administrator Nathaniel Servando said for the meantime, the public can access their alternate URL http://kidlat.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/.

“This is quite unfortunate,” he said. “Anyway, to ensure continued delivery of information and services, we have an alternative website. It is being fixed by our ICT team now.”

The website of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City was also hacked on April 20. Messages in English, accompanied by Chinese characters, were posted, calling on the Philippines to leave Panatag Shoal. UP students retaliated by hacking certain Chinese websites.

Government websites such as the Official Gazette, the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office, the Presidential Museum and Library, and the Department of Budget and Management were also briefly hacked after the attack on the UP website.

The website of The STAR, www.philstar.com, was briefly hacked last May 4, with the main page replaced by one claiming that Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea belongs to China.