DICT monitoring possible internet traffic flood on Nov. 5
DICT Facebook page
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) warned on Sunday, Nov. 2 of an internet traffic flood that may occur on Nov. 5, which could cause some websites or mobile applications to load slowly or become temporarily inaccessible.
In a social media post, the DICT explained that a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) or traffic flood is like a traffic jam on the internet, where hackers simultaneously send excessive requests to a website or app, overwhelming it with data and causing it to slow down or fail to load.
The agency assured the public that such an incident is not a data breach.
“Pero kalma lang dahil hindi ito data breach. Walang mananakaw na personal accounts, data, or pera (But stay calm because this is not a data breach. No personal accounts, data, or money will be stolen),” it said.
The DICT advised users to “try again later” if affected sites fail to load, use official apps or status pages, and follow only verified information.
It also reminded the public not to engage in illegal online activities and urged them to report any incidents by sending an email at [email protected] or calling the 1326 hotline.
Under “Oplan Cyberdome,” the DICT said it continues to coordinate with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, National Telecommunications Commission, law enforcement agencies, and other partners to ensure an immediate response and protection of online platforms.
It added that its National Computer Emergency Response Team remains on 24/7 active monitoring to ensure the safety of the country’s digital space.