Web Vulnerabilities in 2017 Up By 212 Percent

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Leading local DDoS Mitigation Services provider IPC is urging companies to beef up their web security as the numbers of web application vulnerabilities are rapidly increasing, as reported in a study by its global partner Imperva Incapsula that shows an overview of web application vulnerabilities in 2017.

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According to the study¹, 2017 saw a whopping 212 percent increase in new vulnerabilities with 14,082 recorded, as compared to 2016’s 6,615. Imperva also states that more than half of these vulnerabilities have a public exploit available to hackers, and that more than a third (36 percent) don’t have an available solution such as a software upgrade workaround or software patch.

Niño Valmonte, IPC’s Director for Marketing & Digital Innovation, explains that money is the main motivator in the rapid increase of web vulnerabilities. “Websites are common targets because they can generate a substantial amount of money for cybercriminals. For instance, an e-commerce website would normally store personal information. In the wrong hands, we already know the kind of risk we can get exposed to. Also, criminals can hold websites up for ransom from company owners.”

Ransomware, the method of putting up a website for ransom that Valmonte referred to, is a global phenomenon that is predicted to exceed $11.5 billion annually by 2019². The most common form of payment sought from victims in order to get their websites back is the popular cryptocurrency Bitcoin.

¹https://www.incapsula.com/blog/the-state-of-web-application-vulnerabilities-in-2017.html

²https://cybersecurityventures.com/ransomware-damage-report-2017-part-2/

Content of websites in peril

Another alarming statistic that the study revealed is the increasing number of vulnerabilities in Content Management Systems (CMS), a tool used to create and manage content posted on a website. The study revealed that WordPress, one of the most commonly used CMS today, posted a 400% increase in new vulnerabilities since 2016, with 75% coming from third-party vendor plugins.

IPC urges businesses to be wary of this as when successfully infiltrated, cybercriminals can use the CMS to edit, remove, and even post content on a website. The damage may range from altering text to even changing the visual appearance of the entire website, a tactic commonly known as defacement. Criminals can also extract sensitive information stored inside a website through the CMS.

“These findings should serve as a wake-up call for organizations to put up stronger web security protocols. CMS infiltration should not be taken lightly because this is only the tip of the iceberg. CMS attacks also pose risks to personal and confidential data,” Valmonte said.

To protect one’s website, IPC recommends deploying security measures such as applying a Web Application Firewall (WAF) that can monitor and control incoming web traffic.

As one of the leading DDoS Mitigation service providers, IPC provides subscription-based WAF service through IPC InCAST (In-Country Attack Scrubbing Tactics) services, a cloud-based Web Application Firewall proxy solution that is supported by the country’s first and only DDoS Mitigation Service to feature local data scrubbing.

“By closely monitoring network traffic, WAF can detect and block any malicious data, thereby stopping an attack from happening in the first place,” explained Valmonte.

For more information about Web Application Firewall, visit ipc.ph/en/waf/

Karylle and Yael Yuzon Enjoy the Morning Rush with belVita Breakfast Biscuits

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Enjoy a delicious breakfast every morning even while on-the-go as the well-loved breakfast biscuit that has helped energize consumers all over the world finally makes its debut in the Philippines.

BelVita is the first-ever breakfast biscuit from Mondelez Philippines which aims to address consumers’ growing needs for convenient and delicious well-being snacks.


Expanding in the well-being space

“We live in a fast-paced world where people have increasing awareness of their well-being needs but are sometimes challenged by the lack of time to prepare and eat a balanced breakfast. Their preferences are evolving and they want snacks that are not only delicious but offer convenience and good nutrition. We see belVita entering the breakfast category by creating this new biscuit occasion. We envision belVita to energize this well-being space,” said Anna Sapitan, Mondelez Philippines’ Marketing Manager for the Biscuits Category.

Just like any young Filipino couple, Karylle and Yael live a hectic and active lifestyle. With their life goals, they know that breakfast is very important. It’s the time they get their energy for a long list of activities ahead. “Breakfast is sometimes the only meal we get to enjoy together with our many commitments.

This is why belVita breakfast biscuit is ideal for the lifestyle we have. We try to eat a balanced breakfast every morning. So we pair belVita with a piece of fruit and a glass of milk and we know we have everything we need to jumpstart our day,” Karylle shared.

As for the taste, Yael likes how tasty and easy it is for him to have his breakfast. “I like belVita not only because it is convenient to eat but also because it’s really yummy. It’s easy to reach for and it fills me up just right.

When I want a delicious, healthy and convenient breakfast, it’s the perfect go-to,” Yael mused. With their jampacked days, Karylle and Yael turn to belVita as their breakfast staple, making them the perfect couple to introduce and endorse the brand to the Philippine market.

Specially created for breakfast
Several studies confirm that this accelerated shift to convenient well-being products in the snack industry is well-founded.

Reference from the Philippines’ adult energy and nutrient intakes study published in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) Journal in 2013 identified 1 out of 5 adults in Philippines tend to skip breakfast. 

It is also noted in the Food and Nutrition Research Institute 2013 Dietary Survey that only a third or 31.5% of households in urban areas are able to meet their energy requirements for the day.

And in the National Capital Region, 1 in 10 or 13% of households consume their breakfast outside their homes. “Belvita is specially designed for breakfast,” said Princess Landicho, belVita Brand Manager.

“Just pair it with a serving of dairy products and fruit for a balanced breakfast to help kickstart your morning with energy. It is also a great on-the-run snack because of its convenient packaging.”

“BelVita breakfast biscuits are made with whole grain cereals, which include whole wheat and oat, and are fortified with vitamins and minerals such s Vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, D, calcium, iron and zinc.

And thanks to more than 15 years of research, belVita is also baked using a special gentle baking process, which helps to preserve the nutritional quality of our cereal ingredients,” Landicho added.

First launched in 2011 in the United Kingdom as a breakfast biscuit, this global breakfast icon is sold in more than 50 countries. Locally, belVita is available in two flavors: Milk and Cereal, and Honey and Chocolate.

BelVita is also purposely packaged to help consumers exercise portion control. It is available in a 4-pack box with an SRP of P30.50 and the single 20g pack worth P8.25 that contains two delicious and filling biscuits. Delicious and nutritious, each piece can be part of a convenient breakfast to give energy for a packed day ahead.


To know more, like and follow belVita Philippines on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/belVita)
and at Instagram (@belvitaPH).

DAO on Certification Focuses on Safety, Ease of Doing Business

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Department of Trade and Industry’s Bureau of Philippine Standards (DTI-BPS)
ensures the public that the Department Administrative Orders (DAO) on the issuance of the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) on products under the mandatory certification of the BPS facilitates the ease in doing business without compromising consumer safety.

In a court decision on 10 November 2017, the Makati Regional Trial court declares
DAO 05:2008 or The New Rules and Regulations Concerning the Issuance of Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) under the Product Certification Scheme of the BPS and, DAO 15-01 or the Measure to Facilitate the Issuance of the Import Commodity
Clearance ultra vires or has no force of effect.

The DAO 05:2008 prescribes the rules and regulations on the issuance of the ICC to
import shipments covered the BPS product certification scheme while DAO 15-01
facilitates faster processing of the Import Commodity Clearance applications.

BPS Director-in-Charge Engr. James E. Empeño explains, “The DTI-BPS maintains a status quo on implementing its product certification scheme on imported products to ensure that only safe and quality steel products are sold and distributed in the
Philippine market. The Bureau emphasizes that imported steel products are still
subjected to the requirements of the relevant standards and must pass the various mechanical, chemical and physical tests.”

DTI-Consumer Protection Group (DTI-CPG) Assistant Secretary Atty. Ernesto V. Perez
clarifies, “The court’s ruling is not yet final and executory as the department has filed a motion for reconsideration to the Makati Regional Trial Court. Therefore, manufacturers and importers are still advised to follow the existing department administrative orders
on the issuance of the import commodity clearance.”

“The department has been transparent with the implementation of its certification
system to create a balance between the industries and the safety of our consumers,” DTI-CPG Undersecretary Atty. Ruth B. Castelo emphasized.

For more information on DAO 05:2008: 2017 and DAO 15-01:2015, call BPS at (02)
751.4720/ 751.4708., or send an email to bps@dti.gov.ph. Copies of the said DAOs are
available at www.bps.gov.ph.