Ministry of Tourism hit by computer virus

By MORGAN ADDERLEY

Tribune Staff Reporter

madderley@tribunemedia.net

TOURISM Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar is calling for computer security at the Ministry of Tourism to be beefed up following the discovery of a virus on a ministry server on Tuesday.

Mr D’Aguilar confirmed the existence of the virus to reporters yesterday, saying the agency’s information technology (IT) department is “working assiduously” to correct the matter.

He also stressed the importance of government agencies not becoming “complacent” regarding cyber security.

When asked to respond to rumours that there was a hacking at his ministry, Mr D’Aguilar said a virus was found.

“Yesterday we found a virus on our server that began to corrupt some files,” he said. “The servers were shut down immediately and we think that we can repair the damage that’s been done, but we’re still assessing. I certainly use the server for my email and I haven’t had a problem.

“But I’m sure, I’ve heard that some persons in the Ministry of Tourism had files that got corrupted and they couldn’t - but I think we identified and caught it early enough that the situation can be resolved.”

Regarding whether he’s calling for security to be beefed up, Mr D’Aguilar said: “Oh, absolutely. You just have to make sure that all your subscriptions are paid up and that all of your software and necessary security protocols are working as they should be.”

He also said he does not believe any sensitive information was breached.

When asked if an investigation is underway, Mr D’Aguilar replied: “Well the IT department at the Ministry of Tourism (is) working assiduously to correct it. I haven’t heard of any traumatic loss of data or any large corrupted files or large amount of files that were corrupted. So we’ll wait and see. I haven’t gotten the full report yet.”

He also asked if an investigation is being conducted to determine where the virus came from.

To this, he replied: “How the virus got there? Yes I’m sure…But you know, the question is not how it got there, it’s what we could have put in place to prevent it from getting there.

“There will always be viruses trying to get on your computers, on your cellphones, everything, so you just have to make sure that you have the necessary protocols in place to ensure that it doesn’t happen.

“And keep that software up to date and relevant and not just get complacent. Think that you bought an anti-virus software ten years ago, it’s still going to work today, is unrealistic.”

Mr D’Aguilar also said the matter is being dealt with in-house, adding the ministry has “sufficient expertise” to do so and a “very robust IT department”.

Comments

birdiestrachan says...

Mr: D'Aguilar it seems to me that there has been an increase in Tourist loosing
their live and being injured lately.

I stand to be corrected. but it just seems so,

Posted 18 July 2019, 5:35 p.m. Suggest removal

pileit says...

Yes Birdie you right, sharks don't attack under the glorious, blessed PLP, we better vote yinna back in quick before more people get bite up...

Posted 19 July 2019, 8:06 a.m. Suggest removal

geostorm says...

@pilet......LOL! You made me laugh hard just now.

Posted 19 July 2019, 12:10 p.m. Suggest removal

Well_mudda_take_sic says...

> I think we identified and caught it early enough that the situation can be resolved.

And we, the Bahamian people, think D'Aguilar knows too little for all of the thinking he claims to do. LMAO

Posted 18 July 2019, 9:07 p.m. Suggest removal

TheMadHatter says...

I is keep a Mangum XXXL pulled over my computer at all times. Screen a little hard to read, but it's worth it.

Posted 19 July 2019, 10:22 a.m. Suggest removal

DDK says...

Mad as a March hare lol!

Posted 19 July 2019, 12:04 p.m. Suggest removal

yeahyasee says...

LMAO

Posted 19 July 2019, 2:21 p.m. Suggest removal

Kalikgold says...

my bad I shall stop watching porn on the office computers

Posted 19 July 2019, 1:17 p.m. Suggest removal

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