On March 28, the Hanoi Police announced that the Department of Cybersecurity and High-Tech Crime Prevention had identified multiple official government websites being exploited to host or redirect to inappropriate content, including online gambling and betting games.

A common feature of these cyberattacks is that hackers exploit security loopholes to gain control over websites and servers, embedding malicious code or advertising links. As a result, users attempting to access any content on the affected sites are redirected to gambling or betting websites.

Such unauthorized embedding of hidden gambling ads and online betting content can significantly damage the reputation of government agencies. It also poses severe risks to cybersecurity, information safety, and an increased threat of online gambling and betting crimes.

To address these unlawful activities promptly, the Cybersecurity and High-Tech Crime Prevention Department of the Hanoi Police has issued several recommendations for system administrators. 

They should conduct a comprehensive review of all websites under their management, with special attention to source code files. It is essential to be particularly cautious of newly created files or those with timestamps differing from most files in the same directory. 

Administrators should regularly check administrative and database access passwords and perform a thorough cybersecurity assessment of the entire system. Implementing automated monitoring solutions to detect unusual changes will help ensure timely responses. 

Additionally, monitoring measures should be strengthened, and contingency plans prepared to address signs of tampering, exploitation, or cyberattacks. It is also recommended to follow warning channels from relevant authorities and major information security organizations regularly to promptly detect and address potential cyber threats.

Tien Dung