In an ongoing effort to combat scams, frauds, and account takeovers, the country’s most popular finance super app, GCash, is now barring ‘jailbroken’ and ‘rooted’ devices, effective immediately as a precautionary step against potential security weaknesses of modified smartphones.

Meanwhile, devices running in “developer mode”, in which some users configure the operating system for testing software and applications, have also been identified as vulnerable to attacks and will be prevented from accessing the app.

The practice of altering the normal settings of a mobile device’s operating system by the manufacturer or operator is referred to as ‘jailbreaking’ for iOS and ‘rooting’ for Android. GCash stresses that using jailbroken or rooted phones will not block or cause the cancellation of a GCash account. However, using these modified devices will prohibit the user from opening the GCash app on the said device. This includes phones in developer mode, which should be switched off before using the app.

According to GCash’s Chief Technology and Operations Officer Pebbles Sy, using a modified device can have severe consequences for security.

“Firstly, these devices cannot receive critical security updates, making them susceptible to viruses and various threats. Secondly, they are at an elevated risk of malware, which can result in system corruption and some sensitive personal information being compromised, including login credentials, passwords, and PINs,” explained Sy.

“Lastly, users of such devices may inadvertently expose their personal and financial data, including credit card details and online access credentials, to scammers and hackers, potentially leading to unauthorized access and fraudulent activities,” she added.

The leading fintech super app strongly advises its users to only use unmodified smartphones to access the app. GCash also cautions its customers against rooting and jailbreaking since it not only compromises security but also raises the chance of ‘bricking’ the phone or irreparably destroying its software, leaving the device useless.

Modding also voids the smartphone’s warranty, which means that the manufacturer will no longer fix the device if there are any problems. Having the device fixed by an unlicensed business also raises the danger of revealing sensitive data that the repair shop may get. Finally, GCash highly advises buying new phones rather than retaining hacked handsets to safeguard their safety.

GCash remains committed to providing a secure and seamless user experience for its customers. This latest security update underscores the company’s dedication to protecting the interests and personal data of its valued users.(PR)

TACLOBAN CITY– Three students of Saint Joseph College (SJC) in Maasin City were hit by lightning on Monday (Sept.26), with one eventually succumbing due to the severe wounds he sustained.

Based on a statement released by SJC, the three victims were part of a group of Criminology students who were participating in an activity held at the sunken garden at the provincial capitol grounds when the accident happened at about 6 pm.

While the school did not name the students, they were identified in a police report as Jhundel Suganob, 19, second year; Alexis Baron De Vera,20, third year; and Cezar Ray Batas,21, second year.

The three sustained injuries due to the lightning strike but it was Suganob who suffered major burns on his body, the report said.

He was brought to the Eastern Visayas Medical Center (EVMC) in this city while the two remained confined at the Salvacion Oppus Yñiguez Memorial Provincial Hospital (SLYMPH) in Maasin City.

The statement of the SJC-Criminology department said that prior to the freak accident, the weather was moderately warm but in the afternoon, it became cloudy with mild drizzle.

“Everything was well until a sudden burst of strong winds and downpour buffeted the area associated with lightning flashes brought about by a thunderstorm overhead,” it said.
“Three of our criminology students were hit by a ground current brought about by a lightning strike on a tree,” the statement added.

The victims took shelter under the tree that was hit by the lightning.
They were first brought to SOYMPH but one was transferred to EVMC as he was unresponsive.

The school said that it assisted the victims, particularly Suganob, who died while being treated at the EVMC.

Maasin City Mayor Naccional Mercado offered his condolence and sympathy to the family of Suganob. (JOEY A. GABIETA/ROBERT DEJON)

ORMOC CITY-An alleged drug suspect was killed in a buy-bust operation in the town of Sulat, Eastern Samar province on Tuesday (Sept.19).

The local police identified the suspect as Carlo Alcado, considered as a high value target, who reportedly drew his gun after he realized that he was dealing with an undercover agent during the sting operation in his home address in Barangay San Juan at about 6:15 am.

The operatives, belonging to the provincial drug enforcement unit of Eastern Samar Provincial Police Office, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and local police, fired back at the suspect, hitting him at the different parts of his body.

The law enforcers brought Alcado to a hospital where he was declared as dead on arrival.
Seized from Alcado were suspected shabu contained in two sachets with a commercial value of P10,000, Caliber 45 and five live ammunitions.
(ROBERT DEJON)

ORMOC CITY– A 19-year-old student suffered a slash on his neck after the suspect sneaked inside the house while he was asleep in Calbayog City last Sept. 21.

The victim, Kenth Ashly Ferrer, and a resident of Barangay Beloso, Almagro town in Samar while the suspect was identified as Melvin Campong, 27, who is from Brgy. Mabuhay, also in Almagro.

Ferrer had a sleepover at the house of his teacher in Barangay Rawis, Calbayog City, when at about 3:30 am the suspect, using a knife, slit his neck while he was in deep sleep.
The pain of his slashed neck with his blood oozing awakened the student and ran towards the bedroom of his teacher to ask for help.

The suspect, who is a helper of the house owner, was arrested after the incident by the Calbayog city police. Burglary was said to be the motive of the crime.

Ferrer had a sleepover at the house of his teacher, Nieves Geras, as there was no sea trip available on that day as the two just attended a school-related activity in Catbalogan City.
The victim is still recovering from the deep wound he sustained at the Eastern Visayas Medical Center in Tacloban City.
(ROBERT DEJON)

TACLOBAN CITY– An alleged member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed as a result of an encounter with government troops in San Jose de Buan, Samar on Monday (Sept.25) afternoon.

The rebel was killed in a 20-minute encounter in Sitio Salvacion of Barangay San Nicolas in the said town with the soldiers belonging to the 63rd Infantry Battalion at about 12:51 pm.
The encounter was a result of ‘running gun battles’ between the government troops and the 15 members of the communist armed group which started last Saturday(Sept.23) in the hinterland villages of Samar, B/Gen. Noel Vestuir, the commanding officer of the 802nd Infantry Brigade.

As of this writing, the dead body of the rebel is still in the area of encounter and will be turned over to village officials for identification purposes.

It was learned that the communist rebels were said to be members of the Yakal platoon of the sub-regional committee ‘Browser’ that operates in the western parts of Samar Island.
These areas are now the target of ‘massive operations’ by the government troops, Vestuir said.

“We are optimistic that with the timely information provided by the local residents in the area, our troops will locate and hit their targets including the formations of the remnants of the NPA terrorist,” he said in a statement.

“The cooperation of the communities and the local leaders is a clear manifestation of the dwindling support of the masses that would eventually cut their alliance and ties with the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA-National Democratic Front(CPP-NPA-NDF) terrorists,” he added.

Vestuir urged the remaining NPA members who continue to fight against the government to surrender and return to the fold of the law.

“Now is the time to abandon your life of terror and danger in exchange for well-spent quality living with your families in the comforts of your home. I also call on the families of remaining NPA members to save your loved ones from peril and encourage them to heed the popular clamor of laying down their arms and join the bandwagon for peace,” he said.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)