3.4 billion phishing emails are sent worldwide daily, and consumers lose a staggering $8.8 billion to identity theft a year.
It goes without saying that Filipinos love spending time online. Be it Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), especially TikTok, many of us could spend hours on end scrolling through our feed, watching videos, browsing stories, and getting updated on our loved ones and the rest of the world.
As much as we love navigating the online world, however, we are still very much vulnerable to cybercrimes. This is especially alarming given that we are one of the top internet users in the world.
Among the world’s top internet users
In the 2024 report released by DataReportal, published in partnership with Meltwater and We Are Social, it was found out Filipinos are still the top consumers of online video content. The study reported that 97.2 percent of online users in the Philippines watched videos online at least once a week in the third quarter of 2023.
In 2023, PLDT prevented 478 million SMShing messages from reaching PLDT and Smart customers and blocked more than 28 billion attempts to access malicious domains.
This is the highest rate among the countries included in the report, with Mexico and South Africa following closely at 97 percent, with the global average at 92 percent.
Moreover, Filipino internet users aged 16 to 64 spent an average of eight hours and 52 minutes per day using the internet, with 3.75 hours scrolling through social media—the third longest globally. South Africans still spent the most time online at nine hours and 24 minutes, followed closely by Brazil with nine hours and 13 minutes.
The report also validated what seems to be a rather common observation—Filipinos love social media. The Philippines ranked fourth in terms of spending time on social media platforms, with the average user spending three hours and 34 minutes. Leading the list was Kenya with three hours and 43 minutes, followed by South Africa with three hours and 41 minutes, and Brazil with three hours and 37 minutes.
More time online, more vulnerability
What are the possible implications of these findings? Numbers show the more time spent online, the more one becomes vulnerable to cyber threats. Every time you are online, your personal information runs the risk of being exposed to cybercriminals who could access and misuse data for their own malicious gain.
According to a study, 3.4 billion phishing emails are sent daily, with 1 in every 4,200 emails a phishing scam. In 2022 alone, there were 5.7 million reports of fraud and identity theft worldwide, resulting in consumers losing a staggering $8.8 billion to identity theft.
When you click on links, even those that seem authentic, most especially when inadvertently sent by those whom you trust, malware can find its way into your gadgets, leaving your information vulnerable to data breaches.
This can compromise personal data, including usernames, passwords, bank accounts, medical records, and other sensitive information—further leading to identity theft, financial fraud, and other damages once malicious hackers take control over your accounts.
Leveling up cybersecurity—especially at home
Knowing all too well the gravity of cyberthreats, especially among Filipinos, the PLDT Group has been investing billions of pesos to safeguard its customers from such vulnerabilities. As a result, in 2023, the company prevented 478 million SMShing messages from reaching PLDT and Smart customers and blocked more than 28 billion attempts to access malicious domains.
To further elevate its cybersecurity efforts, PLDT Home partners with premier global cybersecurity company Kaspersky. Starting this June, PLDT Home will grant a complimentary 24-month Kaspersky Premium Security license good for three personal devices per active Fiber subscriber.
“When cybercriminals attack individuals, the inconvenience, financial loss, and potential embarrassment can be endless. That is why we believe that cybersecurity education and protection should start at home,” said Jeremiah de la Cruz, PLDT senior vice president and head of Consumer Business – Home.
“This partnership with Kaspersky allows our customers to gain another level of protection at home while enjoying the benefits of fast and reliable connectivity to enrich their lifestyle.”
Strengthened commitment to cybersecurity
Sixty-seven percent of Filipinos know the importance of installing endpoint security apps, but only two out of every 10 have one installed. Through this partnership with PLDT Home, clients will now have access to Kaspersky Premium Security, a brand synonymous with top-notch antivirus capabilities.
More than that, however, the award-winning brand also strengthens privacy and identity protection, boosts device performance, and has a suite of other benefits such as unlimited VPN and password management. As proof of its first-rate cybersecurity services, in 2022, Kaspersky blocked 52,914 financial phishing incidents in the Philippines.
Business Home, and Kaspersky co-founder and CEO, during the media launch of the PLDT Home x Kaspersky partnership last May 16 in Discovery Primea, Makati
With Kaspersky Premium Security installed in your gadgets, you are assured of a multilayered approach to cybersecurity, combining signature-based detection, heuristic analysis, behavioral monitoring, web protection, and automatic updates to provide comprehensive protection against a wide range of malware threats, helping secure customers’ devices from cyber threats.
It also provides real-time protection while devices are connected to the internet 24/7, making sure all family members are protected when they access the internet at home at all times. It scans all files that are opened, saved, or launched on a computer and all connected drives, as well as incoming and outgoing emails.
The system also intercepts and blocks the execution of scripts on websites if they pose a threat, as well as monitors all web traffic and blocks access to dangerous websites. It even protects customers’ data when connected to unsecured Wi-Fi networks. On top of these, users can also remotely manage their computer from the My Kaspersky website.
“The Philippines has been one of the countries with the highest number of online attacks detected and blocked by our experts since 2021. Our partnership with PLDT Home is a new step toward the Philippines’ cybersecurity, combining the expertise of a trusted and leading digital provider with our experience and advanced security solutions,” shared Eugene Kaspersky, CEO of Kaspersky.
“Together, we are committed to enhancing digital safety and helping Filipinos navigate the online world with confidence, bringing on a safer future for their homes.”
To know more about Kaspersky Premium Security available through PLDT Home, visit https://pldthome.com/.
