Think about the last time you made a payment. It was likely completed through your smartphone, authenticated by biometrics, and finished in seconds – without your physical card ever changing hands.
(GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA) today announced the launch of Data Privacy Week 2026, taking place from January 26 to January 30, 2026. Centered on the theme "Take Control of Your Data,” the initiative underscores the growing need for individuals and organizations to better understand how their personal information is collected, shared, and used - and how small, informed actions can help protect their privacy.
The new US-controlled TikTok entity's privacy terms have sparked concern among American users after disclosures in the updated policy suggested it may process highly sensitive personal information, including citizenship, immigration status and sexual orientation. TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, a majority American-owned company created to operate TikTok in the United States, updated its Terms of Service and Privacy Policy as part of a legal and structural transition that will determine whether the platform can continue serving more than 200 million American users.
Europe has long taken a cautious, privacy-first approach to regulating artificial intelligence, positioning itself as a global counterweight to the more permissive frameworks seen in the U.S. and parts of Asia. But with European policymakers now signaling potential rollbacks to some of the EU’s strictest AI and data-privacy rules, the region could be entering a pivotal moment—one that reshapes how quickly AI technologies are developed, tested and deployed across industries.
Maya reaffirmed its support for the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s (DICT) Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) through the agency’s Scam Safe initiative, supporting efforts to strengthen public awareness and understanding of online scams and cyber fraud.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. met on Tuesday with the top executives of DAMAC Digital to discuss planned investments in the Philippines, including the establishment of a data center in Laguna.
THE country’s data privacy regulator is reviewing a Christmas marketing campaign by Jollibee Foods Corp. carried out on messaging platform Viber, after receiving user complaints that branded content appeared inside private chats.
As the country ushers in the New Year 2026, the National Privacy Commission (NPC) is encouraging Filipinos to include data privacy in their New Year’s resolutions by adopting safer and more responsible online practices
CONNECTIVITY has always been the backbone of digital growth. The Konektadong Pinoy Act is giving that backbone more reach, opening doors for businesses in the Philippines to join the digital economy and leverage technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) to transform services and reach new markets.
MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered a lending app operator to pay damages to a client after it accessed her contact list and sent messages about her outstanding loan.
Protecting children online now requires planning for two fast-moving risks: AI-driven scams that imitate real people and brands, and hyper-personalized ads that learn what persuades a child and then keep pushing it.
THE British Chamber of Commerce Philippines (BCCP) calls on prioritizing the passage of the Cybersecurity Act under the 20th Congress. The move to further digitalize the country should be accompanied by stronger cybersecurity measures in place as well as improving the Philippines’ cybersecurity awareness and infrastructure.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is planning to mandate the establishment of cyber resilience frameworks among capital market participants to protect investors, foster trust in the Philippine capital market and promote market stability.
In today’s hyperconnected world, the information security landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation. What began as a compliance-driven function has evolved into a critical strategic pillar—one focused on both prevention and resilience. For CIOs, CISOs and CEOs, understanding this evolution is essential if you want to ensure long-term business continuity and competitiveness.
Cyber Security Tips for 2026: The digital world is becoming more convenient every day, but it is also turning increasingly dangerous. With cybercrime evolving rapidly, experts warn that online fraud, identity theft, and financial scams are likely to rise further in 2026
CLOUD computing now anchors the Philippines’ digital transformation, powering smarter banking, faster government services, and more connected businesses. But as cloud adoption accelerates, so does the question of accountability: Who is truly responsible for keeping our data, applications, and systems secure?
The National Privacy Commission (NPC) held a Turnover Ceremony and Cadence Meeting with Secretary of Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Hon. Henry Rhoel Aguda on December 17, 2025, to formally align priorities and ensure continuity of operations following the assumption of office of Privacy Commissioner Atty. Johann Carlos S. Barcena.
Cybersecurity today is no longer confined to firewalls, patch updates, or endpoint protection. The real battleground lies in human behavior, how employees think, decide, and act in the face of digital threats.
As we prepare to close out 2025, the Computer Weekly Security Think Tank panel looks back at the past year, and ahead to 2026.
Children across Australia woke up on Wednesday with no access to their social media accounts under a world-first ban designed to shelter those under 16 from addictive algorithms, online predators, and digital bullies. No other nation has taken such sweeping measures, and the rollout of the tough new law is being closely watched by legislators around the globe.
Artificial intelligence (AI) agents are a breeze to create using Microsoft Copilot Studio, and almost just as easy to manipulate into divulging sensitive corporate data. Despite broad security concerns about AI agents, last year, Microsoft decided to allow even totally nontechnical users to deploy their own autonomous bots. You don't need to know how to code at all now — using a simple graphical interface, employees can spin up robots that automate business processes, integrate with other business platforms, and can perform customer-facing functions.
Australia’s social media ban has come into effect today. How will it work and which platforms will be included on the full list of banned apps? Here’s what you need to know
Former COMELEC Commissioner Rowena Guanzon went viral over the weekend for a heated confrontation with a couple in a mall, recorded by someone who happened to witness the incident. Now facing backlash, Guanzon released a short video defending her actions, ending it with the claim that the person who recorded and uploaded the video had “violated her right to privacy,” which she insists is a “criminal offense.”
Philippine data centre developer and operator A-FLOW – the JV partnership between PAG-owned FLOW Digital Infrastructure and AyalaLand Logistics (ALLHC) – has officially launched its first data centre in the Philippines, over a year after the facility was topped off.
The Government Communications Security Bureau's (GCSB) National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is warning thousands of New Zealanders that their devices may be compromised by a type of malicious software known as Lumma Stealer. About 26,000 email addresses were believed to be impacted by the malware, a NCSC statement said Wednesday.
As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes woven into the fabric of daily life – powering automation, analytics, and decision-making – it simultaneously opens new vulnerabilities for attackers to exploit.
THE Philippine Institute of Cyber Security Professionals (PICSPro) has urged government and industry leaders to accelerate “long overdue” cybersecurity reforms, warning that recent intrusions into government systems reveal the country’s alarming vulnerabilities.
The Philippine Institute of Cyber Security Professionals (PICSPro) urged government and industry leaders to improve what they said are "long overdue" reforms in the Philippines’ cybersecurity framework The group warned that recent intrusions into government systems have shown how vulnerable the country’s cybersecurity is.
MANILA, Philippines — The Araneta Group of Companies detected a cybersecurity breach affecting three of its business units.
As threats grow more sophisticated, agentic AI helps cyber security teams work smarter by handling routine tasks and helping junior analysts level up more quickly
The Philippines is set to receive a major financial boost for its technology sector. The European Union has granted the country €22.6 million, worth about Php1.4 billion, to speed up PH digital transformation.
The UAE Cyber Security Council has issued a warning about the increasing dangers of using untrusted public charging ports, revealing that 79% of travellers unknowingly put their personal data at risk when charging devices at unsecured public stations, as reported by ANI.
THE PHILIPPINES needs to strengthen its cyber resilience amid increasing threats emerging from the digital domain, including cyber attacks and foreign information manipulation.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is giving priority to the cybersecurity of its information infrastructure as it seeks to jumpstart the digital economy, which has been stagnating in the past years.
In a world where information travels faster than ever, being connected online has become a defining part of how young people learn, express themselves, and engage with others.
THE UNITED STATES eyes integration of anti-cyberthreat technology in its annual Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) war games with the Philippines, an embassy official said on Thursday.
The EU is responding to calls by businesses and member states that have argued the bloc needs to keep up with tech innovation. Meanwhile, cookie consent pop-up banners are also set to be scaled back.
AI has raised the bar for what qualifies as “good data.” The conversation is no longer about how much data marketers can collect but how well that data reflects reality. In this new era, success depends on data that is accurate, fresh, consented and interoperable – principles that ensure AI models learn from accuracy.
South Korea and the United States kicked off a joint cybersecurity exercise Monday to strengthen their combined readiness posture against potential cybersecurity threats from enemies.
As we navigate an increasingly digital landscape, the threats to our enterprise security seem to multiply at an alarming rate. From sophisticated malware attacks to data breaches, organizations face a relentless barrage of cybersecurity challenges. Fortunately, the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers a groundbreaking solution.
The world is becoming increasingly paperless, and most organizations, including federal agencies, are following suit. Switching from paper-based processes to digital ones offers great benefits. However, the security and compliance challenges that come with this shift aren’t to be taken lightly.
SINGAPORE - Board members of the operators of critical services in Singapore will need to go through cyber security training, as part of new requirements that will be codified within the first quarter of 2026.
The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will require large IT services companies, including datacentres, to report security incidents within 24 hours
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) and Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) issued an advisory on Wednesday (Nov 12) warning members of the public about the dangers of using non-certified streaming devices.
The UK government introduced its long-awaited Cyber Security and Resilience Bill to parliament this morning, promising that it will help bolster national security and protect the economy
The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence tools in Australian workplaces could lead to a new wave of cyber security risks, particularly among smaller enterprises, according to the peak accountancy body CPA Australia
Vietnamese cybersecurity company Viettel Cyber Security said that it envisions the Philippines as a global cybersecurity hub despite rampant cyber threats and attacks across different industries. “We also want to define the Philippines as the hub for cybersecurity, not for Asia, but I think for the whole world,” Viettel Cyber Security Country Manager Thomas Luu told BusinessWorld in an interview
Along with the rise of e-commerce, digitalization, and connectivity, there is the emergence of new threats and challenges. Recent reports suggest that the Philippines is an “attractive target” for global threat actors due to its shift to digital payments and heavy social media use. In response to these growing vulnerabilities, key stakeholders from both the public and private sectors have been working to strengthen the country’s digital defenses through dialogue and collaboration
LAWMAKERS have proposed the creation of an annual Cybersecurity Risk Management and Mitigation Fund (CRMMF) to strengthen the country’s defenses against increasing cyber threats targeting government institutions and private businesses.
On Oct. 29, 2025, the British Chamber of Commerce Philippines (BCCP) successfully concluded its Trade Connect event titled "Revolutionizing Finance Towards a Cyber-Resilient FinTech Industry" with its sponsor: NCC Group Philippines, venue partner: Flat Planet Workspace, and supporting partner: P&A Grant Thornton.
Google’s Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) has seen several new and interesting ways in which malware has been leveraging artificial intelligence, going beyond its use for productivity gains.
THE Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has issued a public warning about the possibility of Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks on November 5, a date globally recognized by hacktivist groups as a symbolic moment for digital protest. These attacks could severely disrupt government websites and financial platforms, exposing vulnerabilities in public systems.
Critical vulnerabilities in Microsoft Teams, a platform central to workplace communication for over 320 million users worldwide, enable attackers to impersonate executives and tamper with messages undetected.
Details have emerged about a now-patched critical security flaw in the popular "@react-native-community/cli" npm package that could be potentially exploited to run malicious operating system (OS) commands under certain conditions.
Cybersecurity researchers have disclosed details of four security flaws in Microsoft Teams that could have exposed users to serious impersonation and social engineering attacks.
Google's artificial intelligence (AI)-powered cybersecurity agent called Big Sleep has been credited by Apple for discovering as many as five different security flaws in the WebKit component used in its Safari web browser that, if successfully exploited, could result in a browser crash or memory corruption.
Microsoft has disclosed details of a novel backdoor dubbed SesameOp that uses OpenAI Assistants Application Programming Interface (API) for command-and-control (C2) communications.
GLOBAL payment network Mastercard on Thursday debuted its” Threat Intelligence” solution to prevent payment fraud at scale — combining cybersecurity insights and payment data to help financial institutions address cyber theft with efficiency.
Google on Thursday revealed that the scam defenses built into Android safeguard users around the world from more than 10 billion suspected malicious calls and messages every month. The tech giant also said it has blocked over 100 million suspicious numbers from using Rich Communication Services (RCS), an evolution of the SMS protocol, thereby preventing scams before they could even be sent.
Cybersecurity researchers have uncovered yet another active software supply chain attack campaign targeting the npm registry with over 100 malicious packages that can steal authentication tokens, CI/CD secrets, and GitHub credentials from developers' machines.
A sophisticated malware campaign exploiting Near Field Communication technology on Android devices has expanded dramatically since its emergence in April 2024. What began as isolated incidents has escalated into a widespread threat, with over 760 malicious applications now circulating in the wild.
MANILA, Philippines — Operations against digital crimes are expected to intensify after the Philippines signed the United Nations Convention Against Cybercrimes.
As the EU’s new cybersecurity laws take effect, device makers must either build secure boot into their products or fall behind compliance and consumer trust. EU’s push for built-in integrity As the EU’s new cybersecurity rulebook lands, one message to device makers (and their customers) stands out: if your gadget can run code, you must prove that only trusted code runs at boot, during updates, and throughout its life.
AS the Philippines accelerates its push for digitalization, the same progress has increased exposure to cyber threats. According to Viettel Cyber Security, one of Asia’s leading cybersecurity firms, the country recorded a 49 percent surge in data breaches in Quarter 3 (Q3) 2025, exposing over 52 million credentials in just three months.
The National Privacy Commission (NPC) has launched an investigation into the alleged data breach involving GCash operator G-Xchange Inc., which has denied such claims and maintained that its systems remain secure. In a statement released Monday, the NPC — tasked to ensure the Philippines’ compliance with international data standards — said its Complaints and Investigation Division has already issued G-Xchange Inc. a notice to explain to obtain further details on the alleged incident.
A growing wave of caller ID spoofing attacks, in which criminals falsify the number displayed on a phone to appear legitimate, has prompted Europol to call for urgent, coordinated action across Europe.
Tech giants Meta and TikTok said Tuesday they will obey Australia's under-16 social media ban but warned the landmark laws could prove difficult to enforce. Australia will from December 10 force social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok to remove users under the age of 16.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology’s Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) said Tuesday that the supposed leaked data involving GCash operator G-Xchange Inc. did not originate from the mobile wallet’s systems.
Hundreds of millions of patients worldwide share extremely personal information with doctors and institutions, and they expect it to stay safe. In 2025, protecting medical information is time-consuming and costly, but healthcare data privacy advancements and new tech standards help with that.
Companies have built their security strategies around phishing simulations and educational webinars, tactics that research shows are ineffective.
A malicious network of YouTube accounts has been observed publishing and promoting videos that lead to malware downloads, essentially abusing the popularity and trust associated with the video hosting platform for propagating malicious payloads.
Microsoft on Thursday released out-of-band security updates to patch a critical-severity Windows Server Update Service (WSUS) vulnerability with a proof-of-concept (Poc) exploit publicly available and has come under active exploitation in the wild.
Cybersecurity is a business imperative in today’s interconnected world. As the digital landscape rapidly evolves, so do the threats that define it. According to the newly released 2025 Comcast Business Cybersecurity Threat Report, attacks are increasing in volume, speed, and stealth, with a rise in phishing attempts, DDoS attacks, and compromised websites that lead to malicious software.
OpenAI's latest innovation, ChatGPT Atlas, has quickly taken the world by storm as the AI-integrated web service blends automation intelligence with real-time browsing.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and the National Privacy Commission (NPC) have forged a partnership aimed at bolstering data privacy protection and ensuring regulatory compliance across the country’s gaming sector.
As machine identities explode across cloud environments, enterprises report dramatic productivity gains from eliminating static credentials. And only legacy systems remain the weak link.
The AWS outage that caused widespread global disruption for about half of Monday has officially been resolved, but numerous lingering issues remain that could take days or even weeks to fully resolve
The advice didn't change for decades: use complex passwords with uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols. The idea is to make passwords harder for hackers to crack via brute force methods. But more recent guidance shows our focus should be on password length, rather than complexity. Length is the more important security factor, and passphrases are the simplest way to get your users to create (and remember!) longer passwords.
To that end, the company said it's introducing new warnings on WhatsApp when users attempt to share their screen with an unknown contact during a video call so as to prevent them from giving away sensitive information like bank details or verification codes. On Messenger, users can opt to enable a setting called "Scam detection" by navigating to Privacy safety settings. Once it's turned on, users are alerted when they receive a potentially suspicious message from an unknown connection that may contain signs of a scam.
Fashion retailer MANGO is notifying customers of a third-party data breach that compromised their personal information.
THE Philippines grapples with significant obstacles in establishing a robust and coherent data governance framework, a challenge underscored by the recent D4DAsia Synthesis Report. The study, involving LIRNEasia, Disini Law, and other partners, paints a picture of a fragmented landscape where a unified, overarching data governance law remains absent. Instead, the country relies on a patchwork of laws, creating gaps and inconsistencies that hinder both innovation and the beneficial use of data.
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) stands firm to its commitment to protecting the privacy and personal data of all its members. Its feedback channel through the Corporate Action Center does not collect personal information on official social media pages such as Facebook, X (formerly twitter), YouTube, Instagram, Tiktok and Spotify.
Meta (META.O), opens new tab said on Friday it will let parents disable their teens' private chats with AI characters, adding another measure to make its social media platforms safe for minors after fierce criticism over the behavior of its flirty chatbots.
Singapore will introduce a new online safety commission with powers to order social media platforms to block harmful posts, according to a new bill that was tabled in parliament on Wednesday. The new law comes after researchers from the Infocomm Media Development Authority found in February that more than half of legitimate user complaints about harmful posts relating to issues like child abuse and cyber-bullying had not been immediately addressed.
Instagram will limit what users under 18 can see on the platform using filters inspired by the PG-13 movie rating system, in the latest step by its parent Meta (META.O), opens new tab to address criticism that it has not done enough to protect teenagers online.
The European Commission is scrutinising safeguards for minors on Snapchat, YouTube, the Apple App Store and Google Play under its Digital Services Act (DSA)
The government spends some P12 billion a year on cloud services, with 90 percent of its data stored mainly in Singapore. This was disclosed at the House budget deliberations last Sept. 30, and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and legislators all agree that this is a potential national security risk as sensitive information is kept outside the government’s jurisdiction.
Growing pessimism about online dating is causing some women to turn to artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots for romantic companionship.
As cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure rise, the water and power sector faces mounting risks from legacy systems, underinvestment and growing regulatory pressure
FILIPINOS love the internet. With 97.5 million people online, equivalent to 83.8% of the population, the Philippines ranks among the heaviest internet users in the world. Nearly all of these internet users (98.5%) access it through their mobile phones, spending close to nine hours online daily. About five of those hours are spent on mobile devices, with the remainder spent on desktops and tablets.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) National ICT Planning, Policy, and Standards Bureau Director Maria Victoria Castro affirmed that students and schools are central priorities of the Konektadong Pinoy Act, highlighting the law’s focus on strengthening internet infrastructure in areas surrounding schools.
Artificial intelligence (AI) may deepen the digital divide in the Philippines unless the government urgently strengthens data systems, expands digital connectivity, and implements safeguards, experts warned during the 11th Annual Public Policy Conference (APPC) on Thursday, Sept. 25
Artificial intelligence (AI) could worsen the digital divide in the Philippines unless the government quickly strengthens data systems, expands digital connectivity, and implements safeguards, experts said at a conference on Sept. 18, 2025.
A cyber attack on a check-in and boarding systems provider disrupted operations at major European airports, including the continent’s busiest, Heathrow Airport, causing flight delays and cancellations
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) clarified and assured the public that the eGov PH App is not hacked or compromised.
Major airports across Europe are trying to cope with travel disruptions following cyber attacks against their electronic check-in and boarding system
MANILA, Philippines — Generative AI has taken the internet by storm. As Filipino users increasingly rely on AI tools for quick answers, the good old practice of engaging directly with original content is fading fast.
Several groups of private information security professionals in the country called on lawmakers to address cybersecurity risks in the Konektadong Pinoy Bill.
On June 27, 2025, the Department of Trade and Industry issued the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) on the E-Commerce Philippine Trustmark (TRUSTMARK) to initiate its establishment and rollout pursuant to its mandate to promote trust, safety, and fairness in the electronic commerce (e-commerce) sphere.
Companies have built their security strategies around phishing simulations and educational webinars, tactics that research shows are ineffective.
A malicious network of YouTube accounts has been observed publishing and promoting videos that lead to malware downloads, essentially abusing the popularity and trust associated with the video hosting platform for propagating malicious payloads.
Cybersecurity is a business imperative in today’s interconnected world. As the digital landscape rapidly evolves, so do the threats that define it. According to the newly released 2025 Comcast Business Cybersecurity Threat Report, attacks are increasing in volume, speed, and stealth, with a rise in phishing attempts, DDoS attacks, and compromised websites that lead to malicious software.
Local broadband service provider Converge has blocked around 183 billion attempts to access illegal sites in 2024, around 18 times as much as the attempts from 2021 to 2023.
In today’s digital landscape, where data transcends borders easily, the importance of data privacy has escalated; this brings us to a crucial question: Can the world plan a single, all-encompassing data privacy law? [...]
Filipino taxpayers can now avail themselves of their digital Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) announced Thursday. [...]
The AWS outage that caused widespread global disruption for about half of Monday has officially been resolved, but numerous lingering issues remain that could take days or even weeks to fully resolve
Digital solutions platform Globe and Security Bank have joined forces to strengthen cybersecurity efforts in response to the increasing volume and sophistication of financial crimes in the Philippines. [...]
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano urged the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to hire more cybersecurity experts amid the series of hacking and data breaches of government websites. [...]
Gen. Benjamin Acorda, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), has ordered the boosting of cybersecurity of all data down to the police stations amid the series of data breaches on government agencies. [...]
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said some personal information that “resembled” those from the site OneExpert was compromised following a data leak incident late in August. [...]
Hackers have leaked the compromised data from a recent ransomware attack against the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said Thursday.[...]
The Supreme Court (SC) is set to finish its review on protective writs by early next year.[...]
With digitisation accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, data collection is now a default part of our daily lives and the regulation of data use has become central to the right to privacy. [...]
The Data Privacy Council (DP Council), in cooperation with the National Privacy Commission (NPC), embarked on the first leg of the Data Privacy Roadshow on September 8, 2023, at the SMX Convention Center in Clark, Pampanga in pursuit of strengthening data privacy knowledge and compliance.
FILIPINOS love the internet. With 97.5 million people online, equivalent to 83.8% of the population, the Philippines ranks among the heaviest internet users in the world. Nearly all of these internet users (98.5%) access it through their mobile phones, spending close to nine hours online daily. About five of those hours are spent on mobile devices, with the remainder spent on desktops and tablets.
MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) have entered into a data sharing agreement (DSA) in a bid to provide better trade services. [...]