PHL seen as a global cybersecurity hub, says Viettel

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

A stronger cybersecurity agenda for the nation

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

DICT, CICC warn of Nov 5 cyber threat

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.

Mastercard launches anti-cyber fraud system

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's Built-In AI Defenses on Android Now Block 10 Billion Scam Messages a Month

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.

Secure Boot or Bust Under the New EU Cyber Law

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.

NPC probes alleged GCash data leak; firm says systems remain secure

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.

Meta and TikTok to obey Australia under-16 social media ban

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.

Healthcare data privacy advancements and new tech standards

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.

The cost of complacency: Navigating the high stakes of modern cybersecurity

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.

Why You Should Swap Passwords for Passphrases

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.

Meta Rolls Out New Tools to Protect WhatsApp and Messenger Users from Scams

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.

Fragmented data governance a challenge to pursue to innovation and good governance

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.

PhilHealth Supports Cybersecurity Month: No Personal Data Collected on Social Media

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.

New Singapore law empowers commission to block harmful online content

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.

Prioritize DICT in 2026 budget

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.

Why the Philippines must prepare for AI-driven data breaches

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.

Students, schools prioritized under Konektadong Pinoy Act, DICT Director says

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.

Experts warn AI could widen PH digital divide without urgent reforms

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

DTI Launches E-Commerce Trustmark

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.

The cost of complacency: Navigating the high stakes of modern cybersecurity

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.

DICT: Hackers Leaked PhilHealth Data

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.[...]

Data Privacy Roadshow 2023

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.

Why the Philippines must prepare for AI-driven data breaches

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.