PLDT Group has urged the public to be vigilant against cybersecurity threats that could breach their devices and hack their personal data.
PLDT and Smart’s Cyber Security Operations Group (CSOG) blocked more than 182 million attempts to breach the group’s digital infrastructure in 2022 after amassing more than 123 million indicators of compromise that it uses for cyberattack correlation.
“One of the biggest risks is a person’s behavior or attitude toward cybersecurity. If someone fails to take steps to protect his data and devices, it’s like leaving the door of the house open for robbers,” Angel Redoble, first vice president and chief Information security officer of PLDT and Smart, said.
According to CSOG, the human factor is a major contributor to cybersecurity incidents. A World Economic Forum study bared that 95 percent of cybersecurity issues can be traced to human error. CSOG says the lack of knowledge exposes users to vulnerabilities that criminals exploit.
“PLDT and Smart have built a culture of cybersecurity in the workforce. In 2022, we did not record a single breach due to employee negligence. Now, we are extending the same mindset to our customers, so they become cybersmart and don’t fall prey to cyber-attacks,” said Redoble.
On top of sending advisories, CSOG also regularly runs phishing simulations to employees of the PLDT group. Over the years, the number of employees taking the bait has declined. Employee reporting had also gone up by 574 percent since simulations started in 2019.
