Digital attacks seen to worsen during rainy season

MANILA, Philippines — Cybersecurity giant Kaspersky has warned that fraudulent activities would likely rise in the coming months as Filipinos will be forced to shift to online transactions during the rainy season.

Kaspersky urged Filipinos to be prepared for a possible resurgence in digital fraud, as cybercrimes tend to multiply when digital transactions balloon, such as during rainy periods.

Kaspersky general manager for Southeast Asia Yeo Siang Tiong told businesses and consumers to be ready for new waves of digital attacks in the second half of the year.

“As more Filipinos turn to online platforms for their transactions during the rainy season, the risk of cyber threats increases significantly. It is crucial for individuals and businesses alike to remain vigilant and to adopt robust cybersecurity measures to protect personal and financial information from potential attacks,” Tiong said.

For instance, Filipinos will likely settle their bills, purchase goods and do banking online during the rainy stretch to avoid the hassle. They may also complete some of their transactions digitally without leaving their homes.

Kaspersky also noted that Filipinos love to shop online whatever the season is, buying products, from electronics to groceries, in e-commerce platforms like Lazada and Shopee.

Tiong said these online transactions expose Filipinos to cybercrimes, especially phishing scams, malware attacks and digital fraud.

As such, Tiong said Filipinos have to adopt several measures to make sure that they can defend themselves from potential attacks that could lead to financial losses.

First, Kaspersky reminded Filipinos of the need to use strong, unique passwords for their online accounts. The Moscow-based cybersecurity giant said passwords have to be changed regularly to decrease the likelihood of falling victim to identity theft.

Second, Kaspersky underscored the urgency of installing antivirus software. The company said it is important to be protected by an antivirus program to identify cyber threats, such as malware.