Threat roundup: Asserting the need for greater digital security

MANILA, Philippines - “Are your secrets safe?” With the level of security breaches and large-scale attacks on privacy increasing, the answer to this question is the key every Filipino netizen needs to unlock the right security mindset.

According to Trend Micro’s 2013 annual threat roundup, “Cashing in on Digital Information,” the frequency of security breaches and targeted attacks and the developments in online banking and mobile threats make it nearly impossible for users to keep both their financial and personal data private.

Within the Internet lie thousands of phone numbers, e-mail addresses, banking credentials, photos and videos, and personal conversations — all of which are available for cybercriminals to use or sell.

“Filipinos may have a false sense of security because they are not aware of the dangers they are exposing themselves to when they overlook things such as mobile privacy and using original software,” said TrendLabs security focus lead Paul Oliveria.

“If there’s anything Filipinos need to learn from 2013, it is that we are no longer dealing with typical online scams and malware,” Oliveria added.

In a country associated with high software piracy rates according to a five-year study by the Business Software Alliance (BSA), Filipino users that install pirated software on their systems, more often than not, do not receive patches and software updates that help protect their devices and the data stored in them.

With Microsoft announcing the end of support for Windows XP slated for April 2014, Windows users — with roughly a quarter of Filipino Windows users still on Windows XP — will be unprotected targets from cybercriminal activities once system patches and security updates  are no longer provided. Unpatched systems are always vulnerable to threats like zero-day exploits or malware, which open up a user’s system or device to further compromise.

Moreover, Trend Micro’s annual report provides insight into the vulnerabilities of today’s rapidly interconnected and smart technologies. These new gadgets and processes open up more avenues and opportunities for cybercriminals to attack governments, business, including banks and retailers, as well as private individuals through home networks and mobile devices.

In spite of a 15 percent smartphone penetration rate in 2013, the Philippines is projected to see more Filipinos switching to smartphones this year. With 91 percent of the country’s smartphone users currently on Android, Filipinos should be more careful about what they do when they access the Internet on their devices, more so now given the challenge in obtaining Android OS updates.

Typical Android updates undergo a long process prior to widespread availability to the market. Google makes them available to device manufacturers who make updates compatible for their devices. This is then approved by the service providers before being released to their customers and subscribers.

In other words, the longer it takes for Android users to receive updates, the longer the window for cybercriminals to compromise these devices.

“With threats evolving at a rapid pace, consumers and corporations alike must learn to embrace this reality, proactively understand the cybercriminal landscape, and implement security measures to better safe-guard personal data and privacy,” said Oliveria.

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