The Philippines is 5th Most Attacked Online

 
Update 2.1.22: Phishing and online scam victims increased because of COVID-19 induced lockdowns.
 

Online threats include social engineering, drive-by download attack, infected servers and removable media. 

 
This report should serve as wake up call.
 
According to Kaspersky’s Q2 2019 Security Bulletin, the Philippines is on the 5th place behind  Algeria, Nepal, Albania and Djibouti of the countries with most online threats detected.
 
The statistics in the report are based on completely anonymous data obtained from Kaspersky products installed on users’ computers in the Philippines.
 
 

Common Online Threats in the Philippines

 
 
Drive-by Download
 
A drive-by download attack requires no action on the part of the Internet user. Once in an infected website, the user’s computer or device gets infected automatically, and silently, particularly if the computer is vulnerable in some way, such as when its operating system, any of its applications, or its web browser contains security flaws due to unsuccessful updates or lack of updates.
 
Social Engineering
 
In this method, cybercriminals convince an unsuspecting user into sending to them their confidential data, infecting their computers with malware or opening links to infected websites.
 
Hackers also try to take advantage of a user’s lack of knowledge by persuading them to disclose only a few pieces of information such as name, date of birth or address to gain access to multiple networks by pretending to be friends or families or even as IT support personnel.
 
 
Infected Servers 
 
Kaspersky also noted a minor increase in online threats caused by servers hosted in the Philippines. About 67,000 or 15% more incidents were recorded from April-June this year compared to the same quarter in 2018. These figures placed the Philippines at 34th this year from 36th in 2018.
 
 
Infected Removable Media
 
Local threats or incidents are those that are caused by malware spread via removable media such as USB drives, CDs and DVDs, and other “offline” methods.
 
 
Protecting Yourself  From Online Threats 

1. Eliminate vulnerabilities by keeping your OS and apps updated. Remember to include web browsers, Flash player and PDF reader, too.
2. Keep your Internet security software up to date. It’s a good idea to enable the “receive automatic updates” option within your security product.
3. Be cautious about search engine results. Avoid clicking on sponsored links within Internet search results.
4. Type the URL into the address bar. It may take a little more time but can be a lot safer.
5. Beware of web surfing dangers. Avoid accessing and exploring unknown websites.
6. Don’t open unexpected attachments. If you need to do so, verify that it’s genuine and scan to make sure it doesn’t contain any malware.
7. Think about that link before you click it. Better not click on random links in emails, instant messaging or social networking sites. 

Do you have other safety tips in mind? Share it in the comment section below