Statistics revealed by cybersecurity solutions firm Kaspersky showed that the Philippines ranks fifth among other Southeast Asian nations that were attacked by phishing in 2022. It follows Vietnam (17,847,857), Malaysia (8,267,013), Thailand (6,283,745), and Indonesia (4,931,367), respectively.
Based on the same finding, it established that delivery service users are the most commonly targeted victims, taking up 27.38 percent of all attempts that were intercepted and blocked by Kaspersky.
The mode of operation involves scammers masquerading as delivery companies who claim to be having issues with shipments, via email. The email would contain a link to a false website that asks the unwitting victim for personal details, including their financial information. Once the sensitive pieces of information were divulged, the data would then make it into the dark web where it will be sold or otherwise lose them forever.
During the height of the pandemic which saw soaring demand for online purchases, online stores became the second most targeted of phishing, followed by both financial systems and banks tying up in the third place.
Using the Anti-Phishing system within the security solution installed on users’ computers in conjunction with an established database, Kaspersky identifies every page with phishing content that the user tried to access whether via email or the web.
In the last year alone, Kaspersky has detected and prevented some 43,445,502 phishing attacks on individual and enterprise users in the SEA region.
Managing Director for Asia Pacific at Kaspersky, Adrian Hia, said that phishing remains the “tried-and-tested modus operandi of cybercriminals,” attributing it to the “cost-effectiveness and profitability” of the scheme.
While “identity theft” and “financial loss” are logical ramifications of getting successfully phished, “damage to reputation” to both individuals and enterprises is also another negative effect of it. As such, Hia highlights the importance of “protecting corporate and personal data” among everyone concerned in the Philippines.