Filipinos feel very secure when using the internet, but a recent report suggests their actions do not back up that belief.
A new study from company Bolttech looked at online habits across 11 countries in Asia-Pacific. The findings show that while people in the Philippines rank among the most confident in the region, many still engage in behaviors that put them at risk.
The survey found that 96 out of every 100 Filipinos think their online habits are good or excellent. But when researchers looked closer, only about half, or 48%, actually follow basic safety rules like using strong and unique passwords. This gap between what people believe and what they do is bigger in the Philippines than in most other markets surveyed.
The study also showed that Filipinos run into more online dangers than the regional average. 9 out of 10 said they have seen a scam attempt at some point. More than half have already fallen victim to some form of cybercrime. And nearly 60% are worried that someone in their home will be tricked online within the next year.
One of the biggest problems is password reuse. Almost 70% of Filipino respondents admitted to using the same password for several different accounts. This makes it easier for hackers to break into multiple services if they get hold of just one login.
The report also noted that countries in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia, face more cyber threats than wealthier markets like Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Australia.