Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility, says digital banking innovator Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI). Here are BPI’s 5 cybersecurity tips to keep your account information secure against cyber criminals:
Scams have been such a part of Philippine life that Filipinos have come up with quirky labels for them—budol-budol, dugo-dugo, and laglag-barya. Ordinary hustlers, however, have since taken to technology and evolved into sophisticated cybercriminals.
While the most advanced and sophisticated cybersecurity systems can help curb fraud, people still need to do their part. A common cybercrime tactic is social engineering, which is the act of tricking someone into sharing private information by exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Most cybersecurity professionals would acknowledge that the weakest link in the system is more often than not, individuals who wittingly or unwittingly open the door to security breaches.
The Bank of the Philippine Islands believes that a safe and secure cyber community is a joint responsibility and the result of the collaborative efforts between individuals and institutions. Companies and organizations should have the technology and systems in place to protect their and their clients’ data and assets, while the rest in the cybersecurity chain must also be careful about keeping personal and account information secure.
Cybersecurity is essentially a matter of taking on a cautious mindset and thinking before clicking. BPI reminds its clients that this can be done through simple, but often forgotten, things that anyone can do to protect themselves and others:
1. Make sure to double-check e-mails that are supposedly from your bank or online sellers. Institutions such as banks will never e-mail to ask clients to verify personal information online. If any action is requested by the bank through e-mail, you should contact the bank through their official channels.
2. Be discreet about posting personal information and updates on social media. These may be used by scammers already in possession of your login credentials to steal your identity and pass security checks by your bank and credit card companies.
3. Pause and check for the telltale signs of phishing, like incorrectly spelled URLs in e-mail links and requests for personal data and confidential information.
4. Know the elements of a suspicious email: It was unsolicited, it contains grammatical errors, contains offers that are too good to be true, or it redirects to another site.
5. Don’t fall for threats and blackmail attempts. Stop communications and report the incident to the authorities.
BPI advocates for a cyber-safe Philippines and regularly posts cybersecurity reminders and tips for its stakeholders and the general public.
Visit and follow www.facebook.com/BPI/ to receive the latest on how to be cyber safe in this digital age.
TELL US in the comments below your tips for the cyber-safe Philippines!
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