GRC Conclave discussed cybersecurity for the Philippines

Global cybersecurity firm Ampcus Cyber hosted the GRC Conclave, where industry leaders and government officials discussed Philippine cybersecurity. 

The event started with sessions on Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI SSC) and fintech standards. 

Then, Robert Sanchez Paguia, Data Protection Officer at the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) elaborated on the types of cybercrime.

CICC and Philippine cybersecurity

CICC Data Protection Officer Robert Sanchez Paguia

Paguia explained that the CICC’s goal is to “suppress cybercrimes and assure the integrity of the nation’s digital transformation.”

It also operates the Inter-Agency Response Center (IARC), which “adheres to all cybercrime-related complaints of the public.” 

However, he emphasized that the people are integral to the nation’s cybersecurity.

That’s why he discussed the most common Philippine cybersecurity threats:

• Malware: Software that is specially designed to gain access to a system
• Phishing: Fraudulent emails that trick people into providing information
• Man-in-the-middle attack: Intercepting information that is being communicated between two different sides
• SQL Injection: Injecting code into a database to provide hackers with access and information
• DNS Tunneling: Extracting data using a malicious server
• Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks: Making a network resource unavailable to its users and disrupting the regular operations

Then, he cited the insurance company Hiscox, which said cyberattacks cost companies an average of $200,000 or roughly ₱11,719,901.38.

As a result, cyber attack victims usually go out of business.

Later, the CICC Data Protection Officer listed ways for people to defend themselves against cybercrimes: 

1. Keep software and operating systems updated.
2. Use antivirus software and keep it updated.
3. Use strong passwords. 
4. Never open attachments to spam emails.
5. Do not click on links in spam emails or untrusted websites.
6. Do not give out personal information unless it is secure. 
7. Contact companies directly about suspicious requests.
8. Be mindful of visiting websites. 
9. Keep an eye on your bank statements. 
10. Use multi-factor authentication.

Ampcus Cyber CEO Deep Chanda shared more insights for Philippine cybersecurity:

“Any community is built around people. If we can know what is right and bad, that’s how we protect ourselves.”

You can help promote Philippine cybersecurity by reporting cybercrimes to the CICC hotline 1326.