Insider Spotlight
The PMA Information and Communications Technology Center recently conducted an ICT Education and Enhancement Training for the academy's administrative personnel, with PLDT and Smart leading discussions on common cyber risks and preventive measures.
The training centered on helping participants recognize scams and fraudulent activities that increasingly target individuals rather than technological systems.
The big picture
The workshop emphasized social engineering, a technique used by cybercriminals to manipulate victims into revealing sensitive information or performing actions that compromise security.
These attacks typically exploit trust, fear, or urgency, leading victims to disclose login credentials, download malicious software, or transfer money. Phishing, love scams, and investment scams remain among the most prevalent forms of these attacks.
"As technology continues to evolve, everyone must be aware of the risks that come with it,” PMA Information and Communications Technology Center director Lt. Col. Harold G. Ricacho said in a press statement.
“Cybersecurity is not just about technology. It starts with people who know how to spot scams, protect their privacy, and use digital platforms responsibly. The more informed we are, the stronger our cyber defense becomes," he added.
Why it matters
The initiative comes as phishing remains one of the most common entry points for cyberattacks globally. Citing the 2025 Threat Landscape Report of the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity, PLDT and Smart said phishing accounted for 60 percent of identified initial attack methods across nearly 4,900 cybersecurity incidents analyzed.
"PLDT and Smart help organizations ward off cyberattacks by developing a cybersecurity culture," PLDT and Smart AVP and head of stakeholder engagement Stephanie V. Orlino said.
“#BeCyberSmart raises cybersecurity awareness among ordinary Filipinos so they become less vulnerable to being exploited by criminals,” she added.
What's next
The training forms part of the companies' #KonektedforSaferInternet program, launched in 2018 to educate the public on online threats, scams, and cyberattacks.
The campaign has reached more than 140,000 Filipinos through cybersecurity awareness activities.
It also complements the PLDT Group's cybersecurity operations, which fended off more than 2 billion cyberattacks and blocked over 150 billion attempts to access malicious websites during the first half of the year.
The company said it will continue promoting cybersecurity awareness across schools, communities, businesses, and government institutions as cyber threats become increasingly sophisticated. —Vanessa Hidalgo| Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
