Financial Blog

Even if you’ve been a whiz at using the Internet for years now, you may still be making the same mistakes like everybody else. In a highly digitized society such as ours, we Filipinos are accustomed to using the Internet (especially Social Media) for years now. However, online scams in the Philippines are on a rapid rise since the lockdown happened in March of 2020. Fraudsters and hackers have bolstered their efforts in getting our personal information.

Every year, we see millions of people worldwide get hacked. A study from the University of Maryland found that “hacking attacks” happen every 39 seconds. More often than not, it is caused by a failure to take extra precautions when conducting business online. Here are five common mistakes Filipinos make when it comes to online data security, and how you can safeguard your online information right now.

1. Oversharing

Cybersecurity experts lament how users tend to overshare personal details online. Full names, birthdates, names of pets or children – information like this are what hackers would try to use first to get into an account. Even if they aren’t the actual password used, they might be the answer to the privacy questions that websites ask when you sign-up.

2. Reusing passwords

Reusing a password for every site, refusing to create a new password, or creating weak passwords are common mistakes. In a study conducted with 28.8 million people, 52% of the respondents reuse passwords (or use similar passwords) for every service. This gives hackers an easier time in accessing all accounts, so data is especially vulnerable.

3. Staying logged in

When using a public computer, many people forget to sign-out of their accounts before leaving, so these accounts are fair game for all the strangers and other users in that area. Cultivate the habit of logging-out (even on private devices!) because you never know who can access them.

4. Using public Wi-fi

Though public WiFi seems like a blessing, more often than not, it really isn’t. If possible, avoid using free WiFi as these networks aren’t secure and may be vulnerable to hackers who can steal your log-in information.

5. Linking social media to other accounts

You’ll be a prime target for identity theft if your social media accounts are connected to each other. Because the sites are linked, hackers just need to hack into one account to access the rest, so always keep your accounts separate.

This article is part of the Banker’s Association of the Philippines’ (BAP) #CyberSafe campaign, where the BAP aims to promote awareness towards cybersecurity.