PH cybersecurity: How safe are we?

The Philippines may have climbed the ranks in the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI), but ask any Filipino who has received a shady text message or clicked on a suspicious link, and they’ll tell you a different story.

- By MARK ISAIAH DAVID

From bogus delivery messages to fake crypto pitches, digital threats have become part of a Pinoy's daily life.

So what does this improved global ranking really mean for ordinary citizens? And more importantly, are we safer today than we were a few years ago?

We sat down with Ian Felipe, Country Manager of Trend Micro Philippines, to get his expert take on where the country truly stands in its fight against cybercrime — and how individuals, businesses, and even the government can stay one step ahead.

The Score Looks Good. But What's the Real Story?

The Philippines has made an impressive leap in the GCI ranking, a benchmark used to assess how well countries are protecting themselves in the digital world. At first glance, this is great news. But according to Felipe, we shouldn't get too comfortable.

"The upward movement is a positive indicator," Felipe said. "But in today's dynamic threat landscape, progress must be continually reinforced with proactive, data-driven strategies."

Translation? The rankings show improvement, but the threats are evolving faster than our defenses. Felipe emphasized the importance of identifying exposure and prioritizing risk areas — something that Trend Micro's Cyber Risk Exposure Management (CREM) solution excels at. With this proactive approach, organizations could understand where they're vulnerable before criminals find those weaknesses.

The Gap Between Policy and Reality

Despite the higher ranking, cyber incidents are still rampant in the country. From fake job offers to malicious links that hijack your bank credentials, Filipinos remain a prime target. Why?