Healthcare top target as data breaches rise

The Philippines registered a 73 percent increase in personal data leaks from July to September, as scammers continue to exploit the country's vulnerable cybersecurity systems, according to Viettel Cyber Security.

- DEXTER BARRO II

Based on the firm's report on the country's cyber threat landscape, Viettel said 4.32 million Filipinos had their credentials compromised in the third quarter.

This breach covers the leak of an individual's personal information, such as passwords, financial details, and health records.

The personal data leaks in the third quarter were a massive jump from 2.54 million incidents in the second quarter. In the first quarter, the Philippines only recorded 1.25 million cases.

Leaked private information is typically reused by criminals for fake job listings, e-commerce scams, and fraudulent loan applications.

Viettel noted that Filipinos who reuse passwords across accounts are most vulnerable. It noted that small businesses are also susceptible to phishing invoices disguised as messages from legitimate suppliers.