PLDT, Smart warn customers vs criminals
PLDT and its wireless arm Smart Communications on Sunday advised their customers to practice caution in accessing sites so as not to fall prey to cybercriminals.
“Criminals can make it look like you’re downloading a legitimate program. But hidden in the software are viruses, trojan files or malicious codes that can invade your device, steal valuable data or wreak havoc in your device’s system,” warned Angel Redoble, first vice president and chief information security officer of PLDT and Smart.
Redoble said digital technology now ingrained itself into the daily lives of every Filipino, proof of this are the numerous applications that are run on the smartphones or laptops to help with work, school, household tasks or personal endeavors. “At some point, we will find ourselves installing a software to aid us in our everyday activities. But how do we ensure that we are only adding applications that are safe to use?” he said.
Thus, PLDT and Smart’s Cyber Security Operations Group shares tips on how to prevent malwares from invading your devices.
Install only reliable software. Read reviews and what experts say about it. Learn from the experience of actual users.
First, check the developer of the program. Is the company reputable? The internet is a good source of information that can help determine the legitimacy of a developer.
“If it ticks all the boxes, download the software from trusted sources. Most often, your operating system developer’s app store is the safest platform to get these tools from,” Redoble said.
When installing, before proceeding with the installation, read through the permission the software is requesting to find out what features of the device it will access once installed. As much as possible, grant the bare minimum permission for the program to adequately run on a device.
PLDT and Smart also encourage customers to update the software regularly to ensure that the latest security features are installed.
Finally, remove apps rarely used or no longer needed. Not only will it free up the device’s storage, it will also eliminate vulnerable entry points to the device and ultimately to the data.