Cybercriminals have been employing more sophisticated techniques in stealing their victims’ valuable information. While they may use different platforms or strategies to run their modus, PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) have identified ‘social engineering’ as the go-to game plan of malicious actors in the internet. 

Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ: PANW), the global cybersecurity leader, is working with PLDT, Inc. (PLDT) and its wireless unit, Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) to strengthen the two telcos’ Child Protection Platform and enable a safer online experience for children.

PLDT and Smart’s Cyber Security Operations Group (CSOG) warns customers against scanning quick response or QR codes received from dubious entities on emails or messaging platforms. The PLDT Group’s CSOG says this could be a form of ‘quishing’. 

Angel Redoble, First Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer of the PLDT Group, speaks about adaptive strategy against cyber threats at the PhilSec 2022 Summit

The Cyber Security Operations Group (CSOG) of PLDT and its wireless mobile unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) highlighted the importance of an evolving strategy in protecting customers against cyberattacks. 

PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) continue to clamp down on malicious text messages by going after internet links that aim to defraud customers. From June 10 to 28, 2022, PLDT and Smart’s Cybersecurity Operations Group (CSOG) has blocked more than a hundred URLs and domains tied to text scams bringing the total links blocked to 650 in the first half of 2022. 

To further strengthen their efforts in educating children and families about online safety and digital citizenship, PLDT Inc.—through its PLDT Home unit—and Google have teamed up to scale Be Internet Awesome.

PLDT and Smart laud the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) for opening its latest state-of-the-art Digital Forensics Platform and Laboratory (DFPAL) in Quezon City to boost government efforts against cybercrimes, particularly, Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC). 

PLDT and wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) have reinforced efforts in preventing malicious messages from reaching customers.

PLDT and Smart engage the next generation of cybersecurity professionals in the fight against cyber threats and cybercrime.

Through the intensified capability of their leading cybersecurity solutions and Child Protection Platform, PLDT and Smart have blocked over 1 billion user attempts to access online child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) since November 2021. The group has also blocked more than 224,000 CSAM URLs or web addresses, as of end March 2022.