A so-called ethical hacker has doubled down on protection of personal and corporate web accounts as cyber attacks and viruses continue.
Kenneth Piamonte, a security architect at Dacta, aired warning and cautioned against vulnerabilities in emails, online banking and network systems.
“The scary part is that if we don’t practice (cyber) security from the start then we can become victims,” Piamonte said.
He was guest at KapiHann, a regular media forum of the Pampanga Press Club at Swissotel Clark inside Hann Resorts in Clark Freeport. He was accompanied by Dennis Amores, operations head of Smart Office Solutions Corp., and Buddy Bantayan, another ethical hacker.
Ethical hackers are IT professionals who are certified by government enforcers and their partners in cybersecurity from the private sector.
Piamonte called on internet users to use cybersecurity protection, citing that malicious hackers have been more aggressive and can penetrate personal and corporate accounts in less than 52 seconds. He also warned against scanning QR codes from unverified or suspicious sources.
He said that data breach and thievery entails expenses that may run into millions of pesos to recover stolen data.
Among the tips he gave are:
- Download apps only from authorized sources like Google Play and Apple Store
- Use of strong passwords in emails and online banking
- Exercise caution on using thumb drives
- Do not open unknown or suspicious files
- Be cautious in using free wifi
- Be careful with online raffles which look enticing with freebies
He also encouraged internet habitues to get vulnerability assessment apps as antivirus software may not be enough. He added that there are free apps for personal use. For corporate accounts, he recommended Heimdal.
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