Kaspersky urges Filipino institutions to build cyber immunity

Global cybersecurity company Kaspersky is urging both public and private organizations in the Philippines to move beyond traditional cybersecurity defenses and adopt cyber immunity, a proactive framework that ensures systems are secure and resilient by design.

Sam Yan, Head of Sales for Asia Emerging Countries at Kaspersky said the recent Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) threat in the Philippines underscores how vulnerable critical digital infrastructures remain, especially as the country rapidly advances its digital transformation and e-governance programs.

“DDoS attacks are a reminder that cybersecurity can no longer be an afterthought. Filipino institutions, whether public or private, must evolve from being reactive to being resilient. Cyber immunity ensures that even if an attack occurs, it cannot cause significant harm or halt essential services,” he further said.

DDoS attacks overwhelm websites or online services by flooding them with malicious traffic, disrupting access for legitimate users and, in many cases, masking deeper intrusions such as ransomware or data theft.^[1]

Across Southeast Asia, DDoS and web-borne threats continue to rise in both scale and sophistication. According to the Kaspersky Security Bulletin, Kaspersky products detected 2.54 million Internet-borne threats in the Philippines from July to September 2025, with 20 percent of Filipino users encountering web-related attacks during this period. The country ranks 25th globally for web-borne threat exposure.

These online threats typically exploit browser vulnerabilities or trick users through social engineering tactics, such as fake downloads or phishing pages. Kaspersky’s data also shows that 19.3 percent of Filipino users were targeted by local malware infections, which are viruses that spread through USB drives and other offline means.

In order to build cyber immunity, Kaspersky calls for developing systems that are secure by design, with protection integrated at every level from hardware and software up to human behavior. Unlike traditional cybersecurity models that focus on detecting and responding to attacks, cyber-immune architecture minimizes exploitable vulnerabilities and reduces the impact of any breach.

To help users and organizations guard against these threats, Kaspersky recommends the following:

For Individual Users:

• Download only from official stores such as Google Play, App Store, or verified developers.
• Check app permissions carefully before installation; avoid apps that request unnecessary access.
• Install a reliable mobile security solution, such as Kaspersky Premium, which detects and blocks fake or infected apps in real time.
• Stay vigilant against phishing links in SMS, email, or social media that direct users to counterfeit apps or websites.
• Regularly update mobile operating systems and apps to patch security vulnerabilities.

For Businesses:

• Enforce mobile device management (MDM) policies to control app installations and access permissions.
• Educate employees on recognizing and reporting suspicious mobile applications or requests for credentials.
• Secure corporate networks with multi-layered security and endpoint protection that extends to mobile devices.
• Monitor traffic patterns and data usage to detect anomalies linked to compromised devices.
• Implement zero-trust access controls to minimize risks from unauthorized or infected devices.