The digitization of money, widespread access to the Internet, and the mass-adoption of smartphones are positive headwinds in the Philippines’ journey towards a digital economy. While the potential is undeniable, there is also concern that cyberattackers are shifting their focus to Asia-Pacific.
Cybercriminals are growing in sophistication, and they are constantly finding new ways to victimize consumers and breach enterprises. This calls for a re-evaluation of safeguards against cyber threats.
“For consumers, there is really no substitute to awareness,” said Nagesh Devata, General Manager of Southeast Asia Cross Border Markets for PayPal. “For enterprises, we need to move from reactive to predictive models in risk management.”
PayPal, the global leader in digital payments, outlined five consumer tips to secure online payments: (1) protect your personal information; (2) choose a strong password that combines alphanumeric characters; (3) share personal information only through authentic online banking features (4); opt for 2-factor authentication, where a user is granted access only after successfully presenting two or more pieces of evidence to an authentication mechanism; and (5) ensure that authentic apps are downloaded for payment.
According to PayPal consumer research, 43 percent of consumers in Asia-Pacific identify security as the primary motivation when choosing a payment method while 38 percent choose convenience.
With over 286 million active accounts made up of consumers and merchants. PayPal has a foothold on both equations of the purchasing process. “This puts us in a unique position to find insights [for consumers and merchants] in the entire process. Cybersecurity is a team sport, and everyone has a part to play.” described Devata.
