PMA boosts cyber defenses through #BeCyberSmart training

• PLDT, Smart teach PMA administrative personnel how to #BeCyberSmart by equipping them with practical skills to recognize and respond to evolving cyber threats. (Contributed photo)

The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) has stepped up efforts to strengthen its cyber resilience by equipping administrative personnel with practical skills to identify scams and respond to emerging online threats.

PLDT and Smart conducted the #BeCyberSmart workshop as part of the PMA Information and Communications Technology Center’s ICT Education and Enhancement Training program.

The session covered common cyber threats, including phishing, fraudulent investment schemes, love scams, and other forms of social engineering designed to manipulate victims into revealing confidential information or transferring money.

“As technology continues to evolve, everyone must be aware of the risks that come with it,” said Lt. Col. Harold Ricacho, director of the PMA Information and Communications Technology Center.

“Cybersecurity is not just about technology. It starts with people who know how to spot scams, protect their privacy, and use digital platforms responsibly. The more informed we are, the stronger our cyber defense becomes,” he added.

Social engineering attacks exploit emotions such as fear, trust, curiosity, or urgency to persuade victims to disclose passwords, download malicious files, or provide access to sensitive systems.

The 2025 Threat Landscape Report by the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity found that phishing accounted for 60 percent of identified initial attack methods across nearly 4,900 cybersecurity incidents analyzed in the report.

“PLDT and Smart help organizations ward off cyberattacks by developing a cybersecurity culture,” said Stephanie V. Orlino, assistant vice president and head of stakeholder engagement at PLDT and Smart.

“#BeCyberSmart raises cybersecurity awareness among ordinary Filipinos so they become less vulnerable to being exploited by criminals,” Orlino added.

The #BeCyberSmart campaign is part of the companies’ #KonektedForSaferInternet program, which promotes awareness of online scams, cyberattacks, and other digital threats.

PLDT and Smart said the initiative has reached more than 140,000 Filipinos through cybersecurity awareness campaigns since its launch in 2018.

The companies also reported that the PLDT Group’s cybersecurity systems fended off more than two billion cyberattacks during the first half of the year and blocked more than 150 billion attempts to access malicious websites.

The PMA training forms part of the group’s broader cybersecurity awareness programs for schools, communities, businesses, and government institutions.

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