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PROI agencies launch 24/7 client crisis hotline to mitigate rise of misinformation, fake news
February 15, 2022 5:25 p.m.
With the increased use of social media platforms and messaging apps, the volume of misinformation and fake news through online media will be on an uptrend in the coming year. PROI network, the largest global partnership of independent agencies, calls on organizations to prioritise this emerging crisis type.
To help companies tackle misinformation crises before they escalate and grow, PROI announces the roll-out of a dedicated 24/7 client crisis hotline.
Misinformation crises display a common thread – they proliferate primarily through online media, such as social media platforms and messaging apps.
• In 20191 , UK’s Metro Bank was the victim of a fake news campaign where news of its impending shutdown went viral via the hugely popular WhatsApp messaging app. Within hours, various bank branches saw panicked customers attempting to withdraw their savings or to empty their safe deposit boxes. The bank’s share price suffered a severe drop due to the negative perceptions and market panic.
• In 2020 , Facebook removed a network of fake pages and accounts allegedly operated by Vietnamese telco group Viettel Group for the purposes of discrediting their competitors.
• Throughout 2020 – 2022, a slew of misinformation has also been released about the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination information.
• Agencies can feel free to customise relevant newsMisinformation such as rumors of data breaches, fake vaccine products and company crises offer ripe opportunities for malicious agents to take advantage.
According to Check Point Software 2022 Cyber-security Predictions , the volume of advertisement groups for fake vaccines have multiplied within 2021. On top of that, cyber groups will continue to leverage these types of fake news campaigns to execute cybercrime through various phishing attacks and scams.
Companies who stay on top of fake news will thus not only protect themselves from misinformation adversely affecting their companies, but also protect themselves against agents exploiting misinformation for vulnerabilities.
The 24-7 crisis hotline offered by PROI agencies will provide a first response for companies seeking advice in times of misinformation and be a useful tool in mitigating such crises. The hotline is manned directly by PR practitioners from around the region, clients may seek support at +65 8885 9528 or find their local PROI representative here.
“Looking ahead, organizations should be cognizant of the threats and ensure that they have in place a crisis preparedness plan that includes fake news and misinformation. It is imperative to stay ahead of threats and be proactive in developing a crisis preparedness plan before a crisis hit. Once it hits, the plan comes to activation, and you’ll have to fix it fast,” said Karin Lohitnavy, Founder and Master Connector, Midas PR Group.
“Organizations confront with issues and crisis including fake news at varying degree. However, when poorly handled no matter the degree of severity; an issue may turn into a full-blown crisis and may worsen to jeopardise the viability of a business,” added Jojo S. Nugroho, Managing Director, Imogen PR (Indonesia).
PROI agencies have consistently proven itself on some of the world and the region’s most demanding strategic crisis communication projects. Our clients include a range of publicly listed international companies, government-owned energy companies, medium sized businesses, start-ups, government departments, and not-for-profit organisations.
“At PROI, the world’s largest partnership of PR agencies, with 75 locally owned, independent consultancies present in 50 countries and 110 cities across the globe, we can deploy and draw a multi-disciplinary set of skills, experiences and resource around the globe,” said Lena Soh-Ng, PROI Crisis Group, APAC, Co-Chair and Senior Advisor and Founding Partner of Distilleri (Singapore).
“Planning is absolutely crucial. Planning for fake news attack is comparable to preparing for a media crisis; be prepared for every possible situation, have a competent media team ready, and appoint trained and dedicated spokespeople who deliver a consistent message and response to all queries,” said Doy Roque, M2.0 Communications Inc (Philippines).
“We strongly believe the most effective crisis preparedness plan is achieved through a close and trusted working partnership, where threats are identified, considered and planned for. A clear focus on priority risks, the establishment of a process that allows ongoing transparency of emerging risks, and the continual building of the organisation’s team capability, will fortify a comprehensive Crisis Preparedness Plan,” Elaine Chuah, Executive Director, Priority Communications PR Sdn Bhd (Malaysia).
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PH slides to top 4 in Kaspersky’s new global ranking of countries most targeted by online threats
February 5, 2024 9:46 p.m.
In 2023, web threats targeting the Philippines were about two percent less (48%) than in 2022 (49.8%), according to the latest Kaspersky Security Network (KSN) report.
With this new data, the country moved two spots down to fourth place worldwide among countries most targeted by malicious files from the internet and phishing websites. It looks like a positive development but Kaspersky is strongly advising against dropping the armor.
“There are two things that could explain the drop in web threats, albeit slightly. First is that we see the country is slowly making headway in cybersecurity. We classify the Philippines to be in the intermediate group of countries that are identifying cyberattacks and making efforts to implement rules. The second one and this we have to seriously take note, is that cybercriminals are continuously taking other attack routes that might be off the radar. One trend that we consistently have been seeing lately is their preference for targeted attacks instead of the spray and pray method,” said Yeo Siang Tiong, General Manager for Southeast Asia at Kaspersky.
“Complacency, however, is still not an option. Cybercriminals continue to develop their tools and techniques. They actually surprise cybersecurity experts all the time. Our mindset should be how to be able to hunt threats before they could cause harm and damage. At this point, I recommend that we should be talking more about threats as we proactively learn to detect and respond to them. This is where threat intelligence comes in handy,” added Yeo.
Web or online threats are attacks through browsers which are also cybercriminals’ tried and tested way to spread malware. It can easily be done with or without the involvement of the victim.
A web attack with victim participation is done through social engineering. The victim is tricked into doing something that jeopardizes their personal security or the security of the organization they work for. The objective is to get the victim to respond by clicking an infected email attachment, a compromised website, or responding to a fake unsubscribe notice, among others. Last year’s data breaches involving a government agency and an e-wallet company, which were each reportedly traced to phishing, are examples of this type of web threat.
An attack requiring no victim involvement is through drive-by downloads. By simply visiting a compromised website, their device gets infected automatically (and silently) particularly if they failed to apply a security update to one of their apps. This method is used in most web attacks.
In the recent global ranking, the Philippines came behind Mongolia (51.8%), Moldova (48.9%) and Greece (48.8%). Since 2019, the country has consistently been in the top 10 ranking countries.
Among Southeast Asian countries, the Philippines is trailed by Malaysia with the overall percentage of users attacked by web-borne threats from January to December 2023.
To stay protected, Kaspersky recommends users the following:
- Do not download and install applications from untrusted sources
- Do not click on any links from unknown sources or suspicious online advertisements
- Create strong and unique passwords, including a mix of lower case and upper case letters, numbers, and punctuation, as well as activating two-factor authentication
- Always install updates
- Ignore messages asking to disable security systems for office or cybersecurity solution
- Use a robust cybersecurity solution appropriate to your system type and devices
For organizations, Kaspersky recommends the following:
- Always keep software updated on all the devices to prevent attackers from infiltrating network by exploiting vulnerabilities
- Use strong passwords to access corporate services. Use multi-factor authentication for access to remote services
- Choose a proven endpoint cybersecurity solution for business that is equipped with behaviors-based detection and anomaly control capabilities for effective protection against known and unknown threats
- Use dedicated set of effective endpoint protection, threat detection and response products to timely detect and remediate even new and evasive threats
- Use the latest threat intelligence information to empower your security experts
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There’s a Nanyang near you for all your Singaporean food cravings
August 4, 2023 6:30 p.m.
Missing Singapore’s famous Hainanese Chicken Rice, Laksa fishball, Cheesy Chicken Chop Noodles and Kopi?
Visit your nearest Nanyang Philippines branch.
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Globe powers up TOYCON 2023’s landmark 20th year
June 29, 2023 6:53 p.m.
As Toycon Philippines proudly commemorates its 20th year, the landmark celebration promises to be more electrifying than ever with the formidable support of leading digital lifestyle brand Globe.
For the first time, Globe is the title sponsor of the iconic pop-culture event, bringing a new level of excitement and engagement to the toy collector and creator community.
Globe has always been at the forefront of supporting diverse subcultures and passions, and this partnership is a testament to its commitment. As part of the collaboration, Globe will bring to life the rich world of its cinematic and theatrical partners, further enriching the TOYCON 2023 experience for attendees.
“Globe is thrilled to collaborate with Toycon Philippines, especially on such a milestone year,” said Mike Magpily, VP, Head of Segment Strategy and Subcultures at Globe.
“As the country’s most reliable network and top digital solutions platform with an ecosystem of various services, we’re uniquely positioned to foster the vibrancy of the toy collecting and creating community. This partnership underscores our commitment to nurturing a wide array of passions and interests while ensuring the best connectivity for all participants.”
Cholo Mallillin, Marketing Head at Toycon Philippines, said: “The collaboration with Globe will further elevate the Toycon experience. This partnership will bring more surprises and rewards to our community. We invite everyone to join us as we celebrate 20 years of Toycon in the most exciting way possible.”
TOYCON 2023 will be held at the SMX Convention Center in MOA from July 7 to 9, 2023. Attendees are in for a treat, as they have the chance to meet their beloved childhood characters, explore an expansive marketplace of unique toys and collectibles, and participate in exclusive Globe activities.
One of the highlights of the partnership is a series of exclusive perks for Globe customers. By using Globe Rewards points, customers will have the opportunity to win various ticket tiers ranging from Day Passes to VIP Passes. There will also be exclusive toy freebies for VIP pass holders, and unique Globe-only activities, such as paint-your-own Gudi.
At the event, Globe will also host an interactive booth featuring activities designed to reward and inspire. From earning freebies by donating Rewards points to a good cause, to free arcade plays and meet-ups with popular streamers, Globe customers are in for an exciting weekend of gaming and beyond.
To keep up-to-date with all the exciting promotions and surprises at TOYCON 2023, Globe customers are encouraged to use the GlobeOne app.
To learn more about Globe, visit https://www.globe.com.ph/.