TECHNOLOGY
You’ve Got Spam Mail: APAC accounts for a quarter of global malicious emails in 2022
September 7, 2022 2:05 p.m.
Spam mails have evolved since the first one was sent back in 1978. Its evolutions span from the techniques, tactics, and the latest trends cybercriminals piggyback on to make it more legitimate-looking and urgent-sounding – an effective formula to prey upon an unsuspecting user.
One of Kaspersky’s elite researchers, Noushin Shabab, probed into the spam threat landscape in Asia Pacific (APAC) this year to answer – what if emails do not get opened?
Shabab, presented in front of selected media from the region during Kaspersky’s 8th APAC Cyber Security Weekend, revealed that the region received 24% of the global malicious spam mails being detected and blocked by Kaspersky solutions. This means one in four junk electronic messages were delivered to computers in APAC.
Noushin Shabab, Senior Security Researcher for Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT) at Kaspersky
Malicious spam is not a technologically complex attack, but when done with sophisticated social engineering techniques, it poses a severe threat to individuals and enterprises alike. These junk mails are sent out in mass quantities by spammers and cybercriminals who are looking to do one or more of the following:
- Make money from the small percentage of recipients that actually respond to the message
- Run phishing scams – in order to obtain passwords, credit card numbers, bank account details, and more
- Spread malicious code onto recipients’ computers
In 2022, more than half (61.1%) of the malicious spam detected in the region targeted Kaspersky users from Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, and Taiwan.
Shabab cited three main factors which cause the bulk of spam emails targeting APAC —- its population, the high adoption of e-services, and the pandemic lockdowns.
The APAC region has almost 60% of the world’s population and this means that there are more potential victims for scammers here compared to other parts of the world. The extensive use of online services such as online shopping and other online platforms for day-to-day activities here also makes individuals more susceptible to falling victim to scams. There is also the lingering pandemic aftermath which led to lockdowns and work-from-home set up in the region where people took their work computers home. Home networks are usually less protected from cyberattacks.
“Since 2018, the number of malicious spam mails detected by our solutions has seen a gradual decline after its peak in 2019. This, however, does not equate to our mailboxes being cleaner and safer. Our constant monitoring of the current and new Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) operating in Asia Pacific showed that majority of these notorious threat actors use targeted phishing called spear phishing to crack into an organization’s systems,” reveals Noushin Shabab, Senior Security Researcher for Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT) at Kaspersky.
The most recent example of an APT targeting key entities in APAC through sophisticated malicious mails is the “Sidewinder” threat actor. Since October 2021, the Sidewinder threat actor has been using new malicious JS code with recently created C2 server domains. The attacker, also known as Rattlesnake or T-APT4, targets victims with spear-phishing emails containing malicious RTF and OOXML files.
Known for targeting military, defense and law enforcement agencies, foreign affairs, IT, and aviation entities in Central and South Asia, Sidewinder is considered one of the most prolific threat actors monitored in the APAC region. Kaspersky experts also recently found spear phishing documents which appear to be aimed at future targets in Singapore.
Some of the main characteristics of this threat actor that make it stand out among the others are the sheer number, high frequency and persistence of their attacks, and the large collection of encrypted and obfuscated malicious components used in their operations. Kaspersky experts, who have been monitoring Sidewinder since 2012, have detected over a thousand spear phishing attacks by this APT actor since October 2020.
Sidewinder also continues to expand its victimology and to sharpen its phishing tactics.
For instance, to reduce the suspicion raised by some of their spear-phishing documents that had no text content, the group followed their first attempt to attack the victim – a spear-phishing email containing a malicious RTF exploit file – with another similar email, but in this case, the title of the malicious document was “_Apology Letter.docx”, and it contained some text explaining that the previous email was sent in error and that they are reaching out to apologize for that mistake.
“There are many more well-oiled APT groups like Sidewinder who are constantly upgrading their tools and tactics to target high-profile victims in APAC through believable spam and phishing emails. The implication for enterprises and government organizations here is that a single malicious email when clicked can crumble your most sophisticated defenses, and usually, APTs like Sidewinder just need one door to open, one machine to infect, and then it can hide and stay undetected for long,” Shabab adds.
APTs target any sensitive data; one doesn’t need to be a government agency, major financial institution, or energy company to become a victim.
The major danger of APT attacks is that even when they are discovered and the immediate threat appears to be gone, the hackers may have left multiple backdoors open that allow them to return when they choose. This increases the importance of guarding mailboxes – an entry point they usually exploit to get a foothold of an organization’s networks.
Employees across all ranks need to be aware of the threats, such as the possibility of bogus emails landing in their inboxes. Besides education, technology that focuses on email security is necessary.
To be able to search for potential spear-phishing signs without diminishing the company’s actual security, Kaspersky suggests private and public companies to install protective anti phishing solutions on mail servers as well as on employee workstations.
Enterprises should also utilize advanced security software that can detect sophisticated APT attacks.
For governments, Shabab suggests defining better spam regulations to curb spam risks. “Fewer spam emails from legitimate organizations means people are less used to receiving unexpected emails every day and are more vigilant when they are being targeted with malicious spear phishing emails,” she adds.
TECHNOLOGY
One charge, endless power: realme teases C100 Series with up to 8000mAh Titan Battery
11:22 a.m. June 8, 2026
realme Philippines is gearing up for the launch of the realme C100 Series on June 18, and ahead of the big reveal, the brand is giving a first look at what the lineup is all about.
Anchored on the tagline “One Charge, Endless Power,” the C100 Series is built around two things Filipinos consistently look for in a smartphone: a battery that goes the distance and a build that holds up over time.
The realme C100 comes equipped with an 8000mAh Titan Battery, while the realme C100i carries a 7000mAh cell. Both are designed to deliver up to 1.5 days of use on a single charge, but what stands out is their long-term battery health – the realme C100 is rated to retain at least 80% capacity after 7 years of daily use, and the C100i after 6 years. The brand attributes this to its highly efficient energy consumption technology, which reduces battery wear over time without compromising on performance.
On the durability front, both models come with realme’s ArmorShell™ Protection and have been certified under the MIL-STD-810H military-grade shock resistance standard, with a verified drop resistance of up to 2 meters. The realme C100 takes protection further with IP69 Pro rating, making it resistant to dust, submersion, and even high-pressure water jets. The realme C100i is rated IP64, covering everyday splashes and dust exposure.
The Series also comes in a range of colorways. The realme C100 will be available in Glory White, Endurance Brown, and Victory Purple, all featuring realme’s Blooming Design, a shimmer finish crafted with micron-level sculpting that shifts with light. Meanwhile, the realme C100i comes in Dawn Purple and Dusk Gray.
The realme C100 Series will be officially unveiled on June 18 via a livestream on realme’s official Facebook page. Pricing and full details will be announced on launch day.
For more updates on the realme C100 Series, follow realme’s official Facebook page.
TECHNOLOGY
POCO Pad C1 arrives in PH, bringing big-screen entertainment wherever you go
9:21 a.m. June 3, 2026
POCO has officially introduced the POCO Pad C1 in the Philippines, expanding its ecosystem with a new tablet built for entertainment, productivity, and everyday use on the go.
Designed for users who want a larger screen experience without sacrificing portability, the POCO Pad C1 features a vibrant 2K display, a slim and lightweight design, a long-lasting battery, and the Snapdragon® 6s 4G Gen 2 Mobile Platform for smooth and reliable performance whether streaming, studying, browsing, or staying connected throughout the day.
Immersive Viewing in a Portable Design
The POCO Pad C1 features a superior 9.7-inch display¹ with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz,² delivering clear and smooth visuals for effortless entertainment. Reaching up to 600 nits of peak brightness,³ it also ensures consistent clarity for streaming and browsing, even in bright environments. Triple TÜV Rheinland eye-care certifications further help reduce eye strain, supporting more comfortable viewing throughout the day.
Beyond its impressive display, POCO Pad C1 is designed for both portability and durability. The slim metal unibody⁴ construction gives it a clean, refined look while delivering a comfortable in-hand feel for everyday use. For day-to-day durability, the device has undergone more than 40 rigorous quality tests,³ ensuring it can withstand everyday challenges with ease.
Long-Lasting Power for Uninterrupted Entertainment
POCO Pad C1 houses a massive 7,600mAh (typ) battery, offering up to 1.7 days of use to support entertainment, study, and everyday tasks.⁵ For uninterrupted enjoyment, POCO Pad C1 supports 18W fast charging,⁶ helping users spend less time waiting and more time staying immersed in what they love. Furthermore, POCO Pad C1 also boasts 10W reverse charging capability,⁷ making it a reliable and portable power bank.
Reliable Performance and Seamless User Experience
POCO Pad C1 is well-equipped with both hardware and software to meet the demands of everyday use. Fitted with the Snapdragon® 6s 4G Gen 2 Mobile Platform, POCO Pad C1 delivers reliable performance for daily entertainment and multitasking. It is available in configurations of up to 6GB RAM and 128GB of storage for smooth app launching and responsive performance.⁸ For users who need more storage, the device also supports up to 2TB of expandable storage,⁹ making it easy to store your favorite media content.
Running on Xiaomi HyperOS 3,¹⁰ POCO Pad C1 ensures seamless cross-device interactions through Xiaomi Interconnectivity.¹¹ Intelligent features such as Google Gemini¹² and Circle to Search with Google¹³ enable faster access to information and smarter everyday interactions. The lock screen, wallpaper, and desktop widgets are designed with a clean and refined look to deliver a better user experience.
Product Availability
The POCO Pad C1 will be available starting June 1, 2026, with special early bird offers until June 15. The 4GB + 64GB variant will retail for Php 8,499 (from Php 8,999), while the Shopee-exclusive 6GB + 128GB variant will be available for Php 9,999 (from Php 10,999).
TECHNOLOGY
Infinix GT 50 Pro: Where no lag, no heat, pure cool, and pure speed meet
6:40 p.m. May 29, 2026
Mobile gaming continuously pushes modern smartphones to their absolute limits. Extended gaming sessions and intense matches often lead to heavy overheating, causing frustrating frame drops and performance throttling that can disrupt the entire experience. For casual players, it interrupts moments of fun; for competitive eSports athletes, even a millisecond of lag can mean the difference between victory and defeat.
Designed to eliminate these exact challenges, Infinix is set to launch its next-generation esports flagship: the Infinix GT 50 Pro.
Active HydroFlow Liquid Cooling: A Hardware Breakthrough
At the core of the Infinix GT 50 Pro is the proprietary HydroFlow Liquid Cooling system—an industry-first thermal management innovation that goes far beyond traditional passive cooling methods. Equipped with a dual-piezoelectric ceramic pump, the system actively circulates coolant through laser-engraved channels to rapidly dissipate heat away from critical internal components like the processor and battery.
The architecture’s large cooling layer is built directly with the main heat sink to fully cover 100% of the hottest core components, allowing users to enjoy smoother, more consistent gaming performance for longer periods. By minimizing thermal buildup directly at the source, the GT 50 Pro effectively prevents performance throttling and stabilizes FPS (Frames Per Second), ensuring gamers stay locked into the action during high-stakes moments.
During long, high-load gaming sessions, active cooling keeps temperatures stable by efficiently spreading and channeling heat away from critical areas, reducing processor throttling. This ensures consistently smooth performance, enabling native 144FPS support with stable high frame rates and minimal frame drops or stutter.
HydroFlow Liquid Cooling offers three selectable modes to match different usage needs. Smart Mode automatically adjusts and switches to the optimal flow velocity depending on the scenario for balanced performance and efficiency. Normal Mode runs at a lower flow velocity for everyday use with standard heat dissipation. Rapid Mode increases flow velocity for stronger heat dissipation, ideal for heavier workloads and more intense gaming sessions.
For gamers looking to push performance even further, the device seamlessly pairs with the GT Magcharge Cooler 2.0. This external cooling and charging accessory utilizes wireless bypass charging—directing power straight into the phone’s system rather than constantly cycling through the battery. Together, the GT 50 Pro and Magcharge Cooler deliver a comprehensive dual-cooling ecosystem built to withstand the most intense competitive matches.
Largest-Ever 3D Vapor Chamber in GT History
The GT 50 Pro packs the largest 3D Vapor Chamber ever in GT history, built to keep gameplay smooth even during long, intense gaming sessions. Think of it as a powerful cooling system inside the phone that helps pull heat away fast, so players can stay focused on winning instead of dealing with lag, overheating, or sudden frame drops.
With a massive 7,700mm² 3D Vapor Chamber and a total cooling area of 32,700mm², which is 63.5% bigger than the previous generation, the GT 50 Pro is designed to stay cool under pressure whether you’re grinding ranked matches, streaming, or multitasking for hours. Combined with ultra-large graphite cooling layers, the device delivers more stable performance so gamers can enjoy consistently smooth gameplay from start to finish.
The Trusted Choice of E-sports Pros
Engineered from the ground up for high-tier competitive play, the Infinix GT 50 Pro has earned its spot as the official gaming phone of MPL PH (Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League Philippines). Chosen and trusted by the league’s top professional players, the GT 50 Pro provides the flawless stability, thermals, and sustained frame rates required to
The GT 50 Pro officially launches on June 10, but fans can already enjoy exclusive early deals ahead of the release.
Starting May 29 until June 10, the Infinix GT 50 Pro will be available for nationwide offline pre-sale. Customers who reserve early can unlock up to ₱11,999 worth of exclusive freebies and discounts. To secure a unit, simply visit any official Infinix concept store or kiosk and lock in your reservation today.
To learn more, visit Infinix’s official Facebook page, TikTok Shop, and website.
Where art meets innovation: TCL unveils A400 Series Lifestyle TV for modern Filipino homes
Freedom to experience: Redefining what it means to live VIP
MLBB brings Filipino internet culture to life through back-to-school university activities
