Global cybersecurity firm Kaspersky on Tuesday backed the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s (DICT) warning against accessing banking apps and other sensitive accounts while connected to public wireless networks, citing findings from its own threat research team.
The DICT had advised the public against using banking or other sensitive mobile applications on public Wi-Fi, to verify that a network is legitimate before connecting, to disable auto-connect settings on mobile phones, and to log out of accounts after each session.
Public Wi-Fi is a routine part of daily life in the Philippines, offered in malls, coffee shops, airports, and residential buildings across cities such as Metro Manila and Cebu. Many Filipinos check GCash, Maya, or bank accounts while connected to these networks during commutes or work breaks, a habit Kaspersky said leaves personal and financial information open to interception.
“The DICT’s warning echoes exactly what we have been seeing in our own threat research. The moment you connect to an unsecured network, you may be exposing your passwords, banking details, and personal messages to anyone monitoring that connection,” said Choon Hong Chee, head of Consumer Channel for Asia-Pacific at Kaspersky.
“Free Wi-Fi feels convenient, but it often comes at a hidden cost,” Chee said. “Cybercriminals know that public networks require no authentication, making it easy for them to intercept data without users ever realizing it.”
Beyond the DICT’s advice, Kaspersky recommended that users enable a firewall on their devices and use strong passwords when connecting to public Wi-Fi.
The firm also outlined additional digital hygiene practices: avoiding public USB charging stations, refraining from sending sensitive information over unsecured connections, turning off Bluetooth and near field communication (NFC) in crowded places, and connecting to public Wi-Fi only when necessary.
The DICT has not indicated whether it plans additional public awareness measures on the issue.
