Converge emphasizes ‘self-defense’ amid AI-driven cybersecurity threats


MB AD PLACEMENT PHOTO.jpg

 

Education and ‘self-defense’ remain the most effective barriers against cyber crime, says leading fiber broadband and technology provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. The company highlights its efforts to protect both its own network and its extensive customer network from black hat hackers and scammers, who may very well be using artificial intelligence.

This is a key message of Converge Chief Executive Advisor and tech expert Eugene Yeo, as he observed a sudden surge in ‘access attempts’ to illegal sites that have been blacklisted in the Converge network.

 

EUGENE YEO.jpg
 Converge Chief Executive Advisor and tech expert Eugene Yeo

 

In 2024, Converge blocked a record 183 billion entry attempts to 683,000 URLs / domains it has registered in its system as illegal sites. This is 18 times the number of attempts for the years 2021-2023.

“This is likely driven by artificial intelligence. These malicious agents are no longer people, but AI. On our end, of course we can keep blocking but we have to leverage this technology too, so it’s AI vs. AI. That’s what we’re doing in our own network,” said Yeo.

The bottom line is that “education, and knowing the tools to combat these AI cyber criminals” is the best way to protect yourself from being scammed, he said.

What these tools are, and how to enforce ‘self-defense’ is the underlying theme of Converge as it celebrates Safer Internet Month 2025 with a slate of partnership events with key government agencies and internal activities meant to instill in Converge employees the need to protect themselves and Converge customers from cyber attacks.

Converge, together with the Department of Information and Communications (DICT) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), will launch the Safer Internet 2025 campaign on February 11, sending a message of solidarity with the simultaneous change of social media assets. This will be followed by a Converge internal webinar with the theme, “Building Resilience Against Online Scams”.

This will be headlined by Yeo, who will focus on the education aspect with AI tools, together with Corporate Compliance and Data Protection Officer Atty. Laurice Esteban-Tuason, who will speak on how Converge employees, as handlers of customer data, protect the information of Converge customers.

“As part of our commitment to sustainability, we recognize that cybersecurity is integral to protecting our customers, our operations, and the broader digital ecosystem. A secure digital environment is a sustainable one, and we remain steadfast in our efforts to create a safer online space for all,” said Esteban-Tuason.

Converge, in 2023, implemented a company policy on child protection and security measures to block illicit content in its network.

In 2024, to emphasize the importance of education, especially the youth who are immersed in the digital world, Converge tied up with its neighboring primary school Francisco Legaspi Memorial School (FLMS) in Pasig to engage its pupils on digital literacy and responsible online behavior.

Significantly, Converge will enlist the help of its NGO partner, ScamWatch PH to further give emphasis to ‘self-defense’ - its co-Convenor Mr. Jocel De Guzman will implement a training program for Converge employees to guard against online scams.

Converge, as the leading fiber broadband and technology provider, takes as its mission to ‘create a safe digital space for all’ - it focused its awareness and information dissemination efforts on combating online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) in 2023, then added digitally-enabled “love scams” in 2024.