Koronadal City, South Cotabato, Philippines | August 30, 2025 – Men are more vulnerable than women to cyber-attacks, according to data from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) South Cotabato, which reported that males account for up to 70 percent of victims of online crimes.
The finding was highlighted during the cybersecurity awareness drive launched by DICT South Cotabato in partnership with the Provincial Youth Development Office (PYDO). The initiative targets young leaders and SK officials, aiming to equip them with knowledge on preventing data-driven cybercrimes.
According to Ronald Jones Hinay Provincial-DICT South Cotabato, the community has a big role to play in making every individual safe from the threat of cyber-attack.
“Cybersecurity is essential to our daily productivity and way of life. What happens in the cyber realm has corresponding physical consequences,” he said. He pointed out that the community has a critical role in ensuring that the digital ecosystem is safe, secure, and resilient.
Hinay said most male victims are involved in online gaming, cryptocurrency, and business transactions, while women—who comprise 30 to 40 percent of reported cases—are commonly targeted through harassment, sextortion, romance scams, cyberstalking, and social engineering.
“The moment you connect to the internet, you are already vulnerable to cyber-attacks,” he added.
DICT and PYDO stressed that with technology deeply integrated into daily life, vigilance, responsible online behavior, and stronger community awareness are vital to protecting individuals from cyber threats.
