PLDT and Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) continue to boost the cyber defenses of Filipinos with the inclusion of CyberSmart: Cyber Security Beyond Digital on the platform of the Innovations Academy for Disaster Awareness, Preparedness, and Training (iADAPT).  
 
Powered by the Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation (PDRF), iADAPT is the go-to site for information on disaster resilience in the face of a public health crisis. The e-learning solutions hub equips Filipinos with the right tools, skills, and resources needed to face disasters.  
  
“The program’s inclusion in iADAPT further fortifies CyberSmart as an important tool in safeguarding the digital presence of Filipinos in the new normal,” said Darwin Flores, VP for Community Partnerships, Smart. “With more users logged on into the internet for work or for school, it’s important that we are armed with the knowledge on how to thwart online attacks.”

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Smart is also uploading other programs on disaster preparedness, education, and food security on the platform.

Information
 
The interactive courses on the iADAPT platform are developed by industry leaders on risk reduction and management, business continuity, and climate change adaptation. The platform is packed with information presented in various formats such as videos, webinars, interactive modules, and microsites. 

When the government-imposed lockdowns on mass gatherings because of COVID-19, PLDT and Smart migrated the cybersecurity caravan to cyberspace to continue educating students and teachers on how to protect their digital presence even during the coronavirus pandemic.  
 
More than 28,000 members of the academe from around 1,300 schools across the country logged on into the virtual hall for the whole month of September, which is the National Cyber Security and Awareness month. There were interactive booths where participants played games while learning how to identify online threats.  
 
The highlight of the program was the TED-style talks that happened inside a virtual auditorium. The speakers shared tips and best practices on data privacy and security, internet safety, responsible social media use, spotting and combatting fake news, and computer and mobile protection especially for online teaching and learning. 

Privacy Commission
 
During the program’s 2020 run, National Privacy Commission Commissioner Raymund Liboro appealed to the public to adopt practices that will protect them against cyber attacks. 

“Digital offers a lot of conveniences but also has its risks and potential harms. With this in mind, we should adopt and practice privacy protection and inculcate this as our personal values. Times are changing. And we, as a nation, should be well equipped to tackle digital challenges that we currently face as we intensify the use of personal data,” he said.
 
PLDT and Smart also adapted CyberSmart for their employees and transformed it into a learning series as part of their “Cyber Security Awareness Campaign: Empowering employees through online safety”. The internal digital safety program also took home a Silver Anvil. 

PLDT and Smart swept this year’s Anvils bagging 19 citations including the coveted Company of the Year award.