TechCOW - The Geek Within

Microsoft recently introduced Cyber Signals, a quarterly cyber threat intelligence brief informed by the latest Microsoft threat data and research. The content offers an expert perspective into the current thread landscape, discussing trending tactics, techniques, and strategies used by the world's most prolific threat actors.

"Online threats are increasing in volume, velocity, and sophistication. From IoT to nation-state activity, new ransomware tactics to insights into the cybercriminal economy, Cyber Signals provides trend analysis and practical guidance to strengthen the first line of digital defense,” said Vasu Jakkal, Corporate Vice President, Security, Compliance, and Identity of Microsoft.

"We hope it’s a valuable resource to Chief Information Security Officers, Chief Information Officers, Chief Privacy Officers, and their teams, as they continue to evolve technologies, policies, and processes against the constantly changing threat landscape."

The Cyber Signals brief aggregates insights from Microsoft's research and security teams on the frontlines, including analysis from the company's 24 trillion security signals combined with intelligence monitoring of more than 40 nation-state groups and 140 plus threat groups. The first edition of Cyber Signals unpacks the topic of identity and maintaining good security hygiene to mitigate potential identity risks.

With increasing numbers of people working remotely and accessing their business apps and data from multiple locations, including home offices, coworking spaces, and other remote locations, threats have risen dramatically in the past two years. However, there has been low adoption of strong identity authentication such as multifactor authentication (MFA) and passwordless solutions.

Microsoft’s research shows that across industries, only 22 percent of Microsoft's Cloud Identity Solution, Azure Active Directory (AAD), users have implemented strong identity authentication protection as of December last year. In 2021 alone, Microsoft blocked more than 25.6 billion AAD brute force authentication attacks, 9.6 billion malware threats targeting enterprise and consumer customer devices, and intercepted 35.7 billion phishing emails with Microsoft Defender for Office 365.

“MFA and passwordless solutions can go a long way in preventing a variety of threats and we’re committed to educating customers on solutions such as these to better protect themselves,” said Jakkal.

Every day, Microsoft analyzes over 6.5 trillion signals to identify emerging threats to protect customers and in response to the increasing cyber threats in the Philippines and globally, Microsoft will invest $20 billion over the next five years to accelerate efforts to integrate cyber security by design and to deliver advanced security solutions.

The strongest Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League in the Southeast Asian region returns on February 18, 2022, with the theme Lakas ng Pinas. The strength of the Filipino esports players was strongly epitomized during the M3 World Championship, as two top teams, Blacklist International and ONIC PH took the first and second-runner up positions in the international tournament, setting the nation as the most powerful contender in the world.

The most-anticipated season comprises Bren Esports, Echo, Smart Omega, Nexplay EVOS, TNC Pro, RSG Philippines, ONIC PH, and the defending champion Blacklist International. The eight franchised teams will compete for a prize pool of USD 150,000 this season.

Leading tech brand Samsung joins as the season's official mobile device partner which includes brand integration throughout the tournament.

“Samsung Philippines is excited to join forces with MOONTON Games as we have a huge consumer base of mobile gamers whom we know will be just as thrilled. We want to showcase how well-rounded our Galaxy devices are, whatever your interest may be, from content creation to music to gaming. We make products that deliver an amazing smartphone experience overall,” said Jerry Mañus, Mobile Experience Business Unit Head at Samsung Philippines.

"Season 9 marks a chapter for many teams, and we are excited to bring back our athletes to demonstrate Lakas ng Pinas, as expertly shown in the M3 World Championship. With new players filling in the shoes of our legacy players and with our newest partner, Samsung, we are just as excited as our fans to see how well they perform this season," stated Matt Jaron, Business Development Manager, MPL Philippines.

New challenges for seasoned giants

Seasoned Mobile Legends: Bang Bang teams are in for a challenge this season. Blacklist International power duo Johnmar "OhMyV33nus" Villaluna and Danerie "Wise" Del Rosario are taking a break this season, and veteran Jayson "Eson" Gerardo and youngest player Kent Xavier "Kevier" Lopez will take the reins for the legendary team.

For Echo, MPL legend Ashley Marco "Killuash" Cruz comes back in a bid to take home the national title with rising stars Frediemar "3MarTzy" Serafico, Karl "KarlTzy" Nepomuceno, and Tristan "Yawi" Cabrera.

Nexplay EVOS welcomes back pro player Jeff Lenjesson "S4gitnu" Subang with fresh faces Michael "MP the King" Endino, Kenneth "Cadenza" Castro, Mariusz "Donut" Tan, Emanuel "Elpizo" Candelaria, Renren "Ureshi" Nitsuga.

MP the King is known to take the jungler role. His top champions include Karina. For Cadenza, he takes the middle lane with Khufra, Ruby, or Jawhead as his most used champions. Gold-laner Donut uses Wanwan, Alice, or Aldous, while roamer Elpizo has Selena, Yve, and Mathilda as his main champs. On the other hand, Ureshi defends the Exp Lane with Thamuz, Chou, and Benedetta as his top champions.

Former TNC Pro's Dylan "Light" Catipon joins RSG Philippines with gold-laner Clarence Jay "Kousei" Camilo, who is expected to replace Joshwell Christian "Iy4knu" Manaog. Kousei is known to take the middle lane with Chou as his top hero. Adrian "Toshi" Bacallo will be sitting out this season as well.

Jefferson "Amethyst" Santos and Jhonville Borres "Outplayed" Villar complete Smart Omega's nine-man roster, while ONIC PH will be keeping their core team intact. Jungler Kenneth "Saxa" Fedelin joins Bren Esports to bolster its lineup. With so many diamonds in the rough, Season 9 is definitely one to watch with plenty of surprises for long-time fans and viewers.

 

NEW RULES

This season brings new rules for the eight teams to count home. The team to be ranked first will determine the placement of the third or fourth-ranked teams to be placed in either the first or second match, and the same will follow for subsequent ranked fifth or sixth positions as well.

Each team can have as many as three assistant coaches or analysts to support them; however, only one will help the head coach during the drafting phase. The rules were adjusted this season to raise the competition level and empower players.

MPL-PH Season 9 will commence from February 18th to April 10th, with playoffs starting on April 28th to May 1st 2022. The weekly schedule is as follows:

Friday: 6 PM onwards
Saturday: 4 PM onwards
Sunday: 4 PM onwards


Exciting awards also await promising players such as Rookie of the Season, Regular Season MVP, and Grand Final MVP.

If you are still looking for the perfect Valentines gift for him or her, this might be your best choice this season. ASUS and ROG knows how to satisfy those who work at home, study or even play games all day with their new laptop and desktop promos. 

 Make that romantic moment extra special as ASUS and Republic of Gamers Philippines announce the Bundled with Love Valentines promotion. Get up to PHP 14,000 worth of exclusive bundle items and discounts from participating ASUS and ROG products ranging from Zenbooks and Vivobooks with OLED displays, Zephyrus and Strix gaming laptops, ASUS desktops, ROG phone, Zenfones and more! Fall in love with your new device and don’t spend Valentine’s alone as this promotion runs from February 7, 2022 up to March 15, 2022.

Check out the official ASUS/ROG Bundled with Love microsite for the full list of participating products and mechanics at https://ph.asus.click/ValentinesPromo2022.

HAVING THE RIGHT GEAR IS SELF-LOVE

Having the right gear for school, work, or passion projects is also a form of self-love. For those on the lookout for a reliable device for content creation and maximum productivity, the ASUS Zenbook Pro Duo 15 OLED, ASUS Vivobook Pro 14 OLED (M3401QC/K3400PA), and the ASUS Vivobook Pro 15 OLED (K3500PH/M3500QC) would be the perfect match. These ASUS OLED laptops come with a free three-month Adobe Creative Cloud subscription. Achieve creativity even on the go as the Zenbook Pro Duo 15 OLED is equipped with the latest 11th Generation Intel Core Processor, 15-inch 4K UHD OLED Display, an innovative Tilting ScreenPad Plus, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 GPU, to name a few. Receive a Bacini Foldable Bike worth PHP11,990 for each Zenbook Pro Duo 15 OLED purchase.

Create and express like there’s no tomorrow with the Vivobook Pro 14/15 OLED. For smooth and fast performance, even when doing heavy tasks, this creator laptop is equipped with the latest AMD and Intel processors and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 graphics. These ASUS Creator laptops are integrated with OLED technology, so the image quality is best-in-class, with Pantone-validated certification and industry-grade color accuracy. Receive a Wacom Pad Intuos worth PHP6,300 with a free three-month subscription to Corel Painter Essentials 8, Corel Aftershot, and Clip Studio Paint Pro for each purchase of the Vivobook Pro 14/15 OLED.

The ASUS Zenbook series promises productivity without any hiccups and has a premium, lightweight build, so users can work anywhere in style. Headlining the series are the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14, ASUS Zenbook Flip, and ASUS Zenbook 13 OLED. For those looking for an education partner that performs exemplary, the ASUS Vivobook series is the way to go. With the ASUS Vivobook 14/15 OLED and the ASUS Vivobook Flip 14, users can create and express themselves in every way they wish. Get an immersive experience, whether for school or play, with the latest processors, an appealing design, and so much more. Get an ASUS Zen Gimbal, ASUS Zen Screen, or a Birkenstock E-voucher for every ASUS Zenbook or Vivobook laptop purchase.

To complete one’s setup, ASUS also offers an 18% discount on its ASUS Multi-Device Wireless Silent Mouse (MW203). This mouse allows multitasking with ease as it can conveniently switch between three wireless devices. Its almost-silent buttons eliminate unnecessary mouse noise, so users can focus more on accomplishing work. Get one today for only PHP 1,599.

LOVE YOUR SETUP WITH ASUS DESKTOPS

Having the right device is important for those extra special virtual Valentine’s Day celebrations. For users looking for a powerful desktop for either unhindered video calls or just for general entertainment like streaming movies, ASUS has you covered with its ASUS S500SC and S300MA desktops. Equipped with powerful Intel processors and up to an Nvidia GeForce GT 1030 graphics card, these desktops elevate every aspect of everyday tasks and entertainment. Small and tight spaces are not a problem for the ASUS S500SC. It features a compact yet mighty design, allowing it to fit anywhere without compromise. Connections are also not an issue as the ASUS S500SC has eight USB Type-A ports making it easy to transfer files and allowing the user to connect different external devices.

For users looking for a more stylish desktop to fit their homes, The ASUS S300MA is the perfect desktop. Its unique chassis has been carefully thought out to create a balanced design. S300MA does away with the traditional spray paint finish and instead benefits from precision molding and polishing techniques to achieve its unique look. S300MA is also built for the long term as it passes the MIL-STD-810G US military standards and stringent ASUS in-house testing.

Finally, All ASUS desktops also use 100% enterprise-grade solid capacitors in their motherboards. These capacitors can withstand extreme temperatures, ensuring smooth and stable performance, even after many hours of use.

Special discounts are available for some ASUS Desktops during Valentine's Promotion, so now’s the best time to get one.

DON’T SPEND VALENTINE’S ALONE WITH THESE AWESOME ROG AND TUF GAMING PRODUCTS

Whether it’s enjoying the newest games such as Dying Light 2 with special exclusive features on the ROG Zephyrus Duo or crushing the competition with your crush on Valorant on the ROG Strix G, there’s no way you’re spending Valentine’s alone with these awesome offers from Republic of Gamers.

Participating in the promotion is the ROG Zephyrus Duo series featuring a second screen called the Screenpad Plus, which allows you to enjoy better multitasking and special features in games such as Dying Light 2. With up to a 4k main display, powerful CPU’s and Nvidia RTX graphics, plus the special AAS Plus cooling system with Liquid Metal Cooling, this is a gamer and content creator’s dream machine.

The ROG Strix G lineup is also included in the promotion, featuring a fast Adaptive Sync display built for esports, NVIDIA RTX powered graphics, an eye-catching RGB lightbar, Liquid Metal Cooling for those intense moments, and Aura Sync support for your other peripherals. This is definitely something for those who are into esports games.

Also included in the promotion are other popular products such as Zephyrus G14, Zephyrus M16, and the 2-in-1 ROG Flow X13. Exclusive premium bundle items range from TUF Gaming Monitors, Strix Go Wireless Headsets, Nanoleaf Shapes Hex Kit, ROG Falchion Wireless Mechanical Gaming Keyboards and many more!

The upgraded King of Gaming smartphones, the ROG Phone 5s, also joins the Valentine's promotion.

Play your favorite games, take a selfie together with the victory pose and cherish awesome gaming moments with your special someone.

This monster gaming phone powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 Plus CPU with its 144Hz AMOLED display ensures a super-smooth gaming experience. The upgraded AirTrigger 5 enhances game controls, and the best speakers on a mobile phone with the Dirac GameFX Stereo Speakers along with a 3.5mm jack with Hi-Res audio for the audiophiles out there.

As part of the promotion, the ROG Phone 5s gets a special Php 2,000 Valentine’s discount, so show that love for mobile games with the only gaming phone worth loving. Recognized for its thin and light form, TUF Dash and the best-selling military-grade TUF Gaming laptops share the love this February. These value-for-money gaming laptops are the champions in the price for spec performance and will be a great way to get started in gaming.

SURPRISE YOUR LOVED ONES WITH SPECIAL DISCOUNTS ON ZENFONE 8 SERIES

Going out this Valentine’s Day? Keep the memories forever with the Zenfone 8 series and its fantastic cameras that will wow you.

The compact flagship Zenfone 8 is powered by a flagship Snapdragon 888 CPU, a 120hz AMOLED Display, Dual Stereo Speakers, IP68 water resistance, and Pro Grade Cameras.

Meanwhile, the Zenfone 8 Flip has the unique flipping triple camera mechanism, which allows you to take the best possible selfies with the 64mp main camera, the 12mp Ultrawide, or the 3x telephoto zoom. The seamless display without any notches and punch holes allows you to enjoy your content fully without any distractions on the gorgeous 90hz AMOLED display.

A special P 10,000 discount will be offered during the promo period. So now’s the perfect time to go twinning with your other half! The  ZENFONE 8 16GB / 256GB costs Php 29,995, the ZENFONE 8 8GB / 128GB costs 24,995 while the ZENFONE 8 FLIP is at Php 29,995 (on promo price).

Samsung has officially unveiled their Galaxy S22 and S22+. These are two flagship devices that power creativity and self-expression. Galaxy S22 and S22+ introduce dynamic cameras with advanced intelligent image processing to make every moment epic. Built with a bold, sustainably conscious design, Galaxy S22 and S22+ are designed to be both beautiful and environmentally conscious.

“Our smartphone cameras have transformed the way we create, share, and communicate. Through photos and videos, we express ourselves and connect with the people we care about,” said TM Roh, President and Head of Samsung Electronics’ MX (Mobile eXperience) Business. “That’s why we focused on designing our latest S series devices with groundbreaking camera capabilities that work day and night, powered by our best mobile performance yet.”

Own the Night with Samsung’s Most Intelligent Camera Yet

The Galaxy S22 and S22+ are designed to deliver next-level camera experiences, so people can connect and share wherever they are. With the Galaxy S22 series’ revolutionary new Nightography features – like the 23% larger sensor than S21 and S21+ and Adaptive Pixel technology – your camera is designed to let in more light, draw out details, and capture colors that make your content pop, even in the dark 1 . Both Galaxy S22 and S22+ are built with a powerful 50MP main camera, 10MP tele-lens, and 12MP ultra-wide lens, so you always get the high quality shots. When you’re capturing videos with friends, the new Auto Framing 2 feature detects and tracks up to 10 people and automatically adjusts the camera’s focus, so your camera captures everyone clearly. Both devices are powered by advanced VDIS technology which minimizes vibrations, so you get smooth, sharp footage even when
you’re on the move.

Galaxy S22 and S22+ are also equipped with Samsung’s latest AI technology that takes your photos to the next level. It’s easy to take perfect Portrait Mode photos with the new AI Stereo Depth Map, and your subjects will look better than ever with even the smallest details appearing crisp and clear thanks to a sophisticated AI algorithm. The same works for your favorite furry friend: Galaxy S22/S22+’s new Portrait mode helps prevent pet hair from blending into the background, so you always get the best shot of your pet.

Power and Performance that Keep up with Your Life

From work to home, Galaxy S22 and S22+ are designed to power you through even the busiest days with the first-ever 4nm processor on a Galaxy smartphone. It powers our most advanced AI and ML processing to date, delivering unrivaled performance for all your streaming and productivity needs. What’s more, network behavior analysis streamlines your app performance by automatically detecting which app you’re using and directing the most power there – so steaming, surfing the web, and navigating apps have never been smoother.

A lightning-fast processor demands power that can keep pace.

Galaxy S22 is built with a robust all-day battery 3 and 25W fast charging 4 that never slows you down, and Galaxy S22+ features a super powerful battery that can last even longer than a day on a single charge. Galaxy S22+ also offers 45W super-fast charging, so you don’t have to wait when your power is running low.

Streaming a movie or your favorite show will look even better on Galaxy S22 and S22+’s beautiful displays. Both devices come equipped with a Dynamic AMOLED 5 2x adaptive 120Hz display, designed for the best in gaming and watching. Whether you choose Galaxy S22’s premium 6.1-inch display or Galaxy S22+’s 6.6-inch, 6 each screen is built with intelligent Vision Booster technology that automatically adjusts the display to the lighting around you and enhances the color contrast, so you can enjoy the best possible view of your content. Plus, hardware performance enhancements have improved display brightness – S22 has a peak brightness of 1,300nit while S22+ features a peak 1,750nit. 7 S22 and S22+ will also ensure you can always stay connected and collaborative.

Through our partnership with Google, you can enjoy Google Duo 8 live sharing 9 to view photos in
Gallery with friends or write meeting notes with colleagues on Samsung Notes – even while you’re apart.

Design to Perfection and Built to Last

Both Galaxy S22 and S22+ feature the S series’ iconic, fan-favorite Contour-Cut design that blends the camera seamlessly into the housing. To create a sleeker and more refined look, Samsung built both devices with a distinctive flat display, complete with a luxurious glass and haze finish. Now, the S series camera housing is designed to match the color of the device’s body with a slim and symmetric metal frame for a seamless look. The result is a balanced, unified design that’s modern, fashionable, and sleek. Both the Samsung Galaxy S22 and S22+ are available in Phantom Black, Phantom White, Green, and Pink Gold.

And that stunning design is built to last: the Galaxy S22 Series presents Samsung’s most durable mobile devices yet. Galaxy S22 and S22+ are the first S series models made with Armor Aluminum – our strongest aluminum frame, so you can take your phone anywhere with peace of mind. The Galaxy S22 series is also the first smartphones to feature new Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus®+. The S22 series devices are equipped with this tough glass on the front and back, so you can worry less about accidental drops.

But we know true durability is not just about hardware. As part of our commitment to giving users the best possible mobile performance and experience, the entire Galaxy S22 series will be supported by up to four generations of Android OS upgrades. 11 Now millions of Galaxy users can take advantage of the latest security, productivity, and other exciting new features, for longer. Samsung will scale this effort across our product line-up to ensure you’re fully supported across your Galaxy ecosystem. The Galaxy S series also makes it easy to make your phone your own. You can use Samsung’s clean and intuitive new One UI user interface to customize the look and feel of your home screen and widget. Tailor your icon colors, widgets, color palette, and more to your personal preferences, and create a mobile experience that reflects who you are. One UI also gives you easy access to a wealth of emojis, GIFs, and stickers directly on your keyboard, so you can instantly communicate exactly how you feel without typing a single word.

Help Build a Sustainable Future through Galaxy for the Planet

As our most eco-conscious device ever, the Galaxy S22 series pioneers mobile technology while supporting our planet. Plastic pollution poses serious threats to our environment, and discarded fishing nets are especially harmful to marine life and our oceans. By collaborating with leading organizations, Samsung helps recover discarded fishing nets and transforms them into a high-performance material for our smartphones. This material – used in the Galaxy S22 series’ component, key bracket – contains 20% recycled ocean-bound plastic from discarded fishing nets. The Galaxy S22 series also incorporates post-consumer recycled material in its speaker module, as well as the inner parts of the power and volume keys.

In addition to ocean-bound plastics, we use 100% recycled paper for the Galaxy S22’s packaging and include a protective film made from recycled plastic. Every smartphone case is also designed with UL-certified, eco-conscious materials 15 – such as recycled post-consumer plastics or bio-based substances. These purposeful innovations are the latest example of Samsung’s commitment to doing more with less as part of Galaxy for the Planet.

Security You Can Trust

The Galaxy S22 series is secured by Samsung’s powerful Knox Vault security platform, which includes a secure processor and memory that completely isolates sensitive data like your passwords, biometrics, or Blockchain keys from the phone’s main operating system.

One UI's privacy dashboard and Indicator make it easy to see which apps are accessing your data and camera, so you can decide whether to grant or deny permission to each app. The Galaxy S22 series also introduces several new security features, including ARM micro architecture, which helps prevent cyberattacks that target your operating system and memory.

Stay Connected with the Galaxy Ecosystem

Alongside the new S22 series, Samsung is introducing an all-new line of tablets and a pack of updated features for Galaxy Watch4 so that Galaxy users can stay connected in every aspect of their lives. Built for a new era of connectivity, Galaxy Tab S8 series– including Tab S8 WiFi/5G, Tab S8+ 5G and Tab S8 Ultra 5G – is Samsung’s most versatile line of tablets ever, built and designed to meet the ever-changing needs of those who work, study, play and create.

Price and Availability

Starting February 9, 2022 11:00 PM until March 3, 2022, customers who pre-order the Galaxy S22 and S22+ through Samsung.com, can get freebies and discounts worth up to PHP 13,200. Customers can enjoy a PHP 10,000 e-voucher which can be used to purchase select mobile products in the Samsung Online Store, a Silicone Case with Strap worth PHP 1,999 and a Lucky Box Strap worth PHP 1,299. Customers can also pre-order through Samsung Experience Stores, select Authorized Samsung Stores, Lazada, Shopee, Abenson.com and MemoXpress Online from February 10 – March 3, 2022, to get as much as PHP 10,200 worth of freebies, including a pair of Galaxy Buds2 worth PHP 6,990, a Silicone Case with Strap worth PHP 1,999 and a Lucky Box Strap worth PHP 1,299.

Starting March 4, 2022, the Galaxy S22 and S22+ will be available in Samsung.com, Samsung Experience Stores, select Authorized Samsung Stores, Lazada, Shopee, Abenson.com and MemoXpress Online, and telco partners. The Galaxy S22 will start at PHP 45,990 for the 128GB variant and PHP 49,990 for the 256GB variant, while the Galaxy S22+ will be priced at PHP 56,990 and PHP 60,990 for the 128GB and 256GB variant respectively, in Phantom White, Phantom Black, Pink Gold and Green.

For more information about Galaxy S22 and S22+, please visit: http://www.samsungmobilepress.com, news.samsung.com/galaxy or https://www.samsung.com/ph/smartphones/galaxy-s22/.

PLDT Inc. and Microsoft today announced a strategic partnership to work together through Microsoft’s Cyber Threat Intelligence Program (CTIP), a move that aims to strengthen the country’s digital borders and infrastructure security against cyber threats.

The global COVID-19 pandemic continues to drive work and learning onto virtual ecosystems, and this increase of online usage and behavior has created a broader area of opportunity for cybercrime and malicious actors to target. 2021 saw a wide range of cyberattacks throughout the year, targeting stakeholders of public and private organizations, and even everyday consumers through mobile devices and social media platforms. Microsoft’s Cyber Threat Intelligence Program is driven by its Digital Crimes Unit (DCU), an international team of technical, legal, and business experts created in 2008 to combat cybercrime on a global scale. Its expertise and unique view into online criminal networks uncover evidence used as criminal referrals to law enforcement agencies throughout the world.

Created in 2013, CTIP collects and distributes actionable cyber intelligence, including that derived from the Microsoft DCU’s botnet takedown operations to Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs), Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Critical Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs). CTIP data is also engineered into specific Microsoft products and services to help customers identify threats in their computing environments.

“Microsoft’s DCU values our threat intelligence-sharing partnerships, and we look forward to seeing how the Microsoft CTIP intelligence helps PLDT to protect the citizens of the Philippines,” said Mary Jo Schrade, Assistant General Counsel and Regional Lead, Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit Asia.

With this strategic partnership, PLDT will gain access to Microsoft DCU’s Azure-based cyber threat intelligence in real time, providing information about the impact in the Philippines from the malware families DCU has disrupted in the past. This intelligence will provide better insights into criminal cyber infrastructure located within their jurisdiction. PLDT, in turn, with its network domain knowledge, can help in two-way sharing of intelligence to identify compromised infrastructure and alert impacted entities in the country to potential cybercrime threats.

“Security is at an inflection point as cyberattacks become more sophisticated and digital attack surfaces exponentially increase. We believe that anything less than comprehensive security is no security at all,” said Microsoft Philippines Country General Manager, Andres Ortola. “We are committed to ensuring the internet is safe and secure for all users and our DCU is leading the fight against cybercrime to protect businesses and individuals and to promote trust globally. To date, the DCU has completed 24 malware disruption operations worldwide, resulting in millions of devices kept safe from cybercriminals and preventing millions in financial losses. Alongside PLDT, we can do more for the Philippines and empower a safer cyberspace for all Filipinos.”

The partnership with Microsoft is expected to help fortify PLDT’s existing and robust cybersecurity capabilities in preventing and mitigating cyber threats and attacks. An industry leader in cybersecurity intelligence, PLDT and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. safeguard their over 70 million mobile and over 3.7 million broadband customers all over the country against emerging cyber threats and vulnerabilities, investing nearly P3 billion in cybersecurity infrastructure in 2021 alone. These major investments have strengthened the PLDT group’s predictive, preventive, detective, and responsive capabilities.

Last year, the PLDT group acquired information on more than 200 million cyber threats and prevented close to 300 million combined types of cyber-attacks. “Our mature and sophisticated threat intelligence operations is one of the key and most robust pillars of the PLDT group’s cybersecurity structure. We are glad to partner with Microsoft to help fortify our strong cyber threat intelligence operations, and to help us better protect our customers in particular, and the country’s cyber defenses in general,” according to Angel T. Redoble, FVP, Chief Information Security Officer, and head of PLDT and Smart’s Cyber Security Operations Group.

Every day, Microsoft analyzes over 6.5 trillion signals to identify emerging threats to protect customers and in response to the increasing cyber threats in the Philippines and globally, Microsoft will invest $20 billion over the next five years to accelerate efforts to integrate cyber security by design and to deliver advanced security solutions.

The drive and inspiration to create persevere as the Philippines continues to battle a global pandemic. To further empower all types of creators, ASUS Philippines unveils today its latest solution, the ASUS OLED Creator Lineup. ASUS calls on artists and makers – neophytes and professionals – to create with ASUS, explore and express their thoughts, be the movers in the creative industry, and join Graphika Online 2022. ASUS will be giving away ten (10) free tickets to the event to be held online on February 5, 2022.

To join the giveaway, mechanics are as follows:

Like the ASUS Philippines Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ASUSph.

Share this post and tag three (3) friends.

In the comments section, answer the question: "Who or what are you looking forward to seeing and learning from Graphika Online 2022?". Include the hashtag #ASUSxGraphikaManila2022 at the end of your comment.

Tag 3 of your friends in your post, and make sure the post is set on public.

Ten (10) lucky winners will get a chance to win tickets and be part of the Graphika Online 2022 event.

Winners will be posted on ASUS Philippines Facebook Page on Monday, February 3, 2022.

Graphika Online 2022 gathers the world’s top creative personalities in the fields of design, animation, illustration, to name a few, for a conference that showcases works and projects that excite, inspire, and challenge. This year, six speakers will share their stories, experiences, and creative process in their respective fields of work.

ASUS OLED Creator Lineup

All creator models come with an OLED display with creators benefits. Color is considered a critical component for all creative professionals, and this led ASUS to incorporate OLED technology into their latest Creator lineup of laptops. With ASUS OLED displays, every digital artwork can utilize Pantone-Validated color accuracy, which ensures creatives get industry-standard, best-in-class color reproduction for graphics design and illustrators. Editing videos with HDR content is also made possible with 100% DCI-P3 cinema-grade Color Gamut, while color grading dark scenes or editing black and white artworks greatly benefit from ASUS OLED display's true black reproduction and extreme contrast ratio, enabling video editors to see more detail than before. Ultra-fast response time also allows blur-free animation and video-editing experience. At the same time, 70% lower blue light emissions and OLED display's color accuracy even at low brightness make it more eye-friendly for extended use.

In the Graphika Online 2022 event, ASUS will be introducing its newest Creator Lineup – a suite of laptops and peripherals that are designed with makers and creators of today in mind. The series includes the ASUS Vivobook Pro 14/15 OLED, ASUS Zenbook Pro Duo 15 OLED, ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 OLED, ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV, and ASUS ProArt Z690- Creator WiFi.

Vivobook Pro 14/15 OLED

Budding digital and everyday creators will find a reliable partner in the Vivobook Pro 14 OLED (M3401QC/K3400PA) and Vivobook Pro 15 OLED (K3500PH/M3500QC) as these are packed with hardware, battery life, and visuals like never before, thanks to its OLED display. With 14-inch NanoEdge 2.8K and 15-inch NanoEdge FHD OLED displays to choose from, young creators get the real estate they need to work on multiple projects at once. The Vivobook Pro 14/15 OLED is also powered by up to an AMD Ryzen 5900HX Mobile Processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 graphics or an 11th Generation Intel Core i5 processor with up to NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics. The ASUS Vivobook Pro 14/15 OLED are available today with a starting price of only PHP 47,995.

Zenbook Pro Duo 15 OLED

Award-winning projects only deserve an award-winning device, and that’s why the ASUS Zenbook Pro Duo 15 OLED best fits advanced creators who are looking for a flagship performance that multitasks with ease. This Good Design Award 2021 recipient laptop sports a 14” tilting ScreenPad Plus – a revolutionary full-width secondary touchscreen that works hand in hand with the 15.6-inch 4K OLED 16:9 aspect ratio OLED main display. Under the hood is an 11th Generation Intel Core i9-11900H processor and the latest powerhouse NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 graphics. The ASUS Zenbook Pro Duo 15 OLED is available today for a starting price of PHP 199,995.

ProArt StudioBook 16

For individuals requiring a professional-grade workstation, the new ASUS ProArt StudioBook 16 series laptops provide every professional creator their best partner for work in terms of industry-level certifications, exceptional performance, and excellent user experience. Creative works demand visual perfection; that is why ASUS ProArt StudioBook 16 series laptops are equipped with the world’s first 16” 4K OLED HDR 16:10 display that is 100% DCI-P3, PANTONE validated, and Calman verified with a Delta-E value of less than 2. Performance is the key for these creative professionals as well. They can either go for a mighty AMD Ryzen 5000 series processor or a powerful 11th gen Intel Core or Intel Xeon processor and are both powered by NVIDIA’s Ampere architecture with its latest raytracing and AI-technology, ranging from NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 up to NVIDIA RTX A5000 GPU. Discover new ways to work with ASUS Dial, an intuitive physical controller that gives users instant and precise fingertip control which can be mapped to easily change brush size, change saturation, adjust layer opacity, or rapidly undo actions. Stay tuned at the Graphika Online 2022 event for the price reveal of the ASUS ProArt StudioBook 16 laptops.

ProArt Monitor Line-Up

ASUS showcases the ProArt PC lineup that powers up users’ imaginations: a desktop PC powered by a ProArt motherboard and monitor which empower users to reach their full potential. Its features accelerate the workflows of creative professionals with powerful hardware and software, efficient cooling, and lightning-fast connectivity.

Among the monitors displayed, the ProArt PA329CV features exceptional color fidelity across a wide array of color spaces used in the industry. The display series paves a way for color correction while breezing through the video’s timeline. Add the monitor’s 4K resolution, and users have a large screen real estate that will enable multitasking while post-processing videos.

ProArt Motherboards

ASUS also present are the ProArt Z690-CREATOR WiFi and B550-CREATOR WiFi motherboard that comes with a sleek design and updated thermal cooling. Its connectivity options include the new 40 Gbps Thunderbolt 4 which lets users connect to two 4K or one 8K display. It also features the intelligent VRM which converts and lowers voltage that is being sent to different components of the computer to avoid overvolting. The motherboard includes exclusive software such as Creation First and ProArt Creator Hub that helps creators to organize work applications and gives the users the option to activate all their preferred work apps with a single click.

All ASUS OLED Creator Lineup comes with a complimentary up to a three-month subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud full suite. Create with no bounds as this membership also includes 100 GB of cloud storage, Adobe Portfolio, Adobe Fonts, and more.

Looks like our friends from Xiaomi are giving more LOVE this Valentines season!

For every purchase of a Xiaomi 11T Pro, buyers will get an exclusive and exciting Xiaomi 11T Series gift box when they buy from February 1 to 14, 2022. This special treat is designed to make your celebrations extra special with your loved ones

The Xiaomi 11T Pro is the ultimate flagship phone for content creators as it boasts impressive computational filmography capabilities with one-click AI Cinema modes, 8K recording and HDR10+, allowing users to capture footage with the same smart ISO technology found in digital cameras. This powerhouse tool also features the revolutionary 120W Fast-Charging Technology, which enables 100% charge in just 17 minutes.

The Xiaomi 11T Pro is available in the 8GB+256GB version for PHP 27,990 and 12GB+256GB for PHP 29,990.

Innovation is the name of the game and Vivo is going to be at the forefront of that. Recently, they've announced using Photochromic design on their new flagship device the V23.

This 2022, vivo makes a splash in the new year with the much-awaited launch of the V23 series that’s bound to be next “it” phone for influencers, style leaders, and content creators—the selfie set—with its revolutionary photochromic design and outstanding performance. Head on to https://www.vivoglobal.ph/v23-prelaunch/ to know more about vivo’s latest series smartphone.

Taking selfie phones to the next level, the V23 features an impressive 50 MP Front Camera for amazing detail coupled with an 8 MP Dual Front Vlog Camera—go ahead, strike a pose, day or night! It’s custom JNV chip assures of images that are brighter and more beautiful while videos look more natural and crisp-clear.

Delighting design

Like you and your ever-changing hues, the V23 series is first in its class to feature a stunning color changing glass process that instantly changes color when exposed to UV light—shifting in intensity and shades; in mood and feel. A real game changer!

Capture your life’s best moments

Be it for vlogging, or selfies, the V23 series is there to provide users with a powerful device that brings out the artistic filmmaker and keen-eyed photographer in you.

For those who love taking selfies with the gang, its 8MP Super Wide-Angle Camera allows for portrait shoots like never before, ensuring no one is left out in the frame. The V23 series’ custom JNV chip is also equipped with the highest-pixel sensor in the industry that allows its user to take poster-level selfies, where even the finest of details are captured distinctively.

Attuned to your lifestyle

In keeping with today’s active consumer lifestyles, the V23 series is designed to be the perfect partner on the go with its Dual 5G Standby and VoNR. Users can also enjoy freedom and power in their hands with its 12GB RAM + 256GB ROM with 4GB RAM Extended 2.0—allowing for more files, more videos, and more high-definition movies to be stored with no loss in performance. The Extended RAM also enables users to run multiple apps at once, at consistently fast speeds.

As Gen Z’s embrace more immersive and connected experiences that’s enabled through technology, their authentic selves easily shine through. With the style and power that the vivo V23 series provides, they can now share their life’s most exciting moments to the world!