Hieu, known as Hieu PC, pointed out two main groups of risks Vietnamese users are facing: personal data leaks and exploitation, and cybercriminals using new technologies for more sophisticated scams and attacks.

Data leaks and the consequences of online habits

Most risks stem from user behavior. Every “like,” share, check-in, or app download leaves a digital trace. Platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram collect and analyze user activity to suggest ads, but they also create security vulnerabilities.

Hieu said everything connected to the internet can be vulnerable. Another reality is that users often delete apps but forget to delete accounts, leaving data on servers. When systems are attacked, consequences can occur. 

This happened a few years ago with data on 41 million Vietnamese on Facebook leaked.

The expert's advice for users is to regularly control all of their accounts. “Leaking username, email, or phone number is enough for scammers to find your personal information,” the director of Chong Lua Dao explained.

With stolen information, cybercriminals easily impersonate shippers, banks or police, send fake links, scam messages asking to pay fees, or request “identity verification”. COD scams or international scholarships are typical: someone lost up to VND7 billion from online fraud.

Hieu said: “No police officer sends emails, and no school randomly grants full scholarships.”

AI and deepfake: weapons of cybercriminals

With AI, deepfake, and automation tools, cyberattacks are becoming increasingly unpredictable. Hackers can edit sensitive photos or videos to extort victims, use AI-generated malware, write phishing emails, or even create fake celebrity appearances to steal money.

Hieu recalled a case where a 10th-grade student’s face was edited into an adult video, leading to psychological trauma after being threatened with exposure. In Hong Kong (China), a company lost $40 million after a “virtual” CFO appeared for only a few seconds on Zoom.

He stressed: “When something bad happens, we need to stay calm and report it to appropriate authorities as soon as possible.”

In addition, session hijacking techniques allow hackers to access Gmail or Facebook accounts without passwords or OTPs. The director of Chong Lua Dao described this as a highly advanced attack method. Several popular YouTube or Facebook channels have been stolen this way.

These incidents show that criminals are getting faster, while users remain careless.

“Even when technology advances, humans are still the weakest link. Oversharing (posting ID cards, QR codes, or personal schedules recklessly on social media) exposes identities and allows criminals to track us in “real time,” he said

Meanwhile, many people don’t enable two-step authentication, hide sensitive information, or lack develop skills to detect fake news and verify sources. Equipping oneself with basic knowledge and skills to protect personal data is the “key” to staying safe in the digital environment.

Hieu also reminded users of some rules on personal data security: use two-factor authentication, protect sensitive information, responsible sharing, and “digital vaccine” thinking.

“In the data era, personal security is no longer a choice but a survival skill,” Hieu said.

Major General Nguyen Ngoc Cuong, director of the National Data Center (Ministry of Public Security), said: “In the digital era, data is not only a new resource but the ‘blood’ of the digital economy, the heart of national digital transformation.”

Speaking at a discussion session within the framework of the Hung Yen Province 2025 Forum on Science, Technology, Innovation, and Digital Transformation, Nguyen Tuan Huy, head of digital transformation at MobiFone Telecommunications Corporation, said: “Digital infrastructure is no longer just about connectivity or devices; it has become the circulatory system of the modern economy. Within that system, data is the blood that sustains every activity. This is the golden time for localities to boldly transition toward a data-driven economy if they want to make a breakthrough in the coming period.”

Huy said the world is entering an era where data is considered the “fifth strategic asset,” alongside land, labor, capital, and energy.

Data not only supports decision-making but also directly creates economic value and can be traded as a commodity. Countries such as Singapore, South Korea, and the European Union have already established Data Exchange Platforms, where data is standardized, shared, and transparently commercialized.

Du Lam