February 21, 2021

Remote Working Leads to Surge in Middle East Cyber-Attacks

Cybercrime and ransomware surged across the Middle East as remote work expanded during COVID-19. ITSEC warns attacks increased by up to 300%, driven by insecure home devices, increased use of apps like Zoom and WhatsApp, and human error through phishing and malware.

↗View Original Source

Al Arabiya coverage on Middle East COVID-19 cyberattack surge featuring ITSEC 300 percent increase

DUBAI: Cyber-attacks across the Middle East surged in 2020 as remote working became the new normal during the coronavirus pandemic, with experts warning that the region faces a continued rise in attacks targeting both businesses and government entities.

According to Amir Kolahzadeh, founder and CEO of UAE cybersecurity firm ITSEC, the rapid shift to working from home created vulnerabilities that cybercriminals were quick to exploit.

“The COVID-19 pandemic created the perfect environment for cybercrime,” Kolahzadeh said. “Organizations were forced to enable remote work overnight, often without proper security measures in place. Home networks, personal devices, and unsecured Wi-Fi all became attack vectors.”

Kolahzadeh said the surge in cybercrime had reached unprecedented levels. “We have seen a 300 percent rise in cybercrime across the Middle East since the pandemic started. Phishing attacks, ransomware, and business email compromise have all increased significantly.”

The shift to platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and WhatsApp for business communication also opened new vulnerabilities, he said. “These platforms became prime targets because of the explosion in usage. Many organizations adopted them without adequate security configurations.”

Kolahzadeh emphasized the need for comprehensive cybersecurity awareness training for employees working remotely. “Employees are the first line of defense. They need to be trained to recognize phishing attempts, secure their home networks, and follow proper security protocols.”

The cybersecurity expert also highlighted the importance of multi-factor authentication, VPN usage, and regular security audits for organizations supporting remote workforces.

UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority chief, Mohammed al-Kuwaiti, said the UAE had seen “a big rise” in cyber-attacks in 2020 targeting various sectors including healthcare, finance, and the public sector.

“We have seen cyber-attacks especially in the financial sector, the medical sector, and the public sector,” al-Kuwaiti revealed, without going into specific detail about the nature of the incidents in the UAE, or whether they were successful.

Source: Al Arabiya English

Certified Penetration Testing vs. Ethical Hacking — by Amir Kolahzadeh

May 22, 2017

Remote Working Leads to Surge in Middle East Cyber-Attacks

Read More Please...

Certified Penetration Testing vs. Ethical Hacking — by Amir Kolahzadeh

The CyberWire (US) — International Citation of Amir Kolahzadeh on WannaCry