UAE Cyber Council Reports 75% of Cyberattacks Initiated by Phishing Emails

Severity: High (Score: 71.0)

Sources: Thecyberexpress, Fastcompanyme, Arabianbusiness, Economymiddleeast

Summary

The UAE Cyber Security Council has reported that over 75% of cyberattacks in the region begin with phishing emails. These fraudulent messages, which number more than 3.4 billion sent daily worldwide, target both individuals and institutions to steal sensitive information such as login credentials and financial data. The Council emphasizes that these phishing attempts exploit gaps in user awareness rather than technological vulnerabilities. Common tactics include urgent requests for payments or personal data, often masquerading as legitimate communications from trusted entities. Users are advised to be vigilant and to implement security measures such as multi-factor authentication and regular updates to their systems. The Council also highlights the importance of reporting suspicious messages to authorities to mitigate risks. The ongoing prevalence of these scams indicates a significant challenge in cybersecurity awareness and user behavior. Key Points: • 75% of cyberattacks in the UAE start with phishing emails. • Over 3.4 billion phishing emails are sent globally each day. • User awareness and prompt reporting of phishing attempts are critical for cybersecurity.

Key Entities

• Phishing (attack_type)
• T1566.002 - Spearphishing Link (mitre_attack)
• T1566 - Phishing (mitre_attack)