An “unprecedented” wave of cybercrime is surging across the globe with a hack taking place every 39 seconds and costing millions to each victim, Interpol has revealed.
Speaking at the global crime-fighting body’s general assembly, the head of its Cybercrime Directorate, Neal Jetton, also said there was a 30 per cent increase in cybercrime in the second quarter of this year alone, at a cost of $18 million a day.
There was a 70 per cent increase in ransomware attacks, in which hackers paralyse an organisation’s IT systems and demand payment to unlock them. The revelation of the extent of the problem came as Interpol announced that its fight against the hackers, known as Operation Synergia II, in which the UAE took part, has led to 22,000 malicious IP addresses, or servers linked to cyber threats.
Watch: how can I protect myself online?
“We are witnessing an unprecedented surge in cybercrime, with attacks increasing by 30 per cent in just the second quarter of 2024,” said Mr Jetton. “What's even more overwhelming is that a cybercrime occurs every 39 seconds. The average cost of a data breach is roughly $4.9 million and the daily cost of cybercrime is $18 million. These numbers aren't just numbers. They represent businesses, communities and lives that are affected by cybercrime.”
Mr Jetton said cybercriminals are “more organised than ever” and are offering services that allow less tech-savvy operators to get in on the act. He highlighted the ransomware-as-a-service model, which is similar to a franchise, and allows hackers to rent the tools and infrastructure needed to carry out attacks from the operator.
In turn, these affiliates return a percentage of any ransom they have been paid, often around 10 per cent. Hackers using the Qilin ransomware-as-a-service this summer attacked Synnovis, a company that provides pathology services to the UK's National Health Service in London. The hack led to operations being cancelled, including that of Dylan Kjorstad, who was due to have surgery to remove a tumour on his ribs after being diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a type of bone cancer.
Data provided by the Recorded Future threat intelligence company reveals that since 2021, ransomware attacks increased from 35 organisations a year to 350 in 2023, with around half taking place in the US. In 2021 there were no ransomware attacks in the UK, but that increased to three in 2022 and four in 2023. So far this year there have been seven attacks, says Recorded Future.
It has been estimated that $1.1 billion was paid to ransomware cybercriminals in 2023, with 74 per cent going to Russian-linked hackers, according to Chainalysis. “Cybercriminals are also finding new entry points through supply chains, and they're shifting their tactics and targets,” said Mr Jetton. “They are staying in systems longer to gather data for extortion.” Mr Jetton said criminals were also using artificial intelligence to bring about “improved effectiveness, speed and scope of already existing threats”.
“So the fight against cybercrime is not fair,” said Mr Jetton, a US Secret Service officer who led the Criminal Mission Centre at the National Cyber Investigative Joint Task Force in Washington DC, and is currently on secondment to Interpol. “The reality is that some law enforcement agencies are well-equipped with funds. I think the UK, the US are in pretty good shape.
“They have the tools, the training, the personnel to combat cybercrime effectively. But others face critical gaps in those areas and so, as Interpol's Cybercrime Directorate, we see it as our responsibility to bridge this gap by strengthening the capacity and capabilities of all member countries’ law enforcement policies.”
During Operation Synergia II, Interpol worked closely with its partners, Group-IB, Trend Micro, Kaspersky and Team Cymru, tapping into their expertise in tracking illegal cyber activities to identify thousands of malicious servers. This information was shared with participating law enforcement agencies, who conducted preliminary investigations, leading to a series of co-ordinated actions, including house searches, disruption of malicious cyber activities, and lawful seizures of servers and electronic devices.
More than 1,037 servers linked to malicious services were taken offline in Hong Kong, while in Macau police took 291 servers offline. Investigations in Mongolia included 21 house searches, the seizure of a server and the identification of 93 people with links to illegal cyber activities.
Could cyber criminals use smartphones and household devices as weapons?
Authorities in Madagascar identified 11 people with links to malicious servers and seized 11 electronic devices for further investigation. Estonian police seized more than 80GB of server data and authorities are now working with Interpol to conduct further analysis of data linked to phishing and banking malware.
The operation led to the arrest of 41 people, with 65 others still under investigation. “So this was truly, as you can see, a global law enforcement collaboration,” said Mr Jetton. “If criminals disregard borders, law enforcement should work together to remove them as well.”
Five hacking groups and syndicates to be aware of
SPECS
Toyota land Cruiser 2020 5.7L VXR
Engine: 5.7-litre V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 362hp
Torque: 530Nm
Price: Dh329,000 (base model 4.0L EXR Dh215,900)
Profile box
Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)
Coming soon
Torno Subito by Massimo Bottura
When the W Dubai – The Palm hotel opens at the end of this year, one of the highlights will be Massimo Bottura’s new restaurant, Torno Subito, which promises “to take guests on a journey back to 1960s Italy”. It is the three Michelinstarred chef’s first venture in Dubai and should be every bit as ambitious as you would expect from the man whose restaurant in Italy, Osteria Francescana, was crowned number one in this year’s list of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Akira Back Dubai
Another exciting opening at the W Dubai – The Palm hotel is South Korean chef Akira Back’s new restaurant, which will continue to showcase some of the finest Asian food in the world. Back, whose Seoul restaurant, Dosa, won a Michelin star last year, describes his menu as, “an innovative Japanese cuisine prepared with a Korean accent”.
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
The highly experimental chef, whose dishes are as much about spectacle as taste, opens his first restaurant in Dubai next year. Housed at The Royal Atlantis Resort & Residences, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal will feature contemporary twists on recipes that date back to the 1300s, including goats’ milk cheesecake. Always remember with a Blumenthal dish: nothing is quite as it seems.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Types of bank fraud
1) Phishing
Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
2) Smishing
The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
3) Vishing
The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
4) SIM swap
Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
5) Identity theft
Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
6) Prize scams
Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Company%20Profile
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Ammar 808:
Maghreb United
Sofyann Ben Youssef
Glitterbeat
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Profile of Bitex UAE
Date of launch: November 2018
Founder: Monark Modi
Based: Business Bay, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: Eight employees
Investors: Self-funded to date with $1m of personal savings
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
Generation Start-up: Awok company profile
Started: 2013
Founder: Ulugbek Yuldashev
Sector: e-commerce
Size: 600 plus
Stage: still in talks with VCs
Principal Investors: self-financed by founder
