Cyber criminals prowling the online world have plundered almost Dh4 billion from victims in the UAE in the last year according to security experts.
More than half the adult population fell victim to cybercrime in 2017, with the latest Norton Cyber Security Insights Report claiming each lost an average of Dh669.
The rise of connected in-home devices and wearable smart technology have helped contribute to the figures, with victims of online crime losing about six working days dealing with the fallout and attempting to recover the stolen information.
The report found criminals were twice as likely to target those with a connected home device, whilst owners of internet-connected gaming consoles and streaming devices were also more vulnerable.
Common blind spots that are leaving people exposed include using the same online password across several accounts and saving passwords on to a file within a device used to surf the web.
Security experts who compiled the report said 45 per cent of online crime victims in the UAE believed they were capable of securing their online data and a third said they were at low risk from cyber criminals.
Although tech savvy, younger people were more likely to be exposed, the report said, with one in five millennials admitting to not having protective measures in place for at least one device.
The actions of consumers are revealing a dangerous disconnect, said Tamim Taufiq, head of Norton Middle East.
“Despite a steady stream of cybercrime sprees reported in the media, too many people appear to feel invincible and skip taking even basic precautions to protect themselves,” he said.
“This disconnect highlights the need for consumer digital safety and the urgency for consumers to get back to basics when it comes to doing their part to prevent cybercrime.”
_____________
Read more:
Almost 800 cybercrime cases handled by Abu Dhabi police last year
Young Emiratis urged to consider cyber security career to tackle 'greatest threat we face'
Cryptocurrency cyber crime costs rising
______________
For survey respondents who said they had been victims of online crime in the last 12 months, Norton asked them to specify the financial loss related to the crime.
The cost of cybercrime was calculated by the total cost in US dollars multiplied by 1000, and then the online population in each country.
Ransomware is a common curse of the online consumer, with many victims in the UAE struggling to retain their digital life, despite paying up to criminals.
More than one in 10 UAE consumers (13 per cent) experienced ransomware last year, and for those who fell victim it has been a costly affair.
Those experiencing ransomware reported losing an average of 89 hours dealing with the aftermath, and nearly one in five (18 per cent) paid the ransom and got nothing in return.
With half of UAE consumers (49 per cent) admitting they never backup all their devices and one in 13 admitting they never implement software updates, a significant number are at risk of losing their digital property for good.
“Paying the ransom may seem like a natural response to get your personal files back,” said Mr Taufiq.
“However, handing the hackers money simply continues to fund their efforts with no guarantee that you’ll personally be able to regain access to your digital life.
“In the case of ransomware, crime pays and we can all take some simple steps to thwart their efforts.”
Of those who experienced an online attack last year, 53 per cent had a device infected by malware, whilst 44 per cent had their Wi-Fi network broken into.
A data breach was felt by 43 per cent of cybercrime victims and 39 per cent said they had fallen prey to a phishing scam and passed on sensitive personal or financial information by responding to a bogus email.
One in three said they had been conned into buying fake goods online and 29 per cent said they had payment information stolen from their phones. A further 24 per cent of victims said they had fallen for technical support scams.
A lack of understanding of how to stay safe online is not a problem exclusive to the UAE, said Matthew Cochran, chairman of the Defence Services Marketing Council, a company working with international industries of defence, space and security.
"This is a global problem impacting on everyone, and is not specific to the UAE,” he said.
"To protect yourself, don’t use the same online password across your accounts, or save them on a computer's browser."
The definition of cybercrime continues to evolve, as avenues open up that allow cybercriminals to target consumers in new ways.
Data for the 2017 report was collected by researchers at Reputation Leaders between October 5 and 24.
“The UAE government has put into place 21st century protections so those of us that live here are at a low risk of becoming a cybercrime victim,” Mr Cochran said.
“Based on my 20 years of experience with big data, encryption and cyber security, institutions in the US and Europe under report their own cyber security for simple insurance and brand protection reasons, but they are attacked 10 times as often as those in the UAE."
'Young girls thinking of big ideas'
Words come easy for aspiring writer Afra Al Muhairb. The business side of books, on the other hand, is entirely foreign to the 16-year-old Emirati. So, she followed her father’s advice and enroled in the Abu Dhabi Education Council’s summer entrepreneurship course at Abu Dhabi University hoping to pick up a few new skills.
“Most of us have this dream of opening a business,” said Afra, referring to her peers are “young girls thinking of big ideas.”
In the three-week class, pupils are challenged to come up with a business and develop an operational and marketing plan to support their idea. But, the learning goes far beyond sales and branding, said teacher Sonia Elhaj.
“It’s not only about starting up a business, it’s all the meta skills that goes with it -- building self confidence, communication,” said Ms Elhaj. “It’s a way to coach them and to harness ideas and to allow them to be creative. They are really hungry to do this and be heard. They are so happy to be actually doing something, to be engaged in creating something new, not only sitting and listening and getting new information and new knowledge. Now they are applying that knowledge.”
Afra’s team decided to focus their business idea on a restaurant modelled after the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Each level would have a different international cuisine and all the meat would be halal. The pupils thought of this after discussing a common problem they face when travelling abroad.
“Sometimes we find the struggle of finding halal food, so we just eat fish and cheese, so it’s hard for us to spend 20 days with fish and cheese,” said Afra. “So we made this tower so every person who comes – from Africa, from America – they will find the right food to eat.”
rpennington@thenational.ae
Five famous companies founded by teens
There are numerous success stories of teen businesses that were created in college dorm rooms and other modest circumstances. Below are some of the most recognisable names in the industry:
- Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg and his friends started Facebook when he was a 19-year-old Harvard undergraduate.
- Dell: When Michael Dell was an undergraduate student at Texas University in 1984, he started upgrading computers for profit. He starting working full-time on his business when he was 19. Eventually, his company became the Dell Computer Corporation and then Dell Inc.
- Subway: Fred DeLuca opened the first Subway restaurant when he was 17. In 1965, Mr DeLuca needed extra money for college, so he decided to open his own business. Peter Buck, a family friend, lent him $1,000 and together, they opened Pete’s Super Submarines. A few years later, the company was rebranded and called Subway.
- Mashable: In 2005, Pete Cashmore created Mashable in Scotland when he was a teenager. The site was then a technology blog. Over the next few decades, Mr Cashmore has turned Mashable into a global media company.
- Oculus VR: Palmer Luckey founded Oculus VR in June 2012, when he was 19. In August that year, Oculus launched its Kickstarter campaign and raised more than $1 million in three days. Facebook bought Oculus for $2 billion two years later.
How Beautiful this world is!
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.5-litre%204-cylinder%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECVT%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E119bhp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E145Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDh%2C89%2C900%20(%2424%2C230)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
WandaVision
Starring: Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany
Directed by: Matt Shakman
Rating: Four stars
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Panipat
Director Ashutosh Gowariker
Produced Ashutosh Gowariker, Rohit Shelatkar, Reliance Entertainment
Cast Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon, Mohnish Behl, Padmini Kolhapure, Zeenat Aman
Rating 3 /5 stars
More on Coronavirus in France
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
More from UAE Human Development Report:
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League last 16, first leg
Liverpool v Bayern Munich, midnight, Wednesday, BeIN Sports
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
