Cyber attacks are expected to rise over the coming month as Christmas online shopping gets under way.
Experts have warned that cybercrime is likely to increase as more people prioritise online shopping over in-store purchases due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
People must be on full alert and become “cyber fit” to protect themselves from the threat posed by cybercriminals in the run-up to the New Year.
Seasonal themed email-based attacks are likely to be high during this festive period
“Seasonal themed email-based attacks are likely to be high during this festive period,” said Vijay Chandnani, executive director of Techware Services and Solutions.
“You have Diwali and Christmas in quick succession. As the festive season approaches, buying trends today are more tilted towards e-commerce and online shopping rather than in-store purchases.
“Attacks on individual shoppers are likely to be higher, especially now that more people are working remotely during the pandemic and some are not on secure networks. I would not be surprised if the attacks are 10-15 per cent higher this year.”
The UAE has already reported a significant increase in the number of cyber attacks since the pandemic began.
Dubai Future Foundation said there was a 600 per cent increase in the number of phishing emails that hoped to lure users into giving up sensitive data from February to June.
The National spoke to a number of cyber security experts who offered readers tips to help keep the online criminals at bay.
Set strong and varied passwords
Strong passwords are key when keeping personal data safe, said Candid Wüest, vice president of tech firm Acronis.
“You need to use a strong password and have a different one for each service that you have,” he said.
“Don’t use the same password that you would use on your Twitter account for your email account or online banking.
“If you cannot remember all the different passwords then make use of a password manager, there are many free apps on phones and laptops that you can use for this.”
Look out for dodgy emails
He said consumers needed to be fully alert when receiving emails with offers that seemed too good to resist.
“You have to be vigilant and be cyber fit and by that I mean you need to show good judgment when you getting an email with a deal that’s too good to be true,” he said.
“You can’t let greed cloud your better judgment and think twice before responding with personal information.”
Some of the most popular scams at the moment from cybercriminals are offers involving the latest model of the iPhone and the new PlayStation 5.
Mr Wüest said his company had noticed a 400 per cent increase in the number of remote desktop protocol cyber attacks in Q2 of 2020, compared to the same period in 2019.
These attacks, if successful, allow criminals to access a computer and operate Windows on a device in another location.
“We are expecting to see those numbers increase over Christmas as there will be even more people shopping online,” he said.
Be mindful of your Wi-Fi connection
Mr Wüest urged consumers to be careful about which Wi-Fi connection they use when making online transactions.
“If you are on a public Wi-Fi like in a mall or an airport don’t do anything sensitive like banking as a lot of these networks can be compromised,” he said.
“It’s a lot safer to do it through the 4G on your mobile phone or use a VPN.
“It might even be better to wait a few minutes and just do it at home.”
Other experts said there were a number of methods people could use to reduce the risk of being scammed by cybercriminals.
Use a credit card, not a debit card
“I would recommend not purchasing any merchandise online with a debit card and minimise any direct credit card usage,” said Morey Haber, chief technical officer with BeyondTrust.
“Make online purchases with a third party proxy like PayPal or Apple Pay that is linked to a credit card or debit card to provide an extra layer of financial protection.
“I would also recommend not allowing the merchant to save your payment information for future usage.”
How an individual pays for their transactions online is another crucial factor in minimising the likelihood of falling foul of cyber crime.
Consider using a mobile app
“Something that consumers don’t realise is that websites are not as secure as mobile apps,” said Matt Walmsley, director for the EMEA region with tech company Vectra.
The FBI put out a warning in the US last year about e-skimming. This involves attackers hacking websites of prominent retailers and compromising the back end to steal consumer credit card information.
“That is a problem with websites but not in mobile apps,” said Mr Walmsley.
“So, in so much as is possible, use retailer mobile apps for online shopping.”
Look out for fake websites
Cybercriminals are also stepping up their efforts by creating fake websites that appear to belong to popular international retailers, hoping to trick consumers into entering sensitive personal details.
“Cybercriminals create a copy of a web page that looks exactly like the landing page of popular streaming platforms and retailers,” said Maher Yamout, senior security researcher with Kaspersky.
“Sometimes, cybercriminals also create new landing pages that provide users with free access in exchange for their credentials or bank account details.
“To an untrained eye, they will not be able to distinguish between a legitimate website and one disguised as a phishing website.
“Internet users must stay vigilant while browsing the internet for their favourite TV shows or buying things online,” he added.
'THE WORST THING YOU CAN EAT'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch automatic
Power: 169bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh54,500
On sale: now
TOURNAMENT INFO
Fixtures
Sunday January 5 - Oman v UAE
Monday January 6 - UAE v Namibia
Wednesday January 8 - Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 - Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid, Darius D’Silva, Karthik Meiyappan, Jonathan Figy, Vriitya Aravind, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Chirag Suri
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan
Sector: Technology and home services
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month
Funding: The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups.
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
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
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%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EHigh%20fever%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EIntense%20pain%20behind%20your%20eyes%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ESevere%20headache%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EMuscle%20and%20joint%20pains%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ENausea%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EVomiting%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ESwollen%20glands%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ERash%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIf%20symptoms%20occur%2C%20they%20usually%20last%20for%20two-seven%20days%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
LAST-16 FIXTURES
Sunday, January 20
3pm: Jordan v Vietnam at Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai
6pm: Thailand v China at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: Iran v Oman at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Monday, January 21
3pm: Japan v Saudi Arabia at Sharjah Stadium
6pm: Australia v Uzbekistan at Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: UAE v Kyrgyzstan at Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Tuesday, January 22
5pm: South Korea v Bahrain at Rashid Stadium, Dubai
8pm: Qatar v Iraq at Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Should late investors consider cryptocurrencies?
Wealth managers recommend late investors to have a balanced portfolio that typically includes traditional assets such as cash, government and corporate bonds, equities, commodities and commercial property.
They do not usually recommend investing in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies due to the risk and volatility associated with them.
“It has produced eye-watering returns for some, whereas others have lost substantially as this has all depended purely on timing and when the buy-in was. If someone still has about 20 to 25 years until retirement, there isn’t any need to take such risks,” Rupert Connor of Abacus Financial Consultant says.
He adds that if a person is interested in owning a business or growing a property portfolio to increase their retirement income, this can be encouraged provided they keep in mind the overall risk profile of these assets.
Australia tour of Pakistan
March 4-8: First Test, Rawalpindi
March 12-16: Second Test, Karachi
March 21-25: Third Test, Lahore
March 29: First ODI, Rawalpindi
March 31: Second ODI, Rawalpindi
April 2: Third ODI, Rawalpindi
April 5: T20I, Rawalpindi
MATCH INFO
Manchester United v Brighton, Sunday, 6pm UAE
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
