Khaberni - The UAE Cybersecurity Council warned of the rapid escalation in the pace of global cybercrime, driven by rapid advancements in automation and artificial intelligence, emphasizing that raising cybersecurity awareness has become essential to protect individuals and institutions in the digital age.
The Council explained in a statement published on its official accounts that the world faces a cyberattack every 39 seconds, a dangerous indicator of the accelerating pace of cyber threats. It also noted that global losses from cybercrime are expected to reach about 11.9 trillion dollars in 2026, with the possibility of rising to 19.7 trillion dollars by 2030.
The Council advised against charging devices at untrusted public charging ports, pointing out that 79% of travelers might expose their personal data to risk unknowingly when using these ports. It explained that some charging ports could contain malware or hidden systems capable of accessing personal data through what is known as "power theft" attacks, where media transfer protocols are automatically activated as soon as the device is connected. It also pointed out that 68% of companies have been subjected to attacks originating from untrusted charging ports, leading to breaches of their data and digital infrastructure.
The Cybersecurity Council issued a set of guidelines aimed at protecting the money and data of electronic device users, as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance digital security awareness, especially during travel and movement, affirming that prevention is always better than cure in facing increasing cyber risks.
The Council urged users to be vigilant about carrying their personal charger and avoiding public untrusted charging ports, as they may pose risks to personal data, and emphasized the importance of rejecting any data transfer requests that may appear during the charging process, due to the potential exploitation in device breaches and information theft.
It also recommended activating two-step verification when using email, and adopting biometric login methods such as fingerprint scanning or facial recognition on smartphones, as they provide an additional layer of protection.
The Council also emphasized the importance of regularly reviewing app permissions, not granting them unnecessary access to photos, messages, or contacts, and ensuring that all installed apps are safe and reliable, as some apps may contain malware that allows hackers to spy on or steal data.
