Cybersecurity Warning from UAE Regarding Malicious Links on Telegram and WhatsApp!

If you see an application on WhatsApp or Telegram and a download link is sent to you, it is better to pause before installing. Cybersecurity experts in the UAE have warned that downloading applications from unofficial channels is one of the easiest ways for malware to enter users' phones.

On the sidelines of GISEC Global 2026, Pushkar Singh, Regional Director for the Middle East and Africa at Protectt.AI, stated that the UAE is one of the regions with a high volume of application downloads, making users an attractive target for cyber attackers.

The main recommendation is: if you have an Android phone, download the application from Google Play Store, and if you have an iPhone, download it from the App Store. Apps that are published through WhatsApp, Telegram, or unknown sources and the dark web may have been tampered with and contain malicious code.

However, the threat is not limited to applications. Experts have reported an increase in scams conducted with the help of artificial intelligence, including fake voice and video calls that can imitate the appearance or voice of a real person. In such cases, even a transaction confirmed during a seemingly legitimate call may have been carried out by a scammer.

Uninformed use of VPNs and Proxy services is another issue that experts have warned about; because if the user does not know the path their internet traffic is taking, it can be intercepted.

With the rapid growth of fintech and digital financial services in the UAE and the region, the significance of these threats has increased. Experts say that cyber attacks are no longer just directed at companies themselves but also involve suppliers, fintech partners, and payment service providers.

At GISEC 2026, warnings were also issued about the increase in phishing attacks, identity theft, deepfake scams, data leaks, and misuse of artificial intelligence tools. Experts emphasized that as these attacks become faster and more complex, cybersecurity is no longer just a technical issue but has become part of business management and decision-making.
Source: Gulf Times