Cybersecurity Warning in the UAE: 40% of social media users have fallen victim to privacy violations

The UAE Cybersecurity Council announced that nearly 40% of social media users in the country have faced privacy violations after sharing personal information. The council warned that the excessive sharing of personal information online significantly increases the risk of digital identity theft and other cybercrimes.

According to the council, even seemingly insignificant details from daily life can be exploited to design targeted fraud campaigns against individuals, companies, and institutions. Sharing sensitive information greatly heightens the likelihood of privacy violations in cyberspace.

The Cybersecurity Council urged users to refrain from sharing the following:
- Exact address of residence or workplace
- Personal phone number
- Travel plans
- Family photos

Officials provided the following recommendations to protect personal information:
- Secure social media accounts and mobile devices
- Regularly update software
- Limit access to camera, microphone, and location
- Use strong passwords and enable multi-factor authentication
- Check the security of communication channels before sending information
- Monitor accounts and carefully review suspicious messages

The council described cybersecurity as a national challenge with collective responsibility within the framework of a broad digital transformation in the UAE. In this context, the awareness campaign “Cyber Pulse” is being implemented to strengthen the culture of digital security and protect citizens and residents of the UAE against cyber threats.

Source: Gulf News