A new report revealed that the UAE witnessed an 11.7 percent increase in malware detections from January to May 2024, highlighting heightened cybersecurity challenges in the region. Bahrain had the highest malware detection rate at 63.2 percent in April 2024, followed by Egypt with 42.6 percent of organizations experiencing detections in the same month. These trends reflect broader regional cybersecurity concerns across the EMEA and MENA countries.
The recent study by global cybersecurity firm Acronis shed light on the alarming rise in global cybersecurity threats during the first half of 2024. Leveraging data from over one million unique Windows endpoints across 15 key countries, found that email attacks have seen a 293 percent surge compared to the same period in 2023.
Emerging cybersecurity trends
Ransomware continues to be a major threat to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), particularly in critical industries like government and healthcare. In Q1 2024, researchers observed 10 new ransomware groups responsible for 84 cyberattacks globally. The top three active groups – LockBit, Black Basta, and PLAY – accounted for 35 percent of these attacks, and ransomware detections increased by 32 percent from Q4 2023 to Q1 2024.
The report also highlights the growing use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs) by threat actors. Common AI-generated attacks include malicious emails, deepfake business email compromise (BEC), deepfake extortions, KYC bypass, and script and malware generation. Researchers have identified two types of AI threats: AI-generated threats, where malware is created using AI techniques but does not utilize AI in its operations, and AI-enabled malware, which incorporates AI into its functionality.
Read more: Ransomware attacks could cause $30 billion in damages in 2023
Cybersecurity experts warn of escalating threats
Cybersecurity experts underscored the urgent need for enhanced vigilance and advanced protective measures to combat the growing threat landscape. The average cost of a data breach in the Middle East exceeded $8 million in 2023, underscoring the significant financial and reputational impact of these attacks.
Managed Service Providers (MSPs) are particularly vulnerable, facing persistent threats such as phishing, social engineering, and supply chain attacks. Experts encourage MSPs to adopt comprehensive security strategies, including security awareness training and advanced endpoint protection solutions like XDR and multi-factor authentication, to enhance global cybersecurity resilience.
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