Positive Technologies recently released an important report detailing a significant rise in cybercriminal activities targeting Gulf countries, with a particular focus on the UAE and Saudi Arabia. According to the study, more than 50% of posts on dark web forums are dedicated to selling stolen data and providing access to local companies’ infrastructures. This alarming trend indicates the growing interest of cybercriminals in exploiting vulnerabilities within the region’s key sectors.

The report identifies the UAE as the primary target, with a striking 40% of posts centered on this economy. Following closely behind, Saudi Arabia accounts for 26% of the dark web activity related to these attacks. What’s more concerning is the rapid increase in the free distribution of stolen data, particularly relating to government institutions. Over 63% of the data released freely pertains to these government bodies, increasing the pool of potential victims for cybercriminals.

In addition to this troubling trend, the report reveals a sharp rise in Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks, which have increased by a staggering 70% in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. These DDoS attacks have had a widespread impact on various critical sectors, including government, financial institutions, and transportation services, disrupting operations and causing significant damage.

The study also notes that a third of dark web advertisements are linked to data breaches, with a considerable portion offering stolen information for sale. Notably, databases belonging to major commerce companies are among the most targeted, with the average cost of these databases priced at approximately $2,300. Furthermore, cybercriminals are increasingly selling access to company information resources, with 70% of these listings priced below $1,000, which makes it far easier for cybercriminals to gain unauthorized access and initiate malicious attacks.

Anastasiya Chursina, an analyst at Positive Technologies, commented on the findings, stating, “The nearly doubled share of freely distributed data significantly expands the pool of potential victims for targeted attacks. This trend emphasizes the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard sensitive information and prevent future breaches.”

In response to the increasing threat landscape, Positive Technologies urges organizations across the Gulf region to take immediate action to enhance their cybersecurity defenses. They recommend implementing advanced cybersecurity tools such as application-level firewalls (PT Application Firewall), cloud-based firewalls (PT Cloud Application Firewall), network traffic analysis systems (PT Network Attack Discovery), and comprehensive security management solutions like MaxPatrol SIEM and MaxPatrol O2 to better protect against these growing cyber threats.

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