Group-IB has launched Masked Actors: BelArabi, an Arabic-language cyber threat podcast focused on cybercrime, threat actors, and regional security challenges.

The original series is the Arabic edition of Group-IB’s global Masked Actors podcast. However, it is not a translation of the English series. Instead, it is developed for Arabic-speaking audiences across the Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa (META).

The Arabic cyber threat podcast aims to make complex threat intelligence more accessible through locally relevant conversations. It examines who is behind cyberattacks, why attacks happen, and how understanding an adversary’s motivations and behavior can help organizations identify emerging threats earlier.

According to Group-IB’s High-Tech Crime Trends 2026 report, phishing activity is increasingly affecting high-impact sectors across the Middle East and Africa. Internet services accounted for 52.49% of tracked phishing activity, while financial institutions represented 28.50%.

As a result, the series will explore several forces shaping cybercrime across the region. These include state-linked activity, the cybercriminal economy, and hacktivism. It will also examine how the boundaries between these activities are becoming increasingly blurred.

The first episode is hosted by Mohammad Younis, Cyber Investigation Specialist at Group-IB, in conversation with Mansour Alhmoud, Cyber Intelligence Analyst at Group-IB. The discussion examines the motivations behind cyberattacks, including financial, ideological, and state-linked activity.

The episode also looks at MuddyWater, a state-linked threat actor that Group-IB has tracked since 2017.

In addition, the discussion draws on Group-IB’s recent investigations into MuddyWater activity targeting organizations across the META region. It highlights Operation Olalampo, which occurred days before the US-Iran war started and introduced four new malware families, with signs of AI-assisted development.

The research demonstrates Group-IB’s Prediction-First approach, which focuses on tracking malicious activity while it is still unfolding. This can provide organizations with earlier visibility into emerging threats and potential risks.

The Arabic cyber threat podcast also reflects Group-IB’s wider approach across the Middle East and Africa. The company combines global threat visibility with local expertise, languages, and region-specific intelligence.

Group-IB operates Digital Crime Resistance Centers in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. Locally based experts at these centers investigate and analyze threats affecting organizations across the region.

“Cybersecurity conversations in this region are often borrowed from elsewhere. With Masked Actors: BelArabi, we wanted to start with our region’s own realities and make the intelligence behind them accessible in Arabic,” said Mohammad Gamal, Cyber Investigation Specialist at Group-IB. He added that the series aims to help listeners understand who may be behind an attack, what motivates them, and why that context matters to organizations operating in the region.

“Understanding why an attack happens is as important as understanding how,” said Mansour Alhmoud, Cyber Intelligence Analyst at Group-IB. He noted that understanding an adversary’s motivations, behavior, and infrastructure can provide additional context for recognizing emerging activity earlier.

The launch comes ahead of Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October. It also highlights Group-IB’s focus on making cybersecurity knowledge and threat intelligence more accessible to organizations and individuals across the region.

Masked Actors: BelArabi is available through Group-IB’s podcast page, YouTube, Spotify, and other major streaming platforms. The Arabic cyber threat podcast brings these regional threat intelligence discussions to Arabic-speaking audiences.

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