Surge in Cybercriminal Activities Targeting UAE and Saudi Arabia

Positive Technologies has released a crucial report highlighting a significant rise in cybercriminal activities targeting the Gulf countries, with a sharp focus on the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The study reveals that over 50% of posts on dark web forums are dedicated to selling data and access to local companies’ infrastructures.

The research identifies the UAE as the primary target, with 40% of posts centered on this economy, followed by Saudi Arabia at 26%. The report also notes a dramatic increase in the free distribution of stolen data, particularly relating to regional government institutions, which made up 63% of the data released for free. This trend is part of a broader surge in DDoS attacks, which have increased by 70% in the first half of 2024 compared to the previous year, affecting government, financial, and transportation sectors.

The report also highlights that 33% of dark web ads are linked to data breaches, with a third of these ads offering stolen information for sale. Databases from major commerce companies are particularly targeted, with an average price of $2,300. Additionally, access to company information resources is frequently sold, with 70% of these listings priced below $1,000, making it easier for cybercriminals to initiate attacks.

Anastasiya Chursina, an analyst at Positive Technologies, commented, “The nearly doubled share of freely distributed data expands the pool of potential victims for targeted attacks. This trend underscores the importance of robust cybersecurity measures.”

To combat these threats, Positive Technologies recommends that organizations enhance their defenses with 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 (MaxPatrol SIEM and MaxPatrol O2).