Heightened awareness of online risks has been placed at the centre of public messaging as the UAE Cybersecurity Council urged residents and businesses to strengthen everyday digital safety practices, warning that cyber threats are becoming more targeted, sophisticated and costly across the economy.
The UAE Cybersecurity Council said the start of the year provides an opportunity for individuals to reassess how they protect personal data, financial information and digital identities, particularly as daily life becomes more dependent on online platforms, cloud services and connected devices. Officials stressed that cyber security is no longer a purely technical issue but a matter of personal responsibility and national resilience.
In public guidance, the council highlighted that phishing, social engineering scams and identity theft remain among the most common attack vectors affecting residents. Fraudulent emails, text messages and phone calls increasingly mimic banks, government services and well-known companies, exploiting urgency and familiarity to trick users into revealing sensitive information. Cyber officials cautioned that attackers are also leveraging artificial intelligence to craft more convincing messages, reducing the effectiveness of basic warning signs such as poor grammar or suspicious formatting.
The advisory placed particular emphasis on strong password hygiene, encouraging the use of unique passwords for different services and the adoption of password managers to reduce reuse. Multi-factor authentication was described as one of the most effective defences against unauthorised access, especially for email accounts, financial applications and cloud-based work tools. The council noted that compromised email accounts often act as gateways to wider breaches, allowing attackers to reset passwords on other services.
Mobile security was identified as another area requiring attention, as smartphones increasingly function as digital wallets, identification tools and gateways to work systems. Users were advised to keep operating systems and applications updated, install software only from official app stores and review app permissions regularly. The council warned that malicious applications can quietly harvest data or intercept authentication codes, undermining other security measures.
Officials also addressed the growing risks linked to public Wi-Fi networks, which are widely used in cafes, airports and shopping centres. While convenient, unsecured networks can expose users to data interception and man-in-the-middle attacks. The council recommended avoiding sensitive transactions on public Wi-Fi and using virtual private networks where possible to encrypt connections.
For families, the guidance extended to online safety for children and teenagers, noting increased exposure to gaming platforms, social media and messaging apps. Parents were encouraged to discuss digital risks openly, set privacy controls and monitor online interactions without undermining trust. Cyber specialists have repeatedly warned that younger users can be targeted through in-game chats or fake profiles designed to extract personal information.
The business community was urged to view cyber security as a board-level issue rather than an IT expense. Small and medium-sized enterprises were singled out as frequent targets due to limited defences and lower awareness. The council advised companies to conduct regular risk assessments, back up critical data and train employees to recognise phishing attempts. Human error, officials noted, remains a leading cause of successful breaches.
Ransomware continued to feature prominently in the council’s assessment of the threat landscape. Attackers increasingly combine data encryption with threats to leak stolen information, raising the financial and reputational stakes for victims. While law enforcement agencies discourage paying ransoms, prevention through patching, access controls and offline backups was described as the most reliable safeguard.
The message aligns with broader national efforts to strengthen cyber resilience as digital transformation accelerates across government services, finance, healthcare and energy. Authorities have repeatedly underscored that trust in digital systems underpins economic growth and social stability, making public participation essential.
The UAE Cybersecurity Council said the start of the year provides an opportunity for individuals to reassess how they protect personal data, financial information and digital identities, particularly as daily life becomes more dependent on online platforms, cloud services and connected devices. Officials stressed that cyber security is no longer a purely technical issue but a matter of personal responsibility and national resilience.
In public guidance, the council highlighted that phishing, social engineering scams and identity theft remain among the most common attack vectors affecting residents. Fraudulent emails, text messages and phone calls increasingly mimic banks, government services and well-known companies, exploiting urgency and familiarity to trick users into revealing sensitive information. Cyber officials cautioned that attackers are also leveraging artificial intelligence to craft more convincing messages, reducing the effectiveness of basic warning signs such as poor grammar or suspicious formatting.
The advisory placed particular emphasis on strong password hygiene, encouraging the use of unique passwords for different services and the adoption of password managers to reduce reuse. Multi-factor authentication was described as one of the most effective defences against unauthorised access, especially for email accounts, financial applications and cloud-based work tools. The council noted that compromised email accounts often act as gateways to wider breaches, allowing attackers to reset passwords on other services.
Mobile security was identified as another area requiring attention, as smartphones increasingly function as digital wallets, identification tools and gateways to work systems. Users were advised to keep operating systems and applications updated, install software only from official app stores and review app permissions regularly. The council warned that malicious applications can quietly harvest data or intercept authentication codes, undermining other security measures.
Officials also addressed the growing risks linked to public Wi-Fi networks, which are widely used in cafes, airports and shopping centres. While convenient, unsecured networks can expose users to data interception and man-in-the-middle attacks. The council recommended avoiding sensitive transactions on public Wi-Fi and using virtual private networks where possible to encrypt connections.
For families, the guidance extended to online safety for children and teenagers, noting increased exposure to gaming platforms, social media and messaging apps. Parents were encouraged to discuss digital risks openly, set privacy controls and monitor online interactions without undermining trust. Cyber specialists have repeatedly warned that younger users can be targeted through in-game chats or fake profiles designed to extract personal information.
The business community was urged to view cyber security as a board-level issue rather than an IT expense. Small and medium-sized enterprises were singled out as frequent targets due to limited defences and lower awareness. The council advised companies to conduct regular risk assessments, back up critical data and train employees to recognise phishing attempts. Human error, officials noted, remains a leading cause of successful breaches.
Ransomware continued to feature prominently in the council’s assessment of the threat landscape. Attackers increasingly combine data encryption with threats to leak stolen information, raising the financial and reputational stakes for victims. While law enforcement agencies discourage paying ransoms, prevention through patching, access controls and offline backups was described as the most reliable safeguard.
The message aligns with broader national efforts to strengthen cyber resilience as digital transformation accelerates across government services, finance, healthcare and energy. Authorities have repeatedly underscored that trust in digital systems underpins economic growth and social stability, making public participation essential.
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UAE