Rise in hybrid work models accelerates cyberattacks in Middle East

Mimecast’s research has cast a spotlight on the role of brands in protecting their customers from cyberattacks.

The growing pace of digitisation and the increasing trend of hybrid work models have accelerated the rate of cyberattacks in the Middle East region, says Mimecast.

In the past year, there had been a significant rise in brand imitation and phishing attacks as threat actors continuously seek to exploit businesses and customer data.

“Mimecast’s research has cast a spotlight on the role of brands in protecting their customers from cyberattacks. Seventy five per cent of consumers in Saudi Arabia, and 78 per cent of consumers in the UAE, said they’d stop spending money with their favourite brand if they fell victim to a phishing attack involving that brand. Compared to a global average of 57 per cent, this places the region’s consumers among the most unforgiving of all markets surveyed,” said Werno Gevers, regional manager, Mimecast.

“In light of the continued shift to online shopping and digital interactions between brands and their customers, the financial imperatives of providing adequate protection for customers online are clear. As we head into peak holiday shopping season, brands will need to go to greater lengths to protect their brands from cybercriminals who imitate their websites and emails and launch phishing attacks on their customers. Implementing effective controls, such as brand exploit protection services and DMARC, can limit opportunities for criminals to imitate beloved brands and dupe their customers.”

— business@khaleejtimes.com