The 18-year-old was taken to hospital in a serious condition
Although these developed countries are better prepared to tackle cybersecurity threats, the residents are more exposed to cybercriminals because digital banking has increased in the past few months due to the pandemic and residents are spending more time on the social media.
According to the Cyber Risk Index released by NordVPN, the UAE is the third most attractive target for cybercriminals after Iceland and Sweden. Other countries whose residents are most exposed to include Norway, US, Singapore, Ireland, New Zealand, Denmark and UK.
"Cybercriminals don't look for victims, they look for opportunities - much like pickpockets in crowded places. The more time you spend on the web, the more services you use there, the more money you spend online, the higher the possibility you'll run into a cybercriminal," says Daniel Markuson, a digital privacy expert at NordVPN.
He said cybercriminals spin a vast web of traps and hope to catch oblivious victims. "That's why they often focus on citizens of developed countries as the gain can be higher."
In April, a national fraud awareness campaign was launched by the UAE Banks Federation, Central Bank, Abu Dhabi Police and Dubai Police to educate and protect residents from financial cybercrime and fraud, particularly in the light of the increased use of digital banking services during the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to Internet World Stats, the number of internet users in the UAE reached 9.53 million at the end of March 2020, with 96.4 per cent penetration. It is one of the highest internet penetration rate in the world. The number of Facebook users totalled 8.73 million by February 2020, with 88.3 per cent penetration.
The UAE boasts per capita income of $69,434 as compared to $54,626 of Sweden, $64,600 of Hong Kong and $58,340 of the Netherlands.
NordVPN said Northern Europe is the most dangerous region when it comes to individual cyber risks, while North America is a close second. In both regions, more than 9 out of 10 people use the internet, 8 out of 10 shop online, and 7 out of 10 use Facebook. This leads to increased exposure to cyber threats.
According to Cyber Risk Index, residents of low-income countries like India, Nigeria, Iraq, Indonesia, South Africa, China, Thailand, Philippines, Iran and Ukraine have the lowest cyber risk.
waheedabbas@khaleejtimes.com
The 18-year-old was taken to hospital in a serious condition
The brothers, who say they are innocent, are accused of having formed an organised criminal network in early 2021 in Romania, as well as in the US and Britain
The left-handed batter scored 3369 runs in 136 one-day internationals and 2893 in 140 Twenty20 internationals — both Pakistan records
Food supplies were distributed to 80 households
On January 31, a heart was airlifted from Delhi to Chennai, paving the way for Ayesha Rashid's life-saving surgery
The online retailer, which is headquartered in Singapore, has said it has around 108 million monthly active users in the 27-nation EU
The baby girl named Rouh, meaning Soul, suffered respiratory problems and a weak immune system, a doctor at the Emirati Hospital in Rafah said
Specialised teams are currently managing the situation by cleaning up and removing the dead fish