UAE Cyber Security Council says 1.4 billion global accounts are hacked monthly, urging caution over users’ digital footprints.
ABU DHABI: The UAE Cyber Security Council (CSC) has issued a serious warning over the increasing dangers posed by weak digital footprint protection, revealing that more than 1.4 billion user accounts are hacked worldwide every month.
The announcement was made as part of the Council’s ongoing “Cyber Pulse” campaign, now in its fifth week, which aims to raise awareness about online risks and promote safer digital practices across the UAE.
The CSC highlighted that every online activity—whether logging in, posting, or interacting—creates a digital trace that can be exploited by cybercriminals. It explained that users often leave behind two types of digital footprints: passive (data collected unknowingly by apps and websites), and active (data shared intentionally through comments, posts, or media).
These traces, when not properly secured, can lead to privacy breaches, account takeovers, phishing scams, and even identity theft. The Council noted that unofficial applications, especially those downloaded from unverified sources, pose major security threats. Some rogue apps have been found to record conversations, access cameras, or harvest sensitive information without the user’s knowledge.
To prevent these risks, the CSC urged users to:
- Download apps only from trusted official stores.
- Regularly review and limit app permissions.
- Enable two-factor authentication.
- Avoid sharing real-time locations or accepting unknown friend requests.
The Council emphasised that digital safety is a shared responsibility between technology providers and users. It said individuals must remain vigilant and take simple but crucial steps to safeguard their data and online presence.
As cyber threats become more sophisticated, the CSC continues to roll out initiatives to enhance public awareness and encourage proactive digital habits that protect users from falling victim to increasingly common data breaches.
