The UAE has seen a substantial increase in malware detections, with a rise of 11.7 per cent from January to May 2024, according to recent research by cybersecurity and data protection firm Acronis. Email attacks have also surged by 293 per cent globally compared to the same period in 2023. Acronis’s threat research unit, in their report titled “Acronis Cyberthreats Report H1 2024,” analyzed data from over one million unique Windows endpoints in 15 key countries to highlight cybersecurity trends worldwide.
While the UAE’s monthly percentages of global detections remain relatively lower than high-risk countries like Germany, France, and Egypt, the country still faces a growing cyber threat landscape. The percentage of clients with malware detections in the UAE increased significantly from January to May 2024, emphasizing the need for enhanced cybersecurity measures. The Middle East and North Africa region, including the UAE, is experiencing rising malware detections and high-profile ransomware attacks similar to other countries in the EMEA region.
Ziad Nasr, General Manager for the Middle East at Acronis, emphasized the importance of heightened vigilance and advanced protective measures in the face of escalating cyber threats. Managed service providers are particularly vulnerable to threats like phishing, social engineering, and supply chain attacks. Acronis recommends comprehensive security strategies for MSPs, including security awareness training and advanced endpoint protection solutions like extended detection and response (XDR) and multi-factor authentication to improve global cybersecurity resilience.
Ransomware remains a major threat to small and medium-sized businesses, especially in critical sectors like government and healthcare. Acronis observed 10 new ransomware groups in Q1 2024, collectively responsible for 84 cyberattacks worldwide. Three highly active groups—LockBit, Black Basta, and PLAY—contributed significantly to the attacks. The report also highlights the increasing targeting and compromise of MSPs through various attack vectors, underscoring the need for a holistic approach to securing customer data and systems.
The report also explores emerging cybersecurity trends, such as the growing use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs) by threat groups. AI is being leveraged in social engineering and automation attacks, with AI-generated threats including malicious emails, deepfake business email compromise (BEC), and script and malware generation. Acronis researchers identified two types of AI threats: AI-generated threats that create malware using AI techniques and AI-enabled malware that incorporates AI into its functionality. Overall, the report stresses the importance of adopting comprehensive security strategies and advanced endpoint protection solutions to combat evolving cyber threats effectively.
