Cyberattacks Surge in UAE During Ramadan

Publish date: Friday، 22 March 2024

A recent study by Qrator Labs has revealed a troubling surge in cyberattacks targeting businesses in the UAE during the holy month of Ramadan. The study indicates a significant increase in cyber threats, posing a considerable risk to companies operating in the region.

Rising Cybersecurity Risks

According to the findings, the first quarter of 2023 witnessed a 22 percent rise in cyberattacks compared to the previous quarter. This alarming trend underscores the pressing need for heightened cybersecurity measures among businesses in the UAE.

Vulnerabilities Across Sectors

Qrator Labs identified several sectors particularly susceptible to cyber threats during Ramadan. Classifieds topped the list, accounting for 26.7 percent of the most targeted segments, followed by digital education (13.3 percent), payment systems (11.5 percent), banks (9.3 percent), and game servers (5.2 percent). Experts warn that this trend is expected to persist this year.

E-commerce Under Siege

One noteworthy discovery from the research is the surge in bot activity on e-commerce platforms during holiday sales periods, including Ramadan. Bots, autonomous virtual programs mimicking human behavior, increased their activity by an average of 45 percent during Ramadan. These bots engage in various malicious activities such as mass registration of new accounts and manipulation of customer details, posing significant challenges to online businesses.

Impacts and Insights

The rise in cyberattacks during Ramadan is attributed to increased consumer spending during this period, according to Victor Zyamzin, the global head of business development at Qrator Labs. Such attacks not only distort business metrics and marketing campaigns but can also lead to website slowdowns or unavailability, impacting customer experience and revenue generation.

Cyberattacks Surge in UAE During Ramadan

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