CSC Announces Countering 200,000 Cyberattacks Daily from Terrorist Groups Across 14 Countries

• Perpetrators and attack launch sites identified with precision; effective countermeasures implemented
• Government, financial and banking sectors remain primary targets of cyberterrorist attacks
• Service denial, encryption, and data leakage are among the most dangerous hacking methods identified

Abu Dhabi, January 20 / WAM / The UAE Cyber Security Council (CSC) has revealed that cyberattacks targeting strategic sectors in the country now exceed 200,000 daily. These attacks originate from cyberterrorist groups across 14 countries, all of which have been tracked, identified, and their launch sites precisely located, and effectively countered using advanced global methods.

The CSC stated that these cyberterrorist attacks primarily targeted strategic sectors, with the government sector accounting for 30%, the financial and banking sector 7%, the education sector 7%, and the technology, aviation and hospital sectors 4% each. The remaining sectors accounted for 44% of the total attacks.

The CSC also noted that cyberterrorist attacks varied in type. Attacks on information technology and infrastructure accounted for 40% of total incidents, followed by file-sharing attacks at 9%, and database vulnerabilities at 3%. Additionally, persistent threat groups, such as "Blackcat" were responsible for 51% of ransomware attacks.

National cybersecurity systems identified recurring types of cyberattacks. Incorrect configurations comprised 27% of total incidents, followed by malware at 22%, scanning and login attempts at 15%, unauthorized access at 15%, illegal activities and web attacks at 11%, and phishing at 10%.

The CSC further identified the most dangerous hacking methods targeting the UAE's key sectors, all of which were countered effectively and professionally. These methods included service denial attacks targeting endpoint devices (39%), encryption and data leakage attacks (37%), internet-connected application breaches (24%), ransomware attacks (7%), and other attacks (11%).

Previously, the CSC announced that national cybersecurity systems had successfully countered "ransomware" attacks targeting strategic public and private sectors. These attacks aimed to leak data and disable digital systems.

The CSC reported detecting recent and complex breach attempts, involving the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, which pose significant challenges to digital infrastructure. It also highlighted the continuous rise in AI-driven cyber threats, including deepfakes, social engineering, and the increasing use of AI to enhance malware, such as ransomware programs.

The CSC anticipates that cyberattacks will persist throughout the year, with entities adopting modern and advanced technologies. These attacks are expected to range from traditional methods, like phishing and social engineering, to newer, more sophisticated AI-driven threats that are harder to detect without advanced countermeasures.

The CSC emphasized the importance of all government and private entities adhering to cybersecurity standards to mitigate the risks of such malicious cyberattacks.