Online gambling is big business. Topping revenue of $84bn in 2023, the business of online casinos, virtual poker and sports betting is on the rise. It’s been helped in no small part by the Supreme Court, whose ruling several years ago effectively allowed US states to legalize sports betting. But as the industry grows and new users come online, scammers looking for quick wins are also targeting the online betting and gambling space in ever greater numbers.

From nefarious online casinos to malicious apps and phishing messages, the list of potential fraud channels continues to grow. If you’re fond of a flutter, take a look at the most common scams we’ve highlighted below, and arm yourself with the knowledge to stay safe.

Top 6 gambling and betting scams
Fraudsters will usually reach their victims via similar channels: that means email, messaging apps and social media, as well as malicious casino sites, gambling apps and potentially even betting forums. Here are some of the most common threats:

1. Phishing
A social engineering technique as old as the internet, it’s no surprise that gambling scammers are also using phishing to achieve their goals. The trick is to impersonate a legitimate online casino or betting company and persuade the victim into handing over their personal and/or financial details – or give you their account logins.

These messages – usually sent via email, but also by social media, messaging apps or text – may contain promises of special offers, designed to lure the victim. Or they could pretend there’s something wrong with their account that needs urgently addressing (usually by filling in login details). The scammer will aim to create a sense of urgency in order to rush the victim into acting without thinking things through properly first. Legitimate branding and spoofed sender domains/phone numbers add further legitimacy.

2. Task scams
The FTC recently warned of a growing threat from a specific type of online job scam in which victims are approached about work, usually via unsolicited messages on WhatsApp or similar. The scammers promise easy work on vaguely worded tasks such as “app optimization” or “product boosting” – where they are told they’ll receive money in return for liking rating products via a specialized app. They may even receive a small sum as supposed evidence that the scheme is legitimate.

However, before long, the scammers ask their victims to put their own money into the scheme, in order for them to complete the next set of tasks. Once they do, the money will be lost forever. Losses reportedly hit $220m for the first six months of 2024 alone. Although not strictly speaking a betting scam, the gamification element has been described as “almost like gambling.”

3. Malicious casinos
Not all online casinos are created equal. In fact, some are merely a front for fraudulent activity. They might offer huge welcome bonuses, high returns and unlimited free spins in order to attract victims. These offers may be promoted by online ads or spam emails/texts/social messages. In reality, you’ll find that these too-good-to-be-true promises do not bear scrutiny. Often the small print will make it impossible for you to take advantage or collect any winnings without losing something yourself.

Nefarious casinos may also block withdrawals with technical excuses or excessively long account verification processes. They might even disappear altogether after stealing enough player deposits.

4. Fake apps
Fraudulent apps are also an increasingly common way to part gamblers with their money. Victims are attracted to them via flashy internet ads promising quick-and-easy wins. They may be backed by phishing/fake sites populated by fake reviews of the app – something easy to do now in various local languages with AI tools. In some cases, users may even initially be allowed to win small amounts, in order to build their confidence and encourage them to make bigger bets. When they do, any winnings will be locked and the scammers disappear.

One recent example of the threat was a campaign involving 500 deceptive ads and 1,377 malicious websites.

5. Scam tipsters
You should also beware of anyone claiming to offer insider tips online. Betting fraudsters may claim they have an unbeatable system. They may also say that they’ve been banned by digital gambling sites because they keep on winning, forcing them to pass on their tips to betters like you in return for payment.

But, of course, it’s all a lie. Sometimes, such scams can come from unusual sources – such as a world-class poker player who is now facing jail time after fraudulently promising access to “insider information” to give players a winning edge.

6. Fixed-match scam
This is similar to the above example, except the scammer will begin by finding a group of people interested in fixed matches: say 30 individuals. The tipster will request payment from each up front and tell 10 to bet on one outcome, 10 to bet on another and 10 to bet on a third. (In most sports matches, there are only three possible outcomes).

The 10 individuals for whom the tipster predicted the correct result now think they have just betted on a genuine fixed match, and will be incentivized to put more money on the next match. Those who didn’t win will be blocked by the scammer.

Top tactics for ensuring a safer betting experience

To keep the scammers at arm’s length, be sure to:

• Stick to verified and licensed gambling platforms, with regulatory approval.
• Be skeptical of any offering big bonuses and unlimited free spins, and always read the small print – offers like massive bonuses or unlimited free spins often come with hidden catches.
• Switch on multi-factor authentication (MFA) on any account to add an extra layer of security to your accounts and protect your logins from unauthorized access.
• Never share personal or financial information, including logins, via unsolicited messages or questionable sites.
• Check your bank and betting accounts regularly to spot any unusual activity.
• Steer clear of tipsters who approach you online, especially those claiming insider knowledge or access to fixed matches.
• Ignore ads and individuals tied to new social media account; instead, stick to platforms and individuals with a credible history.
• Only download apps from legitimate stores (i.e., Apple App Store and Google Play) and check ratings/developer reviews before doing so.

Like any online activity, gambling comes with its own set of risks. Bet responsibly, and stay safe out there.

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The modern smartphone has become an indispensable piece of technology. These powerful, pocket-sized computers enable us to do everything from hailing cabs to consulting with our local doctor. But costs can be prohibitive. Unsurprisingly, second-hand and refurbished devices have become an increasingly popular option, providing access to premium technology at a fraction of the price and appealing to budget-conscious consumers or those seeking sustainability.

Smartphones are also often among the most desired gifts during the holiday season. The latest models may be out of reach for many due to their high price, so second-hand phones present a more affordable option for gift-givers.

Also, any people upgrade their smartphones during the holiday season, either as gifts to themselves or because they’ve received a new phone as a present. This creates a secondary market for pre-owned devices as they sell or trade in their old models.

The key problem is not knowing what condition these devices will arrive in. To avoid unwittingly exposing yourself to cyber-risk, take time out to consider the following tips.

What are the risks of pre-owned phones?
Thanks to persistently high interest rates and inflation across much of the Western world, second-hand phones are increasingly commonplace. In fact, sales generated over $13bn globally in the first quarter of 2023 alone, up 14% annually, according to one estimate. In a mature market like the UK, a quarter of all phones sold in 2023 were reportedly second-hand or refurbished.

Yet this comes with certain cybersecurity risks. These include:

Outdated software
Some devices may no longer be supported by the manufacturer, meaning the underlying operating system doesn’t receive software updates. That’s bad news from a security perspective, as it means that when vulnerabilities are found by researchers or threat actors, your device won’t get a security patch to fix it. It will effectively be exposed to attackers. One 2020 study in the UK found that nearly a third of models being resold were no longer supported with security updates.

Malware
In some cases, a previous owner may even have (unwittingly or not) installed malicious software on the phone. This may be designed to do a variety of things, from steal your personal information and passwords to snoop on your calls and messages. It may even flood the device with unwanted ads or subscribe you to premium-rate services. The end goal is usually to make money in some way off you, either by stealing personal and financial information for use in fraud or digital extortion. 

No refurbishment checks
Some pre-owned phones may not have undergone the kind of checks that reputable second-hand sellers perform to ensure they are operational and running on a supported OS. This may expose you to some of the risks outlined above.

How to avoid cyber risks on second-hand devices
Mitigating these risks takes a multi-pronged approach, starting with due diligence during the buying process. That effectively means doing your research. Second-hand devices are available from a wide variety of sources, from manufacturers themselves to high-street retailers, telcos, and private sellers. Put the time in to make sure the seller has good reviews and their offer is legitimate. A warranty of at least a year should be a baseline requirement to ensure quality.

It’s also best to avoid jailbroken or rooted devices, as these may have had security features disabled which make them more exposed to threats.

Also, only choose devices that are still supported by the manufacturer; usually, phone-makers will support a handset for at least 2-3 years after it is released.

To further mitigate security risks, consider the following after purchase:

• do a full factory reset, wiping any data that may have been left on the device by the previous owner, including contacts, photos, messages, browsing history, passwords and apps,
• update all the software on the device after purchasing to the latest, most secure version, and switch on automatic updates,
• keep an eye out for tell-tale signs that it might be compromised with malware, such as unwanted pop-ups or ads, apps appearing that you didn’t download, or sluggish performance and unusually high battery usage
• install security software from a reputable provider and have it scan the device for threats.

Once your device is up and running, consider the following best practices to mitigate ongoing security risks:

• set up a screen lock and PIN, password, or biometric authentication (face recognition/fingerprint scan) for secure access
• backup your data and set to automatic backups to the cloud in case the device is lost or stolen
• delete any unused apps to minimize your attack surface
• switch on device encryption for an extra layer of security
• always use multi-factor authentication to access your device and any software/accounts on it
• turn Bluetooth, tethering or Wi-Fi off when not in use, to avoid eavesdroppers snooping around
• check your app permissions – if some apps are requesting access to more than is necessary, that should be a red flag
• only download apps from official app stores and from reputable developers
• be on the lookout for phishing messages and emails. If in doubt, never click on links or open attachments contained in these messages. Always contact the supposed sender separately first, or open the message on a more secure machine
• avoid using public Wi-Fi without a VPN.

If you’re still concerned about your pre-owned phone exposing you to security risks, don’t access any sensitive information or accounts when using it – such as mobile banking or syncing with your corporate accounts. In fact, if your employer allows BYOD handsets in the workplace, there may be an additional set of rules and policies you need to follow to ensure that your second-hand device can be used. The risks outlined above could be amplified if threat actors manage to use your handset as a stepping stone to reach corporate data and systems.

That said, there’s no reason why a pre-owned phone should cause undue stress and security risk, as long as you follow these best practices. And if you decide to hand it on to someone else, remember to perform a full backup, data erasure and factory reset.

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It’s still not too late to achieve every business goal you set yourself in January – but do you want to? Many business owners descend into panic mode at this time of the year, feeling like they’ve failed to tick all the boxes and becoming so overwhelmed they get stuck. As we hit the last quarter, this is a crucial time to assess where you are and, more importantly, to check if you still have the same goals. The objectives you set out several months ago might have changed, and that’s ok; it’s what you do next that counts.

The role of goal-setting
Short and long-term goals are essential for entrepreneurial success; they keep you focused, help you prioritise, and enable you monitor your progress. The key is not to overcomplicate things. Whether you call them your goals or your vision, you should know what you want to achieve so that you can establish a clear route ahead. Not everyone is a natural goal-setter, and some people find the idea of far-reaching goals overwhelming. However, the process can be made simple for anyone by getting the proper support to channel their ambition and turn their ideas into tangible steps.

Unfortunately, at this time of the year, the pressure tends to escalate with lots of talk about making the next few months count, especially on social media. That’s when you might start to question what you have and haven’t achieved. Comparison can creep in, as can a scarcity mindset, where you focus on what you lack and spiral into an anxious pattern of thinking. The problem is that all the urgency around ‘only X months to go’ creates a race to the finish line, suggesting there is an imaginary cut-off point at midnight on New Year’s Eve. In truth, you can still keep moving forward as the clock ticks over.

Avoid the panic
If you are worried about not being where you predicted you would be in your business, start with a reality check and take stock. What have you achieved so far this year and what are you still working towards? Perhaps you’ve achieved things you hadn’t even anticipated. Instead of falling back into self-criticism, congratulate yourself on how far you’ve come and what challenges you’ve navigated successfully. This will help you shift your mindset from how far away some things seem to seeing what more is possible.

Changing things up
Check-in with what you said you wanted. If you don’t have the same objectives, it’s perfectly fine to reset the goals and the timelines based on what you can realistically accomplish in the final stages of the year. If you do want to take a different direction, give yourself space to acknowledge that and develop a new strategy, taking into account where you want to be – you can’t work out the route if you don’t have a destination. Also, just because there might be some readjustment, it’s important not to dismiss everything you have done to date as a waste. Again, get clear what your new goals are and accept that running a business will always be a work in progress. As you look ahead, ask yourself what can be adapted, re-routed or relinquished.

I recommend to my clients that they re-assess their bigger, long-term business goals every quarter. It’s best to do it regularly as life can be unpredictable and as an entrepreneur, your business tends to be a vehicle for the life you are looking to create.

In terms of the smaller steps that get you to the bigger vision, look at those monthly alongside your progress; that way, any adjustments you need to make are more manageable.

Developing a goal-oriented mindset
Like many aspects of running a business, having the right mindset is essential. It’s generally acknowledged that success relies 80% on mindset and 20% on strategy – it’s true. Mindset is what allows us to believe we can achieve our goals and that we are worthy of success. It empowers us to set ambitious goals and, crucially, commit to taking the required actions to bring them to fruition. What’s more, a strong mindset gives us the confidence and self-belief to keep going in the face of challenges, be resilient and stay motivated.

The next time you see someone on social media telling you not to waste the last few months of the year, or even to make 2025 your ‘best year yet’, remember, they don’t know your goals, and comparison won’t benefit you or your business.

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The hybrid workplace blends traditional office spaces with remote work capabilities, promising newfound flexibility, innovation and efficiency. Yet, beneath the allure of the hybrid workplace lies a labyrinth of challenges and opportunities that demand careful navigation. Getting the hybrid workplace right is not just a strategic choice, it’s a mission-critical necessity for modern businesses.

Why is creating a successful hybrid workplace challenging?  
Creating a harmonious hybrid workplace means bridging diverse workstyles, fostering culture, and tackling technical intricacies. Success demands strategic vision and adaptability.

Why is it crucial to get it right?

• Talent attraction and retention. Attracting top talent and retaining valuable employees increasingly hinges on offering flexible work arrangements. A well-structured hybrid workplace can be a competitive advantage.
• Productivity and innovation. A well-executed hybrid model can enhance productivity by allowing employees to work where they are most effective. It also promotes innovation through diverse perspectives.

How can you get it right?

1. Build a strong foundation with well-thought company policies
A strong and well-defined hybrid work policy serves as the bedrock of a successful hybrid workplace. It sets the expectations, guidelines and boundaries for both remote and in-office work.

To create an effective policy, consider the unique needs and preferences of your employees. Recognize that flexibility is key, allowing individuals to choose where they work best while ensuring alignment with the organization’s goals.

2. Redesign offices for efficient collaboration
Hybrid workspaces should be designed to facilitate collaboration seamlessly, whether employees are in the office or working remotely. Invest in spaces that encourage collaboration and connection.

Next up, integrate suitable hybrid meeting equipment in your hybrid workplace. Modern cameras, microphones, speakers, and wireless videoconferencing solutions ensure that hybrid meetings run smoothly, enabling all participants to fully engage, regardless of their location.

3. Provide the home office basics for increased productivity
Remote workers also require the right hybrid meeting technology to perform at their best. Ensure that employees have access to quality hardware and software.

This includes providing laptops, monitors, ergonomic keyboards and mice, webcams, printers, headphones, and a reliable internet connection. By offering the essentials for a functional home office, you empower your remote workforce to be productive and efficient.

4. Ensure easy access to company platforms
One of the defining features of a hybrid workplace is the ability for employees to work from various locations. To support this flexibility, your IT infrastructure must be robust and reliable.

Employees should have seamless access to company platforms, regardless of where they are working. Invest in secure and user-friendly remote access solutions to enable hassle-free connectivity and collaboration.

5. Amp up your security
With employees connecting to company platforms from different locations and devices, security is paramount. Strengthen your cybersecurity measures to safeguard sensitive data, maintain confidentiality and protect privacy.

Implement multi-factor authentication, encryption and regular security audits. Training your workforce on cybersecurity best practices is also essential to mitigate risks effectively.

6. Optimize your workplace based on insights
Data plays a crucial role in shaping the success of a hybrid workplace. Collect and analyze data on employee meeting behavior, workspace utilization, and device usage. Use these insights to make informed decisions about workspace design, technology investments, and resource allocation.

Maximizing device ROI and adoption rates will ensure that your efforts to create an efficient hybrid workplace yield the desired results.

Why getting the hybrid workplace right matters can be summed up in one word: impact. It impacts your organization´s ability to attract and retain top talent, fuels productivity and innovation, enhances your organization’s resilience. By embracing the six essential steps outlined in this article, your organization can navigate this evolving landscape with confidence and grace.

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To help businesses overcome this barrier and tap into the potential of AI, KPMG published its gen AI playbook, AI & generative AI in functional transformation. The publication strives to serve as a guide for businesses planning to leverage gen AI to drive functional transformation and identifies potential disruption opportunities within operational functions.

Majid Makki, Partner — Head of Management Consulting and Technology Advisory, KPMG in Kuwait, said, “We understand that core organizational functions are the biggest catalysts of gen AI implementation, given the crucial roles they play. That’s why, through this guide, we wanted to call attention to the areas where gen AI could serve as a transformative force as well as highlight the challenges that could affect the foundation of trust.”

According to the KPMG 2023 global tech report, 57% of the respondents believe that gen AI will help them fulfill short-term business goals over the next three-year horizon. This is considering that embedding gen AI capabilities can significantly enhance process efficiency and speed by automating redundant tasks and those that may require human intervention. While the finding suggests a willingness to explore implementation possibilities, led by businesses’ needs to increase profitability, improve compliance and enhance consumer experience, the guidebook stresses that the effectiveness of gen AI relies on the quality of the underlying data and well-engineered prompts.

KPMG’s practical guide also points out five enabler categories that could be integrated into six key functions, i.e., Marketing, sales, service and commerce, Procurement, Supply chain management, Finance, HR, and IT management. The enablers are: (i) content and insight generators; (ii) information extractors; (iii) smart chatbots; (iv) language translators; and (v) code generators.

What kind of functional transformation can businesses drive with AI?
Illustrating the power of AI, the publication clarifies that organizations could leverage it to automate, optimize and transform procurement functions. This could, in turn, elevate sourcing efficiency and bring about dynamic contract lifecycle management, resulting in streamlined procurement decisions and enhanced contract management. As for supply chain management functions, businesses could ensure advanced predictive planning and automated quality assurance through AI-powered integrated planning and scenario modelling and AI-enhanced quality management.

KPMG’s guide further underscores that finance should be at the center of gen AI adoption across organizations, harnessing AI to make for cross-functional commentary and contract generation and review. This would not only drive improved understanding of financial performance but also reduce the levels of financial risk across an organization.

Furthermore, IT management functions could employ AI to maximize availability to users and reduce security incidents, HR functions to streamline onboarding processes and matching learning to employee requirements, and Marketing, sales, service and commerce functions to improve personalized and targeted marketing reach as well as engagement levels.

Overall, this practical guide explores 30 emerging use case opportunities that gen AI offers an organization’s front, middle and back office to enhance the human experience — either as customers, suppliers, or as employees.

“AI isn’t independent of systems. It goes hand in hand with existing business models, technology platforms, governance frameworks and service delivery models, impacts people’s roles and helps bring about positive change across critical business processes,“ adds Majid. He explains that for gen AI to provide maximum value to an organization — be it global or Kuwaiti, it should be implemented and integrated in the way that’s right and within crucial operational functions.

The guidebook underlines that while AI is moving quickly, the user interface and new content creation capabilities of gen AI make it relevant to a wide range of organizations and business functions. To keep pace with it, business leaders must consider how they can think and act faster with respect to how they can leverage the technology better.

To download the guide and to learn how KPMG Advisory can help you implement AI in your businesses, visit: kpmg.com/kw.

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“Summer is a time when many businesses experience heightened web traffic, making it crucial to prioritize cybersecurity protections,” said Selina Bieber, Vice President for International Markets at GoDaddy. “Implementing measures like installing SSL certificates on business websites, can significantly help to enhance online security by encrypting data exchanged between users and websites.”

Tips for further protecting your online presence: 

1. Update Software Regularly: Keep your operating system, website platforms, plugins, and applications up to date to help defend against potential vulnerabilities. 
2. Use Strong Passwords: Create unique passwords for each account and consider using a password manager tool for added security. 
3. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Add an extra layer of protection by requiring a second form of verification for login attempts, when available. 
4. Backup Your Data: Regularly back up your company and customer data and store it securely to help recover more quickly from potential cyber incidents. 
5. Install SSL Certificates: Protect the transmission of sensitive information by installing SSL Certificates on your website. This encrypts sensitive data and helps to ensure that it remains protected when being transmitted between servers and browsers. 
6. Educate Your Team: Ensure employees are trained in cybersecurity protections for your business, including if they are working remotely or on vacation. 

Summer Safety with SSL
SSL Certificates, such as those offered by GoDaddy, can play a pivotal role in helping to protect the transmission of online transactions and helping to protect user privacy. These Certificates encrypt data transmitted between a web server and a user’s browser, helping to ensure that sensitive information such as login credentials and credit card details remain protected. By displaying a padlock icon in the browser and converting HTTP to HTTPS, SSL Certificates also build trust with visitors, which can positively impact SEO rankings.

GoDaddy provides a variety of SSL Certificate options tailored to different needs:

1. Single Domain SSL Certificate: Protects sensitive data for a single domain name and website, ideal for small businesses and personal websites.
2. Wildcard SSL Certificate: Encrypts data submitted to a primary domain and all its related subdomains, suitable for businesses with multiple subdomains.
3. Multi-Domain SSL Certificate: Encrypts multiple domain names and subdomains under a single certificate, beneficial for larger organizations and e-commerce sites.

GoDaddy remains committed to empowering individuals and businesses with the tools and knowledge needed to help navigate the digital landscape safely. For more information on GoDaddy’s SSL Certificates and enhancing your website’s security this summer, visit https://ae.godaddy.com/web-security/ssl-certificate.

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In today’s competitive market, staying ahead of the curve is crucial to using essential cutting-edge technology for restaurants to thrive. Modern technology is transforming every facet of the restaurant business. From automating tasks with robotics to utilizing software for inventory management and customer service, these solutions empower restaurants to operate more efficiently and profitably, reshaping the entire industry.

Nowadays, new restaurants, ghost kitchens, and virtual food brands are popping up at every corner, making our industry the most competitive it has ever been; using the right tech is the way to reduce financial waste and elevate financial efficiency in the coming years.

Consolidating tech into a Comprehensive Solution
While tech integration is crucial, it shouldn’t burden restaurants with excessive costs or complexity. Many restaurants make the mistake of overinvesting in new software and even hardware solutions without first analyzing their needs, goals, and focus areas.

For example, one of the major focus areas for any growth-oriented restaurant would be to consolidate its tech and use a solution to seamlessly aggregate online orders, manage menus, track data, and reduce redundancy across your Point-of-Sale (POS) system.

This streamlines workflows and provides a unified overview of all incoming orders, especially for restaurants with multiple sales channels.

Always aim for a lean tech operation where you use only a handful of critical tools that provide as much bang for your buck as possible.

Protection of Revenue: Reducing Failed Orders
One of the critical aspects of financial efficiency in restaurants is reducing failed orders. This not only affects revenue but also customer satisfaction and loyalty. Having a solution that seamlessly integrates all your equipment, from online ordering systems to kitchen appliances, helps in reducing errors and ensuring orders are fulfilled accurately and on time.

By leveraging technology to streamline order processing, track inventory in real-time, and minimize manual errors, restaurants can protect their revenue by avoiding costly mistakes that lead to dissatisfied customers and lost sales opportunities.

Moreover, implementing predictive analytics and machine learning algorithms can further enhance order accuracy and reduce the risk of errors, contributing to improved revenue protection and customer experience.

Financial Tracking: A Cornerstone for Success
Effective financial management is paramount. Beyond tracking revenue and sales, restaurants require meticulous expense management and year-round financial analysis.

Financial monitoring and meticulous analysis are the foundational pillars of data-driven decision-making in this business, giving you a competitive edge. It all starts with the right accounting software that will provide you with a comprehensive overview of your accounts receivable and accounts payable, along with detailed reports.

This software should provide comprehensive overviews of accounts receivable and payable and detailed, granular reports – both at the micro and macro levels – to identify seasonal and annual cash flow trends.

Using Technology to Optimise Labor Costs
Everything is becoming more expensive. From logistics, food, packaging, equipment, and compliance to labour, training, and talent retention, restaurant owners desperately seek ways to cut their expenses.

Task automation is key to optimizing labor costs in restaurants. By automating repetitive tasks such as order processing, inventory management, and reporting, staff can focus on higher-value activities like customer service, menu innovation, and strategic planning.

Automated scheduling tools can also help in optimizing labor allocation based on demand patterns, ensuring adequate staffing levels without unnecessary overtime or understaffing situations. This not only improves operational efficiency but also enhances employee satisfaction and reduces turnover rates.

Investing in staff training on using these automated tools effectively can further maximize their impact on labor cost optimization and overall business performance.

Investing in the Future
The restaurant industry is becoming more competitive than ever, but that doesn’t mean that small businesses or up-and-coming brands can’t build long-term success and stability. However, by embracing technology for operational efficiency, cost optimisation, and strategic growth, restaurants of all sizes can thrive with this competitive edge in 2024 and beyond.

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The notion of having our identity stolen and used maliciously is a concern that anyone – in UAE or anywhere else in the world – should have in our society today. The vulnerability, the unknowing, and the anxiety around who and why someone would do this, and what they may use it for, is very real. This is bad enough in our personal lives, but when that identity includes administrative credentials to the core cyber resilience solution of a national government organisation, or global multi-national business the impact can be even more devastating.

In both the corporate and public sector, malicious credential theft is on the rise, fueling a huge increase in incidents via compromising privilege escalations.  According to a 2024 IBM report, attacks leveraging valid credentials surged by a staggering 71% year-over-year last year, with other reports suggesting credential theft accounts for 49% of cyber security incidents across the country.

While the UAE is leading the charge on integrated legislative and protection policies, like the Cyber Pulse Initiative to enhance public awareness of suspicious online activities and the best possible mitigation steps, due to their extensive access to sensitive commercial, personal, and competitive organisational datasets, system administrators are being targeted even more specifically than ever before.

Cybercriminals are simultaneously designing more complex attacks to gain their credentials and launching them even more effectively with the help of AI-driven processes. Whether it’s GenAI-generated phishing schemes, using video deepfakes, or taking advantage of other new-fangled ways of impersonation, stealing or just plain convincing employees to unwittingly hand over credentials has become a favoured approach whether targeting the entire spectrum of a workforce from C-level executives, to end users, or system admins.

A Fundamental Shift
This alarming trend underscores the urgent need for heightened vigilance and specialised security measures. The rise of advanced session hijacking techniques means relying solely on enterprise-wide Single Sign-On (SSO) solutions is no longer enough. Organisations must fortify their data protection infrastructure with dedicated security controls such as Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), Multi-Person Authorisation (MPA), Privileged Access Management (PAM), and other robust defences. Safeguarding against credential theft is paramount in defending your organisation’s most precious asset: its data.

A few years ago, concepts like immutability, anomaly detection, and malware scanning were key focal points in hardening data protection defences. These are now considered to be fundamental. These capabilities have forced threat actors to shift more towards going after “soft targets” by taking advantage of phishing, social engineering, MFA fatigue, and other credential-based attacks to log in, not break in, to your infrastructure.

Defence plans must adapt to keep up with the rapidly accelerating threat landscape. While Veritas research showed that the average UAE company hired between 14-16 new staff members across their data protection and data security teams last year, we are seeing a critical point of change with how these expanded teams can continue to effectively safeguard the exponential growth in the value, volume, and vulnerability of corporate data. The wider this gap becomes, the higher the likelihood of a major security breach, lengthy downtime, and/or data privacy compliance risks. 

Strengthening Cyber Resilience with New AI-Powered Solutions
Veritas has introduced the industry’s first self-defending data protection solution – an innovative and automated defence against user behaviour-based ransomware attacks. Veritas NetBackup and Veritas Alta Data Protection now actively and continuously monitor admin user behaviour and adjust defences such as multi-factor authentication and multi-person authorisation challenges dynamically when anomalies in administrative behaviours are detected. This adaptive, self-learning, self-defence solution is a first for enterprise data protection.

Adaptive, self-learning defence solutions are now a critical part of enterprise data protection and must be adopted to have any chance of maintaining corporate compliance while avoiding devastating reputational damage to any organisation of a major data breach.

Entropy Anomaly Detection
Another critical aspect of this process is time series data anomaly detection. In basic forms, this has been available in the market for quite some time. This technique establishes stable baselines by analysing patterns from backups over multiple weeks, while continuously learning granular data characteristics unique to the protected asset changes. This learning strategy is agnostic to any ransomware type and is referred to as zero-shot learning.

What’s new is the significant improvements to the scale and capability of how this is done. Our solutions allow individuals to detect anomalies online as backups occur, with near-zero impact on performance while at the same time eliminating the need for additional resources or incurring expensive cloud computing costs associated with post-hoc analysis.

This patent-pending innovation helps reduce the time to find and flag potential anomalies for further investigation – particularly important in limiting the potential scope of impact of any breach.

With the rise in ransomware and cyber-attacks means all organisations, across UAE and worldwide, must view being targeted not as an ‘if’ but as a ‘when’.  Whatever level of investment in additional staff and training, these tools must also be considered a necessity for any operational resilience to combat the rise of corporate user identity theft and malicious usage.

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As someone who works in the digital world, I am all too familiar with the toll technology can take. It’s a constant issue I see with my clients and colleagues. The barrage of notifications, the pressure to reply instantly, and the endless scroll of social media information overload us all and can be detrimental to our mental health. In fact, ‘digital burnout’ is more widespread than ever, with a significant rise likely due to the pandemic years, often blurring the lines between our personal and professional lives. 

What is digital burnout?
Digital burnout is the mental and emotional exhaustion caused by spending excessive time on digital devices and online activities. Fatigue, anxiety, disengagement, and apathy are all symptoms of this, but it can also prompt physical effects like chest pains and long-term sickness.

During the workday, for example, our brains are constantly bombarded as we flit between tasks across multiple devices. This creates a state of urgency and fuels our adrenaline. We’re ‘always on’, whether that’s attending Zoom calls, responding to emails and messages, or keeping up with industry news on social media. Switching off just isn’t easy in our hyper-connected age.

Searching for dopamine
Have you ever reached for your phone on autopilot, clicked on an app, and suddenly found yourself mindlessly scrolling for what feels like hours? You’re not alone. According to a McKinsey Health Institute Survey in 2023, over one-third of Gen Z respondents said they spend more than two hours each day on social media sites. However, Millennials take the crown for most active users, with 32 percent stating they post either daily or multiple times a day.  This constant social media engagement fuels our desire for dopamine, the neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. 

Social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook are designed to be dopamine factories.  “Likes,” notifications, and new content alerts all create a sense of anticipation and reward, keeping us glued to our screens.  This triggers a ‘dopamine loop’ where the initial pleasure of social media use fuels the desire for more, leading to compulsive checking.

As Anna Lembke explains in her New York Times Bestseller, ‘Dopamine Nation,’ these platforms tap into our intrinsic need to connect with other humans. But by manipulating our dopamine pathways, they can turn this healthy desire into an unhealthy dependence.

Tips to reduce your screen time
We should all set boundaries when it comes to how much time we spend on digital devices and here’s how:

1. Set boundaries: Setting some solid rules around phone usage is a practice many people could benefit from. Whether it is leaving your phone in a different room at night and using an old-fashioned alarm clock to wake you up in the morning or experimenting with setting time limits for social media use (a good starting point might be 30 minutes or an hour). Frequent breaks are the key to cutting down on the amount of mindless content you might be absorbing.

2. Curate your feed: Have a look at who you are following, who is following you and what you are seeing on your ‘Explore’ page. You can control all of these facets easily and sometimes, a clear-out of uninspiring follows is a great mental refresh. Remember you can also select a ‘close friends’ list on Instagram and choose who to share your content with.

3. Elminate distractions: While we would probably all love to switch our phones off for a few hours or even days, it’s not realistic when we rely on our devices for so much of our lives. Instead, you can use tools such as ‘Focus Mode’ on the iPhone which allows you to disable certain functionalities at different times of the day. With social media, there are a whole host of settings you can change to streamline what you see and have access to. This includes limiting direct messages from strangers, and managing notifications for likes and comments, or even consider turning them off entirely for a more drastic approach.

In the workplace
If you work from home, even if it’s only for part of the week, take a critical look at your work-life balance. If it doesn’t feel right, speak to your manager and see how you can improve the situation. Remember, reaching the point of digital burnout can be detrimental to your well-being. Mental health is extremely important, and any good manager will be happy to help you manage your time and stress levels more effectively. You can also speak to a professional such as a doctor or psychologist to discuss any concerns and check up on your overall wellbeing.

As a CEO, I believe it is incredibly important to lead by example. I want my team to enjoy their time away from work in the evenings and weekends and to be able to switch off. I strive to model this behavior in everything I do. It’s mainly about offering autonomy – empowering our employees with a degree of flexibility and ownership over their work. For instance, we offer flexible work schedules and trust employees to manage their workload effectively. We also value and support their boundaries by discussing clear ‘off-line’ hours, so they’re not expected to respond to emails after a certain time.

Across society, whether in the workplace or at home, whether for children or adults, balanced tech usage is the key to preserving mental wellbeing. Take a few minutes today to change your settings, switch off or mute notifications, and you’ll instantly feel lighter.

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Whenever we’re online, we leave a trail of data behind. As our lives are increasingly intertwined with digital technology, our digital footprints continue to grow larger. Some pieces of data that we generate, such as when posting on social media or purchasing products online, could hold immense value to cybercriminals lurking in the shadows of the internet.

Meanwhile, data breaches and leaks remain rampant while cybercriminals hone their craft to exploit the treasure troves of data scattered across the digital landscape. The more online services you use and share your information with, the greater the chance that your data ends up in the wrong hands, for example when one of those companies is compromised by hackers. As each of us potentially faces a range of threats from financial fraud to extortion campaigns, the importance of safeguarding our personal information cannot be overstated.

Understanding the value of personal data
First things first, what exactly do we talk about when we talk about personal data? Put simply, it encompasses any information – such as names, dates of birth, social security numbers, home addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, health data, financial details, photos, biometric information, location data and even IP addresses – that can be used, either on its own or in combination with other information, to identify a specific person.

With that out of the way, what is it exactly that drives criminals to relentlessly target our personal information?

1. Financial fraud
Financial fraud is a most pervasive threat in the digital age. Personal data serves as a gateway to your financial assets, making it a prime target for cybercriminals, who are ever so intent on making a pretty penny. While safeguarding bank card information is common sense, it’s equally crucial to extend this vigilance to any other information that identifies us – and to be proactive in safeguarding any kind of personal information in order to prevent unauthorized access to our bank accounts.

Beyond financial credentials, cybercriminals could exploit a plethora of personal data, including names, addresses, social security numbers, and even our online shopping habits, to devise fraudulent schemes. By piecing together fragments of your personal information, attackers can impersonate you, tamper with your accounts and conduct unauthorized transactions, often with far-reaching consequences.

2. Identity theft
Your identity gives ne’er-do-wells the ability to engage in fraudulent activities under your name, which not only jeopardizes your financial well-being, but ultimately also tarnishes your reputation, credibility and overall well-being. Cybercriminals wielding stolen identities can perpetrate a wide range of fraudulent activities “on behalf of” unsuspecting victims, placing their financial stability and personal integrity in jeopardy.

The more data the crooks acquire, the greater their arsenal for all sorts of malicious actions from deceiving your contacts with fraudulent campaigns, perhaps aided by imposter social media profiles, all the way to committing diverse forms of fraud, including tax, insurance and online shopping fraud.

3. Ransomware and extortion
The menace of ransomware has for years loomed large on the digital landscape. The psychological impact of being suddenly locked out of your devices and data is profound, particularly if it involves personal documents, sensitive business data, and irreplaceable memories.

Faced with such dire circumstances, many victims feel compelled to give in to the demands of the attackers and end up paying hefty ransom fees in the hope that they will regain control over their digital assets. This reality underscores the importance of robust cybersecurity measures and proactive defenses against the ever-evolving threat of ransomware attacks.

4. Dark web sale
Personal data has become a lucrative commodity, both in the seedy underbelly of the internet known as the dark web and in the shadowy recesses of mainstream social media platforms such as Telegram. Everything from pilfered login credentials, social security card details all the way to babies’ personal data is up for grabs –  no information is too sacred for cybercriminals to exploit.

This clandestine marketplace thrives as a hub where illicit data transactions abound, allowing cybercriminals to capitalize on stolen information for further nefarious activities or to peddle it to malicious actors. As they perpetuate this cycle of exploitation, cybercriminals not only profit but also contribute to the flourishing underworld economy of the dark web.

5. Account theft
Account theft is as a direct pathway for criminals to infiltrate various facets of your online presence, including social media sites, email services and other platforms. Once inside, they exploit this access to perpetrate fraudulent activities, spread malware, or compromise your identity. Whether due to a data breach at a company, account or service that stored our data or thanks to the information we willingly share online, attackers can crack our passwords, often simply by using combinations of first names, last names, dates of birth or other data obtained.

To mitigate such risks, it’s imperative to beef up your defenses with robust security measures such as using strong and unique passwords or passphrases and implementing two-factor authentication. These proactive steps serve as crucial safeguards against the perils of account theft and help protect your digital assets from the threats.

6. (Spear)phishing messages
Phishing, especially the targeted variety known as spearphishing, can leverage personal data to craft convincing messages aimed at specific individuals or organizations. Cybercriminals can meticulously research their targets to gather information such as their names, job titles, company affiliations, and even personal interests or activities. With this data in hand, attackers can tailor their ploys to appear legitimate and relevant, increasing the likelihood of success.

For instance, a fraudster armed with knowledge about your online purchases might craft a convincing email posing as a receipt or promotional offer from a familiar retailer. In other scenarios, they might impersonate a colleague or superior within your organization, using insider knowledge gleaned from publicly available information to enhance the credibility of their message.

7. Corporate espionage
Personal data is not only of interest to “run-of-the-mill” cybercriminals; rival companies, governments and other groups also seek this sensitive information. In the realm of corporate espionage, personal data is coveted for its potential to confer strategic advantages and facilitate targeted attacks. Data stolen from employees can become tools for targeted attacks whose ramifications can go way beyond personal privacy.

From industrial espionage aimed at gaining insights into competitors’ operations to state-sponsored campaigns targeting critical infrastructure and sensitive government systems, the stakes are high in the realm of corporate espionage.

7 tips for protecting yourself
There are a few simple measures that will vastly lower the risk of your data ending up in the crosshairs of cybercriminals.

• Be wary of unsolicited emails, messages, or requests for personal information, and avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments from unfamiliar sources.
• Be prudent when it comes to sharing information online.
• Use strong and unique passwords for each of your accounts.
• Enable two-factor authentication on every account that offers this option.
• Regularly monitor your bank accounts, credit reports, and other financial accounts for any unauthorized activity. Report any suspicious transactions or signs of identity theft immediately.
• Keep an eye on breached password alerts and take immediate action after receiving such a notification.
• Install reputable security software on all your devices.

“I don’t have anything of value for hackers”, “why would anybody care?” or “I have nothing to hide” – statements like these reflect common misconceptions regarding the importance of personal data and cybersecurity. We hope that the rundown above helped illustrate just how valuable even seemingly innocuous information can be to malicious actors.

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