Abu DHABI, United Arab Emirates – In an effort to bolster cyber security, the UAE Government Cybersecurity Council urged users of the country’s digital software and systems to upgrade their core hardware suite, including smartphones, laptops, browsers, routers, and smart home devices.
The Council emphasized that these electronic devices are highly susceptible to hacking and fraud, particularly on open networks. They explained that cyber threats are constantly evolving, making legacy systems vulnerable to malware, data theft, and network hacking.
This underscores the significance of enabling automatic updates in various digital devices. This is crucial to maintain continuous protection and prevent the exposure to newly discovered security vulnerabilities.
The Council warned that failing to update these devices exposes users to numerous potential risks, including malware, data theft, and hacking of internal networks.
continuous updates
To mitigate these risks, experts recommend taking simple yet effective steps. These include running automatic updates, checking update settings on all devices, maintaining continuous protection, ensuring updates are installed periodically, reviewing privacy settings, and monitoring any unusual behavior on devices.
The Council emphasized that the most effective solution to enhance cybersecurity is regular software updates. This is because most attacks exploit previously detected vulnerabilities that could have been avoided with a simple update. The Council believes that updates are not just technical improvements but digital protection shields that safeguard systems from threats.
The UAE continues its ongoing efforts to establish a secure cyber space that safeguards users from escalating digital risks. It aligns with rapid technological advancements within a comprehensive national vision to enhance confidence in the country’s digital system.
In addition to promoting a culture of cybersecurity and raising awareness about the importance of safe browsing, the Cyber Security Council launched a weekly awareness campaign. This is part of the Cyber Pulse Initiative.
The third week of this year’s campaign carries the slogan “Neglecting updates means higher cyber risks/Numbers warn.” The campaign aims to raise awareness about the significance of updating digital programs and systems. It also provides guidance on how to address various cyber threats.
The campaign targets both individuals and organizations to enhance cyber awareness and bolster resilience and cyber culture. Ignoring periodic updates to digital software and systems poses a substantial risk to information security.
Figures indicate that over 30,000 new vulnerabilities were discovered worldwide in 2024. Security vulnerabilities and network breaches are on the rise globally. Statistics show that 70% of unupdated systems are highly vulnerable to cyber attacks if not updated periodically.
