Innocent vacation photos shared online can become a gateway for cybercriminals, warns the UAE Cyber Security Council. They caution that personal images can lead to cyberbullying, identity theft, blackmail, and other cyber threats.
The Council urges the public to protect personal content and privacy, noting that photos can reveal sensitive information such as age, gender, location, biometric data, job title, and medical details. This data can be extracted and exploited by cybercriminals.
Tips to Protect Sensitive Information Online
To safeguard documents and personal information, the Council recommends:
- Storing paper documents securely.
- Using strong, regularly updated passwords.
- Encrypting digital documents.
- Avoiding the online sharing of sensitive documents.
Apple Device Security
Users of Apple devices are advised to update their operating systems to the latest versions to address security vulnerabilities. Recently, Apple issued emergency security updates for its devices.
Enhancing Cyber Culture
The Cyber Security Council has been enhancing cyber awareness in the UAE through collaboration with national institutions and international partnerships. Initiatives like the “Cyber Pulse” aim to spread cybersecurity awareness across all sectors of society. An ongoing awareness campaign encourages public and private sector entities to promote the importance of cybersecurity, contributing to digital security and reducing cyber risks.
Protect Your Private Photos and Videos
The Council stresses that oversharing information, especially private photos and videos, indicates a lack of cybersecurity awareness. They recommend six measures to protect personal memories:
- Using encryption and strong security features.
- Reviewing and updating privacy settings.
- Deleting sensitive information attached to private photos and videos.
- Avoiding sharing sensitive photos or videos online.
- Not activating automatic synchronization of private visual content in cloud services.
- Using strong passwords to prevent account vulnerabilities.
Preventing Theft of Personal Photos
To prevent the theft of personal photos and videos, the Council advises using secure storage solutions, strong passwords, and multi-factor authentication. They also offer specific advice for Android and iOS users.
For Android users:
- Activate the location feature to secure the device.
- Use Google Play protection to ensure the safety of applications.
For iOS users:
- Use a strong and unique password for the Apple account.
- Enable two-factor authentication.
- Ensure automatic iOS updates are enabled.
- Regularly review the list of devices linked to the iCloud account.
Risks of Personal Data Breaches
The Council warns that many fall victim to hacking operations targeting personal information, photos, and banking details due to user mistakes. They highlight the risks of storing photos of passports and bank cards, which can lead to extortion if stolen. Kaspersky, a cybersecurity company, emphasizes that personal data breaches occur regularly, with unprotected information and credentials being used maliciously, causing identity theft and illegal financial transactions.
Beware of Fake Chrome Scam
In 2022, Kaspersky’s security team warned against using fake versions of the popular Chrome web browser. This scam, starting with a text message about an undelivered package, led victims to download fake apps like Chrome, aiming to steal private and personal photos.
By following these recommendations, individuals can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to cyber threats and protect their personal information from exploitation.
