UAE Residents Warned: Risks of Posting High-Resolution Images Online

In today’s digital age, social media systems have end up a crucial a part of normal life. With UAE citizens being a few of the most active social media users globally, experts in the meanwhile are warning about a huge cybersecurity risk—sharing high-choice pictures online. These pictures may be exploited with the aid of cybercriminals for identification robbery, SIM swapping, and guy-in-the-middle (MITM) assaults.

The Threat of High-Resolution Images

Cybersecurity experts warning that posting exceptional images on social media structures could provide criminals with greater than only a glimpse into someone’s existence. According to Ashraf Koheil, regional income director for Meta, Group-IB, scammers can extract biometric statistics from high-decision photographs, potentially developing virtual identities that would be used for fraudulent purposes.

“If you have two high-resolution images on social media, scammers can identify fingerprints, and they are able to create a digital identification or image to open a bank account or register an e-SIM,” Koheil explained.

The UAE has a immoderate social media penetration price, with most citizens having more than one money owed throughout systems like WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. This makes them a prime purpose for cybercriminals trying to make the most virtual identities. Additionally, college students from financially solid backgrounds are regularly focused due to their access to price range and limited focus of cybersecurity risks.

Beyond Image Theft: SIM Swapping and MITM Attacks

While issues approximately facial popularity misuse and deepfake creation remains, cybersecurity experts argue that different instantaneous threats pose even more dangers. Andreas Hassellöf, CEO of Ombori, emphasized that non-public information—which includes e-mail addresses, phone numbers, and different identifiable information—shared on social media affords a larger problem.

“The real risks stem from sharing non-public information which can at once be exploited,” Hassellöf referred to. “Threats like phishing, SIM swapping, and man-in-the-middle attacks are a good deal extra commonplace and perilous in today’s digital landscape.”

SIM swapping occurs when a cybercriminal hints a mobile carrier into moving a consumer’s cellphone variety to a fraudulent SIM card, allowing them to intercept calls and messages. This could be used to pass two-factor authentication and gain access to banking apps and different sensitive accounts.

Similarly, in a person-in-the-center (MITM) assault, an attacker secretly intercepts and manipulates verbal exchange amongst activities, frequently with out their know-how. This can be used for facts theft, monetary fraud, or unauthorized access to private information.

Cybercriminals Target UAE Residents on Fridays

Another alarming fashion is the timing of cyberattacks. According to Koheil, cybercriminals frequently launch attacks on Friday nights, understanding that many safety operations aren’t running at complete capacity over the weekend.

“For instance, if a telecom employer is walking a lower back-to-faculty promoting, cybercriminals take advantage of the high traffic and begin bombarding users with phishing messages,” Koheil explained. “They additionally use geofencing, which means in case you access a domain from the UAE, you might see a message approximately a neighborhood carrier, whilst out of the country, the content adjustments.”

This tactic makes it tougher for safety companies to come across and block fraudulent sports. While cybersecurity teams commonly take an hour to perceive and neutralize an attack, such strategic timing ought to expand the reaction time to 4 hours or extra.

How to Stay Safe Online

Cybersecurity experts urge users to take precautionary steps to shield themselves from these rising threats. Hassellöf advocated numerous proactive measures:

1. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) – Adding an additional layer of protection can assist save you unauthorized get entry to, even though an attacker has obtained login credentials.
2. Limit Personal Data Sharing – Avoid posting touchy facts, along with phone numbers, addresses, and economic information, on social media.
   Use AI-Driven Security Tools – AI-based protection gear can assist detect manipulated photographs and phishing tries.
   Employ Blockchain-Based Identity Management – Blockchain era can provide tamper-evidence protection for non-public statistics and virtual identities.
3. Monitor Social Media Privacy Settings – Adjust privateness settings to govern who can view and engage with private content material.

While worries over biometric misuse are legitimate, experts emphasize that greater immediately and urgent protection vulnerabilities—consisting of phishing, identification robbery, and SIM swapping—must remain the number one attention. Being aware about these risks and adopting strong cybersecurity practices can extensively reduce the probabilities of falling sufferer to virtual fraud.

As cybercriminals keep to conform their procedures, UAE residents need to live vigilant and take proactive steps to protect their online presence. In an technology where digital protection is more vital than ever, a little caution can go a protracted manner in preventing cyber threats.