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Symantec’s ISTR shows improved
internet security in the UAE
Symantec’s Internet Security Threat Re-
port (ISTR) said there is significant im-
provement in the UAE’s internet security.
The UAE’s ranking in the report improved
from 47 in 2013 to 49 in 2014 with respect
to online security threats.
The ranking indicates a lower number of
source-based security threats, including
malicious code, spam, phishing and bots.
Despite this, the report found that attacks
against the UAE increased from less than
one per cent of the global total in 2013 to
almost five per cent in 2014.
There was also a slight increase in cy-
ber criminals exploiting online IT vulner-
abilities, with the UAE shifting from 53 in
2013 to 48 in 2014 for network attacks
and 60 to 50 for web attacks.
In the top 10 countries listed in the Middle
East’s cyber threats list, the UAE main-
tained its seventh position in 2013 and
2014. Symantec found that the finance,
insurance and real estate industries (40
per cent) were the top target for spear
phishing attackers, who use emails to
steal company or personal details. The
smallest companies sized between one
and 250 employees experienced the bulk
of these attacks, at 89 per cent.
Reports