Officials say AI-driven hacking attempts hit national platforms, most threats state-linked
Cyberattacks by China-linked Salt Typhoon group raise concerns over vulnerabilities in US communication infrastructure. PHOTO: PIXABAY
The United Arab Emirates has thwarted organised cyber attacks targeting the country’s digital infrastructure and vital sectors, the state-run WAM news agency said on Saturday.
The attacks “included attempts to infiltrate networks, deploy ransomware and conduct systematic phishing campaigns targeting national platforms,” and involved artificial intelligence technologies to develop offensive tools, it added. The report did not say who was to blame for the attacks.
According to the local media, the exploitation of artificial intelligence technologies reflected a qualitative shift in the methods employed by terrorist groups and their ability to harness modern technologies”.
The statement came days after the council’s head, Dr Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, said there are between 90,000 to 200,000 breach attempts focused on the UAE “every single day” – many of them “state-sponsored”.
In a statement to WAM, Al Kuwaiti revealed that state-sponsored/APT accounted for 71.4 per cent of tracked threat actors (15 of 21 groups), while eCrime/Criminal and hacktivist groups each accounted for 14.3 per cent.
The council reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the digital domain and preserving stability, and urged the public to report cyber threats or suspicious activity through officially approved channels.
