Dubai:  An IT security company has expressed concern that most people in the UAE are underestimating the threat of cyber security attacks.

In a study conducted by Kaspersky Lab, it was found that only about two in ten (23 per cent) residents in the country believe that they could be targeted by attackers who are out to destroy computer networks and systems.

What UAE residents fear most, instead, is that someone could gain access into their Facebook, Twitter, banking or other online accounts and steal their “digital identity”.

“"People are concerned about the safety of their online accounts, although in reality, few of them think they will be targeted by a cyber attack. And that’s where they’re wrong. Attackers often rely on the element of surprise, when users least expect it,” said Peter Aleshkin, Head of Consumer Marketing, Emerging Markets, Kaspersky Lab.

Among the respondents polled for the survey, 61 per cent said that hacking of online accounts is their biggest concern, while for 60 per cent, it’s the malware designed to steal passwords and confidential information that they fear most.

Financial threats are the third biggest concern among Internet users in the UAE, with 53 per cent saying they are afraid they could lose money from an account, followed by phishing emails and websites.

Kaspersky Lab warned that some new malicious programs have emerged recently and blackmailed ordinary internet users. These programs have managed to encrypt files on computers and users have been asked to make a payment in exchange for a decryption key.

“Kaspersky Lab experts, for example, recently reported a new modification of the Tesla Crypt Trojan that demanded $500 from each victim,” the company said.

While internet users are also aware of Adware and malicious apps that make webcams vulnerable to hackers, Kaspersky Lab noted that these threats have not raised much of a concern among residents in the UAE.

“However, these programs are more dangerous than they seem: cybercriminals can watch users or overhear confidential information via a webcam, or use video clips to blackmail their victims, while advertising modules can be utilized to imbed even more dangerous programs,” the company said.