Dubai: Cybercrime is on the upswing in the UAE, a senior police official said.
During a lecture at the Culture and Science Association, in the presence of of security, cultural and diplomatic leaders, Major General Khamis Mattar Al Muzaina, Deputy Chief of Dubai Police, said that cyber crime has become the new criminal threat in the UAE and the is rising.
According to Dubai Police statistics, there were 278 reported cybercrimes in 2008, 436 cases in 2009, 445 cases in 2010. 588 in 2011 and 772 cases in 2012.
Police have logged 81 incidents of cybercrime this year.
“The Dubai Government departments have protection systems with high capacity,” he said, adding that many of those who try to hack government systems are doing it not for criminal motive but as a kind of challenge.”
Al MUzaina warned officials and government departments to pay attention more to the system while sharing files within their department or with other groups.
Al Muzaina said electronic crimes included persons invoking financial and moral blackmail by by threatening to publish pictures and information.
He said criminals use technology to conduct financial transfers from the accounts of individuals from anywhere in the world.
He called on individuals and exchange companies and banks to use software technology to protect themselves against hackers. He said shutting down computers after work can help prevent hacking and warned against giving any personal data about account numbers and credit card to strangers.
Al Muzaina recalled one crime when curious people fell victims to swindlers when their emails were hacked and funds were withdrawn from their accounts.
e In another crime, suspects were able to get $3 million from a company after hacking the company’s e-mail.
“Police asked the central bank and exchange companies and gold shops to install surveillance cameras which is very important,” he said.
He said that the police keep updating their information to cope with the rapid changes in cyber crimes.
