Hackers are here to stay and they are getting more sophisticated at penetrating company firewalls as well as personal accounts. The UAE is placed second in the region — and 15th globally — in online threats and attacks and this shows the country’s importance, or attractiveness, for those who indulge in this criminal activity. There is much for them to gain, given that more than half of the UAE’s internet users faced financial cyber attacks while 10 per cent actually recorded financial losses in 2014.

The first step is to secure all systems. Routinely check credit card statements, sign up for real-time alerts and keep information private, change passwords to make them stronger and subscribe to identity protection packages. Cybercrime is not just about breaking into bank and credit card accounts.

Spying on people’s private lives and personal activities lures hackers too, with blackmail being the intention. The other game plan is to lure children into the world of inappropriate content. Protection online is a necessity. There is much to lose if simple steps are not taken. Online criminals are always looking to stay a step ahead of the law and are hard to apprehend. The resolve to thwart their nefarious plans must not slacken.