Cyberattackers targeting telecommunications and the military-industrial complex in the Middle East
A significant portion of the Middle East's economy is driven by the extraction of natural resources. The biggest growth in global oil production was in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The region is home to a high concentration of industrial companies and enterprises in the energy sector. These organizations, alongside government agencies, actively employ information technologies. Digitalization has led to significant economic and social growth in Middle Eastern countries. All these factors combine to make the region an attractive target for cyberattacks.
Our specialists recorded details of 141 successful attacks on Middle Eastern countries. More than 80% of these attacks were targeted. One of the primary motives of cybercriminals targeting the Middle East is the theft of valuable information. So, while investigating cybercriminal interests in the Gulf countries, our specialists found that personal data, logins and passwords for online services, and confidential company documentation are among the most discussed items on dark web shadow markets.
The Middle East regularly faces attacks from APT groups—cybercriminal groups carrying out multi-stage, carefully planned attacks targeting a specific industry or group of industries. Their objective in the Middle East is to obtain information that can provide political, economic, and military advantages. Some APT groups have also been observed in hacktivist campaigns and operations aimed at sabotage.
