Cisco Survey reveals majority of the UAE’s population are worried about being hacked

Cisco security experts warn that use of personal devices for work purposes requires cautious approach to cybersecurity 

• 55% of respondents think their personal data is more at risk now than 12 months ago
• 63% of users primarily use their personal phone for work tasks 
• 54% use public networks, such as restaurants and airports, for work tasks

Whilst hybrid work is becoming increasingly popular, a recent survey from Cisco of general consumers across the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reveals respondents are increasingly fearful of their connected devices being hacked and attacked. 

The survey of over 1,001 polled consumers in the UAE has provided insights into people’s general approach to security, amid the significant acceleration of digitization across the country. While the pandemic has accelerated the hybrid work model and the remote access to business data, the survey has identified many red flags consumers should pay attention to. 

Fady Younes, Cybersecurity Director, EMEA Service Providers and MEA, commented:

“Technology at our fingertips means that the future of work has arrived – and it’s borderless. Today, employees are working from anywhere: from home, the office and using public networks, such as restaurants and airports. With hybrid work becoming an integral element for businesses in the UAE and worldwide, organizations need to pay attention to the risk of cyber threats. To mitigate the arising risks, we advise businesses to allow access to data based on zero–trust principles – aligning with individual needs and contexts,” he added.

Using Personal Devices for Work

The research was conducted with the aim of understanding attitudes to cybersecurity in the home and revealed that a significant number of people in the UAE frequently use their personal devices for work. Most frequent tasks included sending emails (66%) and making business calls (57%). 

Of the polled consumers in the UAE, the majority share one or more connected devices in the home. Amid a global surge in cyber-attack threats at all levels, respondents appear concerned about the threat of attack, with 73% saying they’re worried about their personal devices being hacked. With the number of connected devices shared in the home, 68% have updated their password in the past 6 months. 

Risk is not only a factor at home, and this is increasingly prevalent in the UAE, where many people opt to work in public spaces or check-in on work tasks on the move. In the UAE, 54% of respondents frequently use public wireless networks for basic work tasks. 

Misunderstanding Security Measures

Usernames and passwords have never been a particularly effective technique for keeping cyber threats away. Using Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is a very simple method for adding a strong extra layer of protection to system access.  

However, as seen in many countries across EMEA, many people do not use or do not know what MFA is. This is true for the UAE, with 24% admitting to a lack of awareness and usage of MFA. As nearly every smartphone now has a fingerprint or facial scanner, consumers can choose to use biometrics instead of passcodes to unlock and log in to applications on their personal devices. Organizations have an opportunity to leverage this technology, which is already in employees’ pockets, to drive the adoption of strong MFA at work. 

Inconsistent Education Opportunities 

A major challenge in closing the gaps in cybersecurity is educating millions of people at a consistent level. When asked where they seek advice about online and device security behavior, the answers were tending predominantly towards asking friends and family (44%) or gathering information via social media (33%). 

Subjective advice and opinions on cybersecurity can mean a deficit in genuinely robust measures. For the average person, it may seem unlikely their home Wi-Fi will be hacked, or that someone will access their data while on a public network. However, it only takes one opportunist and a very short window of time to access and harvest the information they need. 

Research Methodology 

Titled ‘EMEA Consumer Security Poll’, the survey consisted of responses from over 8,000 consumers from eight countries across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), of which 1,001 general consumers were polled in the UAE during September 2022. At the time of the survey, 63% of respondents were employed full time; 13% part time; 9% unemployed; 6% student; 4% homemaker/parent; 1% retired, 3% self-employed and 1% unable to work. Regardless of employment status, more than half of the survey respondents expressed that corporate cybercrime has made them think their personal data is more at risk now than 12 months ago. 

The poll was conducted in September 2022 via Census Wide.