"Cyber security" Warns of the dangers of neglecting to secure your personal digital fingerprint
Abu Dhabi, June 28 / WAM / The UAE Government Cyber Security Council warned of the dangers of negligence in securing the personal digital fingerprint, stressing the importance of adopting safe digital practices to reduce the risks of hacks and privacy violations in light of the growing global cyber threats.
The Council said, in statements to the Emirates News Agency, WAM, that the digital fingerprint left by users while browsing the Internet or using social media applications represents a digital record of their activities and interactions, explaining that every login process, sharing a post, posting a photo, or writing a comment leaves a digital trace that can be tracked and exploited by malicious parties if it is not handled with caution.
He pointed out that more than 1.4 billion accounts are hacked monthly around the world, which reflects the scale of cyber threats related to personal data and digital fingerprints, pointing out that the information collected or shared across devices and applications may reveal a lot about the user’s identity, behaviors, and interests, making it a target for hackers and untrusted applications.
The Council explained that the digital fingerprint is divided into two main types: the passive fingerprint that is collected from the user without his knowledge or consent by tracking electronic activities, and the active fingerprint that the user leaves voluntarily by publishing photos, videos, comments and various posts on digital platforms.
He stressed that the risks of digital fingerprinting are not limited to violating privacy only, but also include hacking accounts, unauthorized access to personal data, impersonation, and carrying out electronic phishing operations, as well as exploiting stolen information in harmful electronic activities.
The Council warned that some unofficial or untrusted applications may contribute to collecting personal data in illegal ways, including recording calls or accessing the camera and microphone without the user’s knowledge.
The Council stressed the importance of raising the level of digital awareness among individuals and following the best preventive practices, including caution when interacting with others online, not accepting friend requests from unknown parties, reviewing lists of followers periodically, and thinking carefully before sharing geographic location or personal information via digital platforms.
The Cyber Security Council called on users to download applications from official stores only, and to verify the required permissions before granting them to any application, in addition to activating the two-factor authentication feature to protect digital accounts, including e-mail, social media accounts, and electronic banking services.
The Council stressed that digital security begins with awareness and individual responsibility before relying on technical solutions, noting that protecting privacy and personal data requires a continuous commitment from users to practices of safe use of modern technologies.
The UAE continues its efforts to build a safe and reliable cyberspace that protects users from growing digital risks and keeps pace with rapid technical developments, within the framework of a comprehensive national vision to enhance confidence in the digital system, establish a culture of cybersecurity, and raise the level of digital awareness among members of society in a way that ensures the protection of privacy and data integrity in the era of digital transformation.
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