06.06.2021
NGN International, a full-fledged systems integrator and IT consultant, in cooperation with KnowBe4 organized an educational webinar under the topic “Social Engineering: The emotional hack”.
The main speakers in the webinar included Mr. Mahmood Sabt, Head of Information Security at Bahrain Bourse, Mr. Ilya Leonov, Head of Cybersecurity Practice at NGN International, and Mr. Jelle Wieringa, Security Advocate & PR Lead at KnowBe4.
The IT experts concluded in the webinar -based on recent surveys- that about 95% of cyberattacks that affect institutions and individuals in Bahrain are caused by human errors. They stressed the significance of boosting investment in cybersecurity systems, in addition to training and educating employees and individuals to avoid huge losses in money and data that may result from cyberattacks.
The speakers pointed out that global cyberattacks increased from 20% in 2019 to 37% during the COVID-19 pandemic, based on a study published by Deloitte company. Most of these attacks took place while employees work from home far from the cybersecurity systems provided by their companies, some employees even use their home computer to enter the company’s network, and others use their email and not the company’s mail.
The webinar reviewed a website that was launched at the beginning of the pandemic to display the statistics of pandemic injuries and deaths in detail in each country separately. This website gained wide popularity before it was discovered that cybercriminals were behind it and succeeded in stealing through it the data of millions of users by requesting them to download files on their phones and electronic devices later found to be malicious software.
Speakers also pointed out that the individual user has become the weakest link in the chain of cybersecurity, as cybercriminals monitor their behavior on the Internet and know their browsing hours, interests, and level of security, which is known as "social engineering". The cybercriminals then start targeting the victim by sending him files that attract his attention and when he downloads them. This malicious software controls the users’ device and reveals his secret data such as credit card details.
"Through our work at (NGN), we note that cybercriminals, as individuals and groups, are constantly working to develop methods of attacking their victims. Major institutions in Bahrain are keen to invest in cybersecurity systems, while individuals and small enterprises still facing challenges in this field.” Al Awadhi said.
Al Awadhi affirmed that this webinar is the third of its kind to be held within the activities of "NGN Majlis", which was launched by "NGN" as a platform to spread and boost awareness of cybersecurity for individuals and institutions in the Kingdom of Bahrain. It includes online workshops and panel discussions with the participation of an elite group of experts and specialists to address the most significant and common cybersecurity and IT topics.