UAE Cybersecurity Council Warns Remote Work Is Fueling a New Wave of Cyber Threats

The UAE Cybersecurity Council has warned that the expansion of remote and hybrid working is creating new openings for cybercriminals, with attacks linked to home-based digital environments rising sharply in recent years. In remarks carried by the state news agency WAM, the Council said cyber incidents associated with remote work have increased by more than 40 percent, reflecting a shift by attackers toward less-protected home networks and devices

According to the Council, around 38 percent of modern cyberattacks now target infrastructure tied to remote work, including home routers, personal devices, and virtual private networks. Officials said these weaknesses can expose individuals, companies, and institutions to unauthorized access, interception of communications, and theft of sensitive data.

The warning highlights how the cybersecurity perimeter has expanded beyond the office, turning residential internet connections and employee-owned devices into attractive targets for threat actors. In practical terms, this means organizations can no longer treat remote work as a convenience issue alone, but as a core cybersecurity risk that requires stronger controls, better monitoring, and greater employee awareness. This interpretation is supported by the Council’s emphasis on data protection as a critical priority in a remote-work environment.

The Council said hackers are increasingly exploiting vulnerabilities in unsecured home routers and remote-access systems, potentially redirecting users to fraudulent websites, stealing login credentials, or breaching sensitive data. The alert adds to a wider pattern of public cyber advisories issued by the UAE authorities this year on threats ranging from fake apps to destructive malware, indicating a broader push to strengthen national cyber hygiene across both consumer and enterprise environments.

For businesses, the message is clear: securing remote work now requires more than basic connectivity. It demands hardened home-network practices, secure VPN configurations, updated systems, stronger authentication, and a more disciplined approach to protecting data outside traditional corporate environments.

Source: WAM