The UAE Cybersecurity Council has warned users against complacency in protecting their digital footprints, urging stronger cybersecurity awareness and safe online practices to reduce exposure to cyberattacks and privacy breaches amid increasing global threats.
The Cybersecurity Council said that a user’s digital footprint, created through browsing activity, social media use, logins, posts, images and comments, forms a traceable digital record that can be exploited by malicious actors if not properly managed.
The Council said more than 1.4 billion accounts are compromised globally every month, underscoring the scale of cyber risks linked to personal data exposure. It added that data collected across devices and applications can reveal sensitive information about identity, behavior and interests, making users vulnerable to hacking and misuse.
The UAE Cybersecurity Council explained that digital footprints are divided into two categories: passive footprints, collected without user awareness through online tracking, and active footprints, created voluntarily through user-generated content such as photos, videos and comments.
The Cybersecurity Council warned that risks extend beyond privacy violations to include account breaches, identity theft, phishing attacks, unauthorized access to personal data and the misuse of stolen information for cybercrime.
It also cautioned that untrusted or unofficial applications may illegally collect personal data, including accessing microphones, cameras or call records without user consent.
The Council urged users to strengthen digital awareness by avoiding unknown friend requests, reviewing follower lists regularly, exercising caution when sharing location data or personal information, and adopting responsible online behavior.
It further advised downloading applications only from official app stores, carefully reviewing permission settings before granting access, and enabling two-factor authentication across email, social media and online banking accounts.
The Cybersecurity Council stressed that digital security begins with user awareness and responsibility, noting that protecting privacy requires consistent safe practices alongside technical safeguards.
The UAE continues efforts to build a secure and trusted cyberspace that protects users from evolving cyber threats. These efforts form part of a national strategy to strengthen cybersecurity, enhance digital awareness, and safeguard privacy and data security amid rapid digital transformation.
