Who is watching you post data online?

Worryingly, 48 per cent of Internet users in the UAE make their information public.

It goes without saying that users should be very careful about what type of information they post online for the world to see. Despite the many dangers associated with such an act, a majority of UAE residents continue to share their personal information online.

The latest research from Kaspersky Lab shows that 83 per cent of respondents in the UAE share photos and videos of their children, and 56 per cent share private and sensitive videos and photos of others. Worryingly, 48 per cent of Internet users in the UAE make their information public, but once data has gone into the public domain, it can travel far beyond the control of its owners.

Kaspersky Lab's 'My Precious Data: Stranger Danger' report found that one in five people admit that they share sensitive data with people they don't know well, and with strangers, limiting their ability to control how their sensitive information will be used. Thus, people are exposing themselves to identity theft or financial attack by sharing financial and payment details, scans of their passports, driving licences and other personal documents, or even passwords.

"Over-sharing personal data with people and companies is a really dangerous habit to get into," says Andrei Mochola, head of consumer business at Kaspersky Lab. "In today's online world, sharing information with others has never been easier and, in many ways, that's what the Internet was created for. But by disclosing important and sensitive information with other people at the push of a button, you relinquish control over it, because you can't be sure where that data is going, and how it will be used."

Norton's Cyber Security Insights Report released by Symantec revealed that 2.53 million consumers in the UAE have been victims of online crime in the past year as hackers take advantage of consumer complacency. The report shows that despite spending more than Dh5.2 billion and an average of 31.5 hours per victim dealing with the consequences, UAE consumers affected by cybercrime in the past year are the most likely to continue engaging in risky online behaviour, leaving themselves vulnerable to further attacks.

"Our findings show that people are growing increasingly aware of the need to protect their personal information online, but aren't motivated to take adequate precautions to stay safe," said Tamim Taufiq, head of Norton Middle East. "While consumers remain complacent, hackers are refining their skills and adapting their scams to further take advantage of people, making the need for consumers to take some action increasingly important."

Like Kaspersky, Norton's data found that younger users, especially millennials in the UAE, are the most commonly affected by online crime, with 53 per cent having experienced it within the past year. Around 52 per cent of men, and 50 per cent of frequent travellers were also likely to report higher incidents of cybercrime.

"While it's completely unrealistic to expect Internet users to stop sharing photos, personal details and other information with each other, we do urge people to think twice before they share important information publicly online. We also encourage all Internet users to put safety measures in place to protect their data, and their privacy, should their devices or data fall into the wrong hands," Mochola cautioned.

- rohma@khaleejtimes.com