Middle East

Cybersecurity threats targeting mobile devices and critical infrastructure have significantly increased, with Zscaler's research revealing that 239 malicious Android applications on the Google Play Store have been downloaded 42 million times. The energy sector has experienced a 387% rise in cyberattacks compared to the previous year. Malicious applications often disguise themselves as legitimate tools, exploiting user trust, especially in hybrid and remote work environments. There has been a 67% year-over-year increase in Android malware transactions, with spyware and banking malware posing significant risks. The manufacturing and transportation sectors accounted for 20.2% of all observed IoT malware attacks, with a shift in focus from manufacturing to include transportation. Approximately 40% of blocked transactions were linked to the Mirai malware family, while Mozi has become the second most prevalent. Geographically, India is the top target for mobile attacks (26%), followed by the United States (15%) and Canada (14%). The U.S. also leads in IoT malware incidents at 54%. New threats include Android Void malware, affecting 1.6 million Android TV boxes, and Xnotice, a Remote Access Trojan targeting job seekers in the oil and gas industry. Adware now represents 69% of mobile threats, surpassing the Joker malware family.