Cybersecurity: How safe is your email from hackers?

Statistics compiled in 2020 reveal that emails are responsible for propagating 95% of malware. A new cyberattack is launched every 40 seconds and ransomware attacks are increasing at the rate of 400% on year. — Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash

DUBAI: Having someone hack into your email account can mean more than the slight inconvenience of changing your password, or the embarrassment of someone knowing how many times you made an impulse purchase during the shopping season.

A seasoned hacker will be able to get access to an absolute treasure trove of personal, financial, and health information. Apart from being used to blackmail the victim, such information may be of value to third parties and can be sold and used for marketing, fraud or identity theft, says Ahmed Ghanem, director of Digital Transformation at Sahab Smart Solutions.