Caution with High-Res Photos on Social Media
Why You Should Be Cautious with High Resolution Photos on Social Media - The Challenges of Digital Security in UAE
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of the most advanced countries in the digital space, where the use of online platforms is extremely widespread. The average resident has multiple social media accounts, whether it's Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, or YouTube. However, with this convenience come new challenges, especially in terms of digital security. Experts are increasingly warning that sharing high-resolution photos can carry serious risks, including identity theft, SIM swapping scams, and man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks.
Why can a high-resolution image be dangerous?
High-resolution images shared on social media do not just capture memories but also leak information that criminals can exploit. For example, if someone shares two high-resolution photos, fraudsters can even identify fingerprints and create digital identities based on them. They can then open bank accounts, activate e-SIM cards, or even create cryptocurrency accounts used for money laundering or financing terrorism.
In the UAE, social media usage is widespread, and residents often share personal information, photos, and videos without being aware of the potential consequences. According to experts, criminals particularly target Friday evenings as security systems often operate at reduced capacity. This provides an opportunity for fraudsters to carry out their attacks in a less detectable manner.
SIM swapping and MITM attacks: more tangible dangers
Although high-resolution photos can be used for facial recognition or creating deepfakes, experts say these are not the biggest security risks. More direct and frequent dangers are SIM swapping scams and man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks.
In a SIM swapping scam, criminals acquire someone's phone number by tricking the service provider into linking the number to another SIM card. The fraudsters can then access the victim's bank accounts, social media accounts, or even two-factor authentication codes. In an MITM attack, criminals insert themselves into communications to listen in or falsify messages.
Experts stress that while facial recognition and deepfake technologies are advancing, they are not yet as widespread in financial fraud. By contrast, voice cloning and deepfakes already pose a serious threat, and there are examples of people losing significant amounts of money due to these methods.
Friday attacks: criminals' strategy
Criminals do not randomly choose Friday evenings for attacks. At this time, security systems often operate at reduced capacity, and fraudsters can more easily hide in the high traffic. For example, if a telecommunications company is running a campaign, criminals take advantage by bombarding victims with fake messages. They also employ geofencing technology, meaning that the message content changes depending on where the victim is located. This makes it harder for technology providers to detect fraud.
How can we protect ourselves?
Digital security requires several steps. According to Andreas Hassellöf, CEO of Ombori, adopting multi-factor authentication is essential as it adds an additional layer of security. Additionally, AI-based technologies can help detect manipulated images, while blockchain-based identity management can offer tamper-proof protection.
While concerns about misuse of biometric data are understandable, experts say we need to focus on the more real and direct dangers. Phishing, SIM swapping scams, and MITM attacks are far more common and dangerous in today's digital world.
Summary
In the UAE, social media usage is routine, but with it come new challenges. Sharing high-resolution photos not only captures memories but also carries risks. In the interest of digital security, it is important to handle personal data consciously and always be aware of what information we share online. The use of multi-factor authentication and AI-based technologies can be a significant step towards safe navigation in the digital world. Remember: our digital footprint lasts forever and needs to be handled with caution.
