Connect with us

Tech News

Middle East universities exposing students, staff and stakeholders to risk of email fraud: Proofpoint analysis reveals

Published

on

Proofpoint

Proofpoint released new research indicating that a significant number of the top universities in the Middle East are lagging behind on basic cybersecurity measures, subjecting students, staff and stakeholders to a higher risk of email fraud.

These findings are based on a Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance (DMARC) adoption analysis of the top universities based in the Middle East. DMARC is a critical email authentication protocol that helps protect domain names from being misused by cybercriminals. With three levels of protection—monitor, quarantine, and reject—DMARC ensures that only verified senders can send emails using a university’s domain. The ‘reject’ policy is the most secure, preventing any fraudulent emails from reaching the inbox.

The analysis found that while more than half (55%) of the top universities have published a Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC) record, only 13% have implemented the strictest level of protection (‘reject’), meaning 87% of universities are leaving stakeholders vulnerable to email-based impersonation attacks.

“Our research shows that a majority of Arab universities are not taking full advantage of basic email security capabilities to safeguard their communities from email fraud,” said Emile Abou Saleh, Regional Director, Middle East, Turkey, and Africa at Proofpoint. “Cybercriminals often target educational institutions because they hold vast amounts of sensitive data. Universities must adopt stronger measures, such as DMARC, to better protect their students, staff, and partners.”

Key findings from the analysis include:

  • Although over half of the universities (55%) have a basic DMARC policy in place, this is only the initial step in protecting against email fraud. This means that 45% are not taking to steps protect their communities from email fraud.
  • Only 13% of the top universities have implemented DMARC at ‘reject’ level. Therefore, a staggering 87% remain at risk of allowing fraudulent emails to be delivered to their recipients.
  • There has been a slight decrease in the level of DMARC adoption among the top ranked universities in the Middle East year-on-year. In the list of top ranked universities in 2023, 61% of the top universities had published a DMARC policy, with 16% implementing this at ‘reject’ level.

“Organizations in all sectors should deploy authentication protocols, such as DMARC, to shore up their email fraud defences. Cybercriminals pay close attention to major trends and will drive targeted attacks using social engineering techniques such as impersonation, and universities are no exception to this. Students and staff must be vigilant in checking the validity of all emails, especially when levels of uncertainty and anticipation are higher at the beginning of a new term,” continues Abou Saleh.

Email continues to be the number one threat vector in the Middle East. Proofpoint’s 2024 State of the Phish Report revealed that while successful phishing attacks have slightly declined globally, in the UAE they are on the rise (92% of surveyed organizations in the UAE experienced at least one successful attack in 2023 versus 86% the previous year. In addition, in the UAE, 85% of organizations were targeted by BEC attacks in 2023 (up from 66% in 2022).

Proofpoint recommends students and other individuals follow the below top tips to remain safe online:

  1. Use strong passwords:  Do not reuse the same password twice. Consider using a password manager to make your online experience seamless, whilst staying safe. Use multi-factor authentication for an added layer of security.
  2. Watch out for “lookalike” sites: Attackers create “lookalike” sites imitating familiar brands and institutions. These fraudulent sites may pose as a credible establishment, be infected with malware, or steal money or credentials.
  3. Dodge potential phishing and smishing attacks: Phishing emails lead to unsafe websites that gather personal data, like credentials and credit card data. Watch out for SMS phishing too —aka ‘smishing’ — or messages through social media.
  4. Don’t click on links: If receiving correspondence from a university over email, Proofpoint recommends students go directly to the university’s website by typing in the known web address into their browser.

Tech News

Delinea Brings Runtime Control for AI Agents to GISEC Global 2026

Published

on

Delinea, the identity security platform that governs what humans, machines and AI agents do once they have access, today announced its participation at GISEC Global 2026. Under the theme, “From Access to Action: Governing AI at Runtime,” the company will spotlight the growing need for organisations to govern the actions autonomous AI agents take after access has been granted.

Following its release of new runtime authorisation capabilities for AI agents this summer, Delinea will use GISEC to advance the conversation around runtime authorisation, an approach designed to enforce policy on an agent’s actions within a session, at the time those actions are executed.

As AI agents take on increasingly autonomous roles across databases, cloud environments, infrastructure and business systems, the security challenge is shifting beyond authentication. While an agent may have legitimate access to a system, it can still take an action that exceeds its intended task or creates operational risk. Delinea’s runtime authorisation capabilities enable organisations to apply policy at the point of action — allowing, blocking or escalating activity before it executes.

“AI adoption is moving the identity-security conversation beyond the moment of authentication,” said Mortada Ayad, VP Sales at Delinea. “The question for organisations is no longer simply whether an AI agent can access a critical system. It is whether they can govern what that agent does once it is inside. At GISEC, we want to put that challenge, and the need for runtime control, at the centre of the regional conversation.”

Delinea has strategically adopted a channel-led presence at this year’s show, reflecting its focus on bringing these capabilities to market through the regional partners enterprises rely on to deploy, manage and operationalise complex security programmes. Through its presence at the stands of regional distributor, Shifra, and integrator partner, Defa3, the company will deepen engagement with existing partners, recruit new partners and build the specialist capabilities needed to support secure AI adoption across the region.

The approach builds on the Delinea Partner Advantage Program, launched in July 2026. The program provides partners with clearer rules of engagement, deal protection, tiered incentives and AI-driven enablement, helping them build profitable identity-security practices, while delivering stronger outcomes for customers. It is designed to support selling partners today, with expanding roles planned for managed service providers, global systems integrators, advisory partners and technology partners.

“For a capability this consequential, technology alone is not enough,” Ayad added. “Customers need partners who understand their environment, their risk and how to translate security policy into practical control. Our focus at GISEC is to equip and grow that ecosystem, so organisations can move forward with AI, knowing that authorised access does not become unchecked action.”

Delinea’s runtime authorisation for AI agents enables organisations to govern activity across the systems agents use, including databases, SSH hosts, Kubernetes clusters and cloud consoles. Through just-in-time, task-scoped access, and real-time policy enforcement, organisations can reduce reliance on standing credentials, while maintaining a defensible record of AI-driven activity.

Continue Reading

Tech News

Tech First Gulf Strengthens its presence in Africa with the appointment of Mustapha Rafiki as General Manager – Maghreb & Francophone Africa

Published

on

Tech First Gulf (TFG), a leading value-added technology distributor across the Middle East and Africa, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mustapha Rafiki as General Manager – Maghreb & Francophone Africa. This strategic appointment marks another significant milestone in TFG’s continued regional expansion and reinforces the company’s commitment to strengthening its footprint across Africa.

With over 19 years of experience in the information technology industry, Mustapha brings extensive expertise in business development, channel management, sales leadership, and operational excellence. Throughout his career, he has successfully built and managed high-performing partner ecosystems while driving sustainable business growth across North, West, East, and Central Africa.

Before joining Tech First Gulf, Mustapha served as Head of B2B Africa at Logitech, where he led business operations across multiple African markets, developing strategic go-to-market initiatives and strengthening channel partnerships. Prior to Logitech, he held the position of Country Manager at Canon, where he played a pivotal role in expanding the company’s presence, developing strategic alliances, and accelerating growth across key enterprise and commercial segments.

As TFG continues to expand its operations throughout Africa, Mustapha’s appointment reflects the company’s vision of investing in experienced leadership to unlock new opportunities, deepen vendor and partner relationships, and deliver greater value to customers across the markets.

Under his leadership, TFG aims to accelerate regional growth by strengthening its distribution network, expanding strategic technology alliances, enabling channel partners, and introducing innovative solutions that address the evolving needs of enterprises and public sector organizations across the region. His deep understanding of African markets, combined with his proven leadership, will play a vital role in driving TFG’s next phase of growth.

“We are pleased to welcome Mustapha to Tech First Gulf as we continue our expansion across the region. The markets under his leadership offer tremendous opportunities for growth and innovation, and we remain committed to investing in their future through strong leadership and long-term partnerships. Mustapha’s proven track record, strategic vision, and extensive regional expertise make him the ideal leader to accelerate our growth, strengthen our market presence, and deliver lasting value to our partners and customers,” said Mr. Akashdeep (Sky), Chief Strategy Officer, Tech First Gulf

Commenting on his appointment, Mustapha Rafiki said:

“I am excited to join Tech First Gulf at such an important stage of its growth journey. TFG has built a strong reputation for delivering innovative technology solutions and empowering its partner ecosystem. I look forward to working closely with our vendors, partners, and customers to accelerate growth, expand our market presence, and create lasting value across the region.”

As Tech First Gulf continues its regional expansion strategy, the company remains focused on empowering businesses through world-class technology solutions, strengthening strategic partnerships, and building a future-ready digital ecosystem across India, Middle East and Africa.

Continue Reading

Tech News

Turnitin Expands AI Writing Detection to Support Arabic Language Submissions

Published

on


Turnitin recently announced the launch of its AI writing detection capabilities for Arabic language submissions, marking a significant step in supporting educators and students worldwide. This expansion helps equip Arabic-speaking educators with the tools necessary to safeguard academic integrity and nurture original thinking in the classroom.

As AI adoption among students becomes nearly universal, educators require solutions that promote transparency, rather than surveillance. Turnitin goes beyond simply verifying authorship, its tools support the broader learning journey, and help equip students with the critical skills demanded by today’s workforce.

“By providing Arabic-speaking educators with tools that uphold learning integrity, we ensure that they have solutions designed to support original thought and critical thinking, rather than having LLMs replace it,” said James Thorley, Vice President of APAC and EMEA at Turnitin. “While there is no substitute for knowing a student’s writing style, educational background, and institutional AI policies, this tool gives educators insights into areas where AI may have been used. Ultimately, it opens the door to meaningful, informed conversations about the responsible use of AI.”

AI writing detection for Arabic is now available through Turnitin Originality and as an add-on for iThenticate customers. Like the English, Spanish, and Japanese versions, the feature provides educators with an overall percentage of likely AI-generated content, alongside:

Detection capabilities for the leading large language models, reporting designed with educators in mind and seamless integration into existing customer workflows.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2023 | The Integrator