UAE Cybersecurity Council warns of online scams amid distance education.
Abu Dhabi: The head of the UAE Cyber Security Council has called for greater digital discipline among students, families, and schools during the current period of distance learning, emphasizing that the situation requires vigilance rather than alarm.
Dr Mohammed Al Kuwaiti noted that remote learning is a precautionary measure to ensure the continuity of education, adding that closer cooperation between schools, families, and students, along with reliance on official information sources, is essential.
“The situation does not call for concern, but for greater digital awareness and discipline,” he said, urging students to use only approved educational platforms, avoid suspicious links or applications, regularly update passwords, and enable two-factor authentication wherever possible.
According to Emarat Al Youm, Al Kuwaiti also warned of potential cyber risks facing educational institutions, including phishing attempts via fake messages impersonating schools, account breaches caused by weak passwords, and the use of unauthorised platforms outside official systems.
Families were also cautioned about fraudulent messages claiming to be from schools or universities, which may request personal data or direct users to fake platforms, as well as the risks associated with downloading malicious applications.
Students were warned about misleading links, fake online classrooms, contact with strangers, cyberbullying, and the dangers of sharing personal data or academic materials without proper awareness.
The Cyber Security Council advised schools to use clearly defined official platforms, share links only through approved channels, review inactive accounts and access permissions, and report any suspicious activity promptly.
Students were further urged not to share passwords, to activate cameras or microphones only within official learning environments, and to immediately report any suspicious links or inappropriate behaviour.
Al Kuwaiti also warned against sharing misleading or unrelated content online, including material connected to ongoing conflicts, stressing that cyber threats may include disinformation campaigns aimed at influencing young people or undermining national values.
He urged students to uphold social values, respect privacy, and practice responsible digital behaviour in line with the UAE’s societal principles.
