UAE residents can insure devices against cyberattacks and losses

Up to Dh44,000 of annual coverage is available, which includes protection against theft of funds, cyberbullying, and data restoration.

In the UAE, consumers can now protect themselves against cybercrimes such as cyberattacks, extortion theft, and online scams, thereby ensuring safer browsing. Through its EasyInsurance scheme, the UAE's largest telecom operator, etisalat by e&, provides insurance coverage to UAE residents' phones, laptops, and tablets against various types of cyber risks. The telecom company's website states that with Easy Insurance, customers can insure their household devices and raise claims. Personal cyber insurance from etisalat covers online banking and credit card fraud, loss of internet purchases, cyber extortion or identity theft, and direct economic losses.

Etisalat already offers insurance for travel, health, automobile, and pets as the company seeks to diversify its portfolio to expand its revenue base. UAE residents can choose from four different insurance packages with annual coverage of up to $12,000 (Dh 44,000), which includes coverage for theft of funds, data restoration, or cyberbullying. Its Platinum Insurance Plan, for example, costs $100 and covers theft of funds, identity theft, data restoration/malware decontamination, cyberbullying, cyberstalking, and loss of reputation, and online shopping, covering up to $10,000 in damages.

According to cybersecurity leader SonicWall, the UAE recorded a 14% decrease in total malware attacks in 2022. Still, the number of attacks in 2022 (71 million) was higher than the combined total in 2019 and 2020 (37.3 million and 19 million, respectively). Cybercrimes such as bullying, blackmailing, extortion, hacking, and ransomware have increased manifold during the digital transformation, officials say. Dr. Mohammed Hamad Al Kuwaiti, the head of cybersecurity in the government of UAE, has previously cautioned that UAE residents who use the same password as their office computer, mobile phone, or home WiFi are more vulnerable to cyberattacks. Therefore, they should have separate passwords for each device and network to improve safety.

In March, Etisalat teamed up with Cyberint to enhance its cybersecurity infrastructure with real-time intelligence and monitoring solutions.