Over 400,000 cyberattacks in 2020

As many as 417,021 cyberattacks were registered in 2020 in Oman compared to 483,794 in 2019, according to the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology.

A report issued by the ministry stated, ‘There were 1,461 incidents related to cyber attacks registered in 2020 by government institutions, vital sectors and also individuals, which were dealt with successfully. In 2019, there were 1,779 incidents in which cybersecurity was compromised.’

The number of notifications and warnings of security threat was 107 in 2020, compared to 109 in 2019. The Digital Evidence Laboratory dealt with 128 cases in 2020, compared to 162 in 2019. Digital analysis was performed on 671 devices, including desktop computers, laptops, phones and external hard drives, in 2020, compared to 813 devices in 2019.

The report confirmed that 94 per cent of Omani households have Internet, 95 per cent have smart phones, and 96 per cent have computers. The report also indicated an increase in Internet use in 2020 when 95 per cent individuals aged 18 and older used it, against 92 per cent in 2019.

The report indicated that 92 per cent individuals aged 18 and older used WhatsApp in 2020, compared to 89 per cent in 2019, followed by YouTube - 81 per cent in 2020 against 70 per cent in 2019. Fifty-six per cent used Facebook in 2020, compared to 49 per cent in 2019; 47 per cent for imo in 2020, 52 per cent in 2019; 44 per cent for Instagram in 2020, 39 per cent in 2019; and 25 per cent for Twitter in 2020, 23 per cent in 2019.