WannaCry? Don’t; Gisec to fill you in
dubai — The WannaCry ransomware attack, which has now affected more than 200,000 computers in over 150 countries since originally infecting users’ files on May 12, will be a hot topic when the fourth Gulf Information Security Exhibition and Conference (Gisec) opens its doors today at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
The attack targeted public and private sectors across the globe, with hospitals in the UK; Germany’s rail network and Deutsche Bank; Spanish telecommunications operator, Telefonica; US logistics giant FedEx; and Russia’s interior ministry among those affected. Such a widespread and rapid attack is a timely reminder of the importance of cyber-security on the eve of the Gisec, which will run concurrently with the Internet of Things Expo (ioTx) from May 21-23.
The Gisec, the Middle East’s largest and most important cybersecurity event, will gather more than 6,000 global experts and business leaders to discuss the latest
Expertise and information exchange are crucial elements in helping to stem this rising tide of cyber-threats Faisal Al Bannai, Founder and CEO of DarkMatter
issues and threats, with industry decision makers due to share best practices on how to tackle the ever-increasing risks of cyberattacks, including WannaCry.
Last week’s global attack will be the focus of several sessions during the three-day conference including a dedicated seminar on day three of the Gisec presented by worldrenowned experts on malware.
“The events of last week have once again emphasised how we cannot underestimate and ignore cyber*attacks and how much we all need to do to safeguard systems and data. The Gisec will be the place to be to hear from leading industry experts, listen to their thoughts and insights on such widespread attacks, hear why and how they happen, and discover what individuals and corporations in this region and across the world can do to stop them,” said Tixie LohMirmand, senior vice-president, Exhibitions and Events Management, DWTC.
“Organisations across the globe have to manage risks related to cyberse-curity threats on a daily basis,” said Natalya Kaspersky, president of InfoWatch Group. “Today, the Middle Eastern market sees an ever-increasing number of cyberthreats with greater severity in both public and private sectors.”
Faisal Al Bannai, founder and CEO of DarkMatter, said the recent wave of cyber-attacks that have been reported widely in the media over the past couple of weeks highlights the vulnerability digital environments continue to suffer from.
“Expertise and information exchange are crucial elements in helping to stem this rising tide of threats, and we use our participation at events such as the Gisec to stress the importance of developing cyber-resilience, and the steps required to achieve it.”
— business@khaleejtimes.com