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Netskope Predicts Future Middle East Cybersecurity Trends
Experts from Netskope contemplate what’s on the horizon for phishing, ransomware, and other security threats as we approach 2023.
Netskope, a global Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) leader, has just revealed the results of its annual investigation into the state of cybersecurity in the Middle East as 2022 comes to an end.
In a region that’s digitizing at a rapid rate, Netskope anticipates several new trends in cyber attacker behavior, as well as a rise in software supply chain attacks and various other cloud vulnerabilities.
“Similar to how we have done this in years past, we have sourced these predictions from across our team of internal experts; our global and regional CIOs, CISOs, CTOs, and the specialists in our Threat Labs. Some of these predictions touch on topics that you may have seen discussed this year, considering how they will evolve, while others feature technologies and dynamics that may be completely new on the radar of Middle Eastern organizations for 2023,” says Jonathan Mepsted, VP for Netskope, Middle East and Africa.
So, what kinds of cyber threats do we expect to see intensifying in 2023? For starters, ransomware and extortion-style scams will be more prolific than ever. In addition, confidential and highly sensitive data will become vulnerable to sophisticated encryption attacks from professional extortion groups such as LAPSUS$ and RansomHouse.
Also Read: How To Find The Best Remote Work Opportunities In The Middle East
As well as a rise in well-known online hacks and scams, Netskope believes that software supply chain attacks will also intensify — especially as we become more accepting of the concept of the “industrial metaverse”. Supply chain automation and optimization are on the rise, but bring a set of unique challenges for security experts.
This year, to be better prepared for emerging trends and threat models, Netskope’s NewEdge infrastructure added five new data centers in the Middle East region, supporting businesses across a wide range of sectors, including finance, telecom, and energy.
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Samsung Smart Glasses Teased For January, Software Reveal Imminent
According to Korean sources, the new wearable will launch alongside the Galaxy S25, with the accompanying software platform unveiled this December.
Samsung appears poised to introduce its highly anticipated smart glasses in January 2025, alongside the launch of the Galaxy S25. According to sources in Korea, the company will first reveal the accompanying software platform later this month.
As per a report from Yonhap News, Samsung’s unveiling strategy for the smart glasses echoes its approach with the Galaxy Ring earlier this year. The January showcase won’t constitute a full product launch but will likely feature teaser visuals at the Galaxy S25 event. A more detailed rollout could follow in subsequent months.
Just in: Samsung is set to unveil a prototype of its augmented reality (AR) glasses, currently in development, during the Galaxy S25 Unpacked event early next year, likely in the form of videos or images.
Additionally, prior to revealing the prototype, Samsung plans to introduce…
— Jukanlosreve (@Jukanlosreve) December 3, 2024
The Galaxy Ring, for example, debuted in January via a short presentation during Samsung’s Unpacked event. The full product unveiling came later at MWC in February, and the final release followed in July. Samsung seems to be adopting a similar phased approach with its smart glasses, which are expected to hit the market in the third quarter of 2025.
A Collaborative Software Effort
Samsung’s partnership with Google has played a key role in developing the smart glasses’ software. This collaboration was first announced in February 2023, with the device set to run on an Android-based platform. In July, the companies reiterated their plans to deliver an extended reality (XR) platform by the end of the year. The software specifics for the XR device are expected to be unveiled before the end of December.
Reports suggest that the smart glasses will resemble Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in functionality. They won’t include a display but will weigh approximately 50 grams, emphasizing a lightweight, user-friendly design.
Feature Set And Compatibility
The glasses are rumored to integrate Google’s Gemini technology, alongside features like gesture recognition and potential payment capabilities. Samsung aims to create a seamless user experience by integrating the glasses with its broader Galaxy ecosystem, starting with the Galaxy S25, slated for release on January 22.