Hackers from around the world gathered in Dubai this week in the hopes of uncovering a hole in a satellite, drone, or driverless car and earning a cash prize at the GISEC 2022 cybersecurity conference.

Hackers from around the world gathered in Dubai this week in the hopes of uncovering a hole in a satellite, drone, or driverless car and earning a cash prize at the GISEC 2022 cybersecurity conference. Their work is done in front of a clock in a dimly lit rear room where they spend their time looking for flaws that could be used against attendees.

According to a report by WIRED, GISEC organizers claim that the event, which concluded on Wednesday, is the largest live bug bounty event in the region ever held. Ethical hackers are a "missing variable" in the UAE's security ecosystem, according to UAE cyber director Dr. Mohamed Al-Kuwaiti, who dubbed them a "missing link." By "thinking outside the box," Al-Kuwaiti explains. If we don't get involved with this community, we won't have a chance to improve many of the platforms we now have.

Businesses such as Google and Meta have long depended on bug bounty programs to strengthen their security by rewarding hackers thousands of dollars for the most serious holes they uncover. In August of last year, the United Arab Emirates began a two-month trial of the program. The UAE's Cybersecurity Council was persuaded by security researchers to launch a National Bug Bounty Program in October after successfully probing Etisalat's public-facing websites for holes. This year's GISEC 2022 hackathon is one of the first projects of the new program.

However, regardless of the fact that the bug bounty program has just recently been introduced in the United Arab Emirates, its timing couldn't be better. As a result of the Covid-19 outbreak, Al-Kuwaiti warned that the country was also at risk of a 'cyber pandemic.' More than a year later, Al-Kuwaiti says the UAE has worked to build zero-trust protocols and other ways to defend its digital networks—but the security danger still hasn't gone away. He says, emphasizing that cyberattacks are inevitable as we expand our digital footprints. "The epidemic is really something that is here to stay."

In order to safeguard its extensive network infrastructure, the UAE has looked beyond bug reward programs with this approach. He says his department has collaborated with some of the GISEC businesses to construct Security Operation Centers (SOCs) to assist both commercial and public sectors in patching vulnerabilities and combatting digital threats. Al-Kuwaiti says According to him, the centers are meant to close any security gaps in the various sectors, helping organizations to spot and avoid any dangers before they happen.

GISEC, the world's largest cybersecurity trade show, is taking place this week in Dubai, and the UAE's cybersecurity department may look at new avenues of communication. However, as the world becomes more interconnected and firms develop new, immersive platforms linked to the metaverse, the chances of hacking someone grows bigger.

MK Palmore, a Google executive and former FBI Special Agent specializing in cybersecurity investigations observed that the rising internet of things provides cyber thieves with ideal chances. In his estimation, the number of internet-connected devices would reach 42 billion by 2025. Our reliance on digital services to keep society and business running has become the top challenge for companies because of the infrastructural and security risks this entails.