Posting HD Photos Could Put You in Danger—Here’s Why

UAE residents have been cautioned about the dangers of sharing high-quality photos on social media, as cybercriminals can exploit them for identity theft, SIM swapping, and financial fraud. Experts warn that scammers can extract fingerprints from high-resolution images to create digital identities, which can then be used for fraudulent activities such as opening bank accounts or generating e-SIMs.

"If you have two high-resolution images online, scammers can analyze fingerprints and create fake digital identities," said Ashraf Koheil, regional sales director at Meta, Group-IB.

Cybercriminals Target Social Media Users

With social media usage being widespread in the UAE, where most residents have multiple accounts across platforms like Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, and YouTube, criminals find an easy pool of targets. Experts say that scammers are increasingly launching attacks on Friday nights when cybersecurity operations are weaker.

"They manipulate digital identities, alter birth dates, and create crypto accounts for money laundering and even terror financing," Koheil added. He also pointed out that scammers often target students from wealthy backgrounds.

SIM Swapping and MITM Attacks Are Bigger Threats

While facial recognition and deepfake scams are a concern, cybersecurity experts highlight that the bigger danger lies in data exposure leading to phishing, SIM swapping, and man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks.

"Sharing personal details like emails, phone numbers, and sensitive data online is far riskier than high-resolution images alone," said Andreas Hassellöf, CEO of Ombori. He emphasized that SIM swapping and phishing scams are currently more prevalent and dangerous.

In SIM swap scams, criminals hijack phone numbers by deceiving telecom providers into linking the victim’s number to a new SIM card. This grants them access to sensitive information, including banking details. MITM attacks, on the other hand, allow hackers to intercept and manipulate online communications, often leading to financial fraud.

"Voice cloning and deepfakes are growing concerns, but right now, direct scams involving SIM swaps and phishing are the most immediate threats," Hassellöf added.

Cybercriminals Strike on Fridays

Hackers time their attacks strategically, often launching phishing scams on Friday nights when cybersecurity teams are less active.

"Attackers disguise their activities within high-traffic campaigns, like a back-to-school promotion by a telecom firm. They also use geofencing, targeting users differently based on their location, making detection harder for security vendors," Koheil explained.

With these tactics, cybercriminals extend the time it takes for security teams to detect and stop attacks, sometimes stretching a one-hour response into four hours.

How to Stay Safe

To protect against these digital threats, experts recommend using multi-factor authentication, AI-driven technology to detect fraudulent images, and blockchain-based identity management systems.

"While concerns about biometric misuse are valid, the priority should be tackling the real and immediate security threats," Hassellöf said.

Cybersecurity experts stress that staying cautious online, limiting personal data exposure, and enabling strong security measures are key to preventing identity theft and fraud.