Saudi Arabia targeted by cyber-attack, says NCSC

Saudi Arabia’s National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) on Monday said it had detected a cyber-attack that sought to steal data from computers using email phishing techniques.

The hackers also used so-called “watering hole” attacks, which seek to lure users into clicking on infected web links to seize control of their machines, NCSC said on its official Twitter account.

The attacks appeared to be by an Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) group and involved the use of Powershell malware, the agency added.

No details were provided on the source of the attack or which organizations were targeted.

Saudi Arabia this month established a new authority for cyber security and appointed the Kingdom’s minister of state Musaed al-Aiban its chairman, according to a royal decree.

The Kingdom was hit by several cyber-attacks early this year, with multiple agencies targeted by hackers in January.

Saudi government entities were also targeted by hackers in November last year, with an attack disrupting work for several days at the General Authority of Civil Aviation.

Last month, the General Entertainment Authority said that its website has been hit by cyber-attacks from outside the Kingdom.