Leading retailers in the Middle East are enhancing their email security measures to better protect customers from the rising threat of email fraud, according to research by cybersecurity firm Proofpoint. The findings, published ahead of the holiday and shopping season, show that retailers are taking significant steps to safeguard consumer data.
The analysis, based on the adoption of Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC), reveals that 90% of top Middle East retailers have now published a DMARC record. Furthermore, 40% of the top 20 retailers have implemented the strictest DMARC policy—’reject’—which blocks fraudulent emails from reaching consumers’ inboxes. This marks a slight improvement from last year, when only 30% of retailers had adopted the ‘reject’ policy.
DMARC is an email authentication protocol designed to protect domain names from being misused by cybercriminals. It verifies the sender’s identity before allowing the message to be delivered. The protocol offers three levels of protection: monitoring, quarantine, and rejection, with rejection being the most effective in preventing suspicious messages.
The Middle East retail market is projected to grow by 4.21% between 2024 and 2032, driven by a surge in population and an increasing preference for online shopping. However, the rise in e-commerce has led to a surge in cybercriminal activity, with attackers using new tactics to target consumers.
Emile Abou Saleh, Regional Director for the Middle East & Africa at Proofpoint, emphasized the importance of email security, stating, “Middle East retailers understand the risks millions of consumers face every day when shopping online. Phishing, ransomware, and business email compromise remain top attack vectors. Deploying authentication protocols like DMARC is crucial to improving the security posture of the retail sector.”
Email continues to be the number one attack vector for cybercriminals, with phishing emails often leading consumers to unsafe websites that steal personal data, such as login credentials and credit card details. Proofpoint recommends consumers always visit the source website directly, especially when presented with special offers, and to enter discount codes at the checkout to verify their legitimacy. For added protection, the company also advises using a password manager and enabling multi-factor authentication for a safer online shopping experience.
