Kuwait Sounds Alarm: WhatsApp Hacking Surge Targets Residents—Here’s How to Protect Yourself
Cybercriminals are swarming Kuwait’s digital streets—and WhatsApp is their latest hunting ground. The government just dropped a urgent warning: protect your chats or pay the price.
The Attack Vector: Social Engineering 2.0
No fancy zero-days here. Hackers are exploiting trust—posing as friends, family, even government agencies. One click on that “urgent” link and your account becomes their playground.
Finance Jab:
Meanwhile, your bank still uses SMS 2FA. Priorities, right?
Defensive Moves—Before You’re a Statistic
- Enable two-step verification *today*
- Scrub ‘last seen’ timestamps
- Assume every “free sticker pack” is malware in a trench coat
Kuwait’s cyber cops are playing whack-a-mole, but this is a user-awareness war. Lose focus, lose your data—or worse, your life savings. (Yes, crypto folks, even your ‘not your keys’ mantra won’t save you from a SIM swap.)
Kuwait issues warning over hacking spree
The center also urged the public to report all suspicious messages or calls to the relevant authorities. In addition, they are asked to ignore strange communications and refrain from sharing verification codes of passwords under any circumstances. The National Cybersecurity Center mentioned that it is closely monitoring developments in Kuwait and will provide further updates as new information becomes available.
This information comes at a time when hackers are hacking devices to steal information and digital assets. The National Cybersecurity Center was created in 2022 and was tasked with overseeing the cybersecurity framework and implementing the national strategy. Kuwait aims at securing and protecting information networks, communication systems, and the electronic exchange of information.
Ministry of Interior announces crackdown on criminals
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior announced on Saturday that the General Department for Drug Control, in a collaborative effort with the General Administration of Customs and the Fire Force, successfully intercepted over 100 kilograms of hashish and marijuana being smuggled into the country. The ministry mentioned that the operation is part of the ongoing efforts of the Criminal Security Sector to tackle drug trafficking and prevent the endangerment of society.
The ministry also explained that, based on the careful investigation carried out by the authorities, a citizen intended to travel to a neighboring country via Shuwaikh Port in his personal vehicle to transport narcotics, concealed using sophisticated methods. Based on this intelligence, a specialized team was deployed to look into the information, and after confirming, the customs led the monitoring and seizure of the vehicle upon its return.
The joint operation resulted in the seizure of more than 100 kilograms of hashish and marijuana, concealed in different compartments in the vehicle. The Ministry mentioned that the suspect has been transferred to the Narcotics Prosecution Office, where he is awaiting legal action. It emphasized that the joint operation demonstrates the efficiency and readiness of security services in safeguarding the country from drugs and the criminals moving them.
In a separate operation, the Ministry also said it dismantled a ring that sold and carried out illegal medical operations without a license. Authorities claim that they uncovered a network distributing government-issued medications for their profit. The police arrested four Asian nationals in connection with the illegal clinic, one that practised medicine without a license, and three others who received treatments there.
In addition, three Asian nationals were apprehended in connection with distributing government-issued medications to clinics outside legal channels. Investigations uncovered a theft at a government hospital by one of the gang members, who then supplied the stolen medicine to the suspects. The police were able to round up about eight suspects involved in the criminal enterprise. The Ministry confirmed that all necessary measures will be taken against the criminals, and the seized medications will be secured.
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