Retail Sector Emerges as Prime Cyberattack Target Across Middle East and Africa
Cybersecurity researchers document surprising targeting patterns across Middle Eastern and African retail sectors. Small to medium retailers face particularly intense pressure from financially motivated hackers seeking quick profits through stolen payment data and ransomware schemes.
Retail Industry Under Sustained Cyber Assault
Despite ongoing geopolitical conflicts and advanced threats to critical infrastructure, the retail sector has emerged as one of the most frequently targeted industries across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, according to recent threat intelligence reports. Cybersecurity firm SOCRadar’s annual “MEA Threat Landscape Report” indicates that retailers face attack volumes comparable to or exceeding those targeting telecommunications and banking sectors, presenting a counterintuitive finding in a region typically associated with politically motivated cyber operations.