Masked Actors BelArabi
Group-IB has announced the launch of Masked Actors BelArabi, marking its first Arabic-language podcast series dedicated to cyber threat intelligence and digital crime investigations across the region.
The series delivers original analysis created specifically for Arabic-speaking security professionals, decision-makers, and technical teams rather than relying on translated material. Consequently, it aims to explain who conducts cyberattacks, why adversaries target regional infrastructure, and how organizations can proactively identify digital risks before incidents escalate.
Focus on Middle East Cyber Threats
According to data from Group-IB’s High-Tech Crime Trends 2026 report, phishing activity across the region heavily targeted internet services at 52.49% and financial institutions at 28.50%. To address these expanding attack vectors, the series examines state-linked operations, financial cybercrime, and hacktivism to help regional security teams prepare actionable and effective defenses.
By breaking down complex adversarial tactics into accessible intelligence, the initiative seeks to bridge the gap between technical threat telemetry and practical defense strategies tailored to the Middle East’s threat landscape.
First Episode Examines MuddyWater
The debut episode features Group-IB Cyber Investigation Specialist Mohammad Younis in discussion with Cyber Intelligence Analyst Mansour Alhmoud. Specifically, the discussion focuses on MuddyWater, an active state-linked threat group that Group-IB has continuously tracked since 2017.
“Understanding why an attack happens is as important as understanding how. When we understand an adversary’s motivations, behavior, and infrastructure, we have more context to recognize emerging activity earlier.”
Mansour Alhmoud, Cyber Intelligence Analyst at Group-IB
The investigation reviews recent campaigns affecting over 100 organizations across the Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa, including Operation Olalampo. Furthermore, researchers noted that Operation Olalampo introduced four new malware families and displayed clear indicators of AI-assisted development.
Regional Operations of Masked Actors BelArabi
Through Masked Actors BelArabi, Group-IB combines global threat tracking with local intelligence gathered directly across its Digital Crime Resistance Centers in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. This operational presence allows investigators to capture firsthand observations of threat activity unfolding within regional networks.
“With Masked Actors: BelArabi, we wanted to start with our region’s own realities and make the intelligence behind them accessible in Arabic. It is not simply about explaining how an attack works.”
Mohammad Gamal, Cyber Investigation Specialist at Group-IB
Broadcast Details and Availability
The release precedes Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October to support digital risk education across enterprise and public sector audiences. Listeners can access Masked Actors BelArabi on the official Group-IB website, YouTube, Spotify, and other major audio streaming platforms.
