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New Gitex feature focuses on urgent need for ICT security protection

Global CyberLympics - World's First International Team Ethical Hacking Championships at GITEX

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - 19 September 2011: With the number of computers infected with malware in the Middle East standing at more than two million, including 800,000 in the GCC and nearly 100,000 in Dubai alone¹, cybersecurity has become an integral part of the boardroom agenda.

Recognising the ever-increasing demand for ICT security, GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK, organised by Dubai World Trade Centre and running from 9 - 13 October, is introducing Cyber Security @ GITEX. To be opened by Jeff Moss, Chief Security Officer at ICANN on the first day of GITEX and featuring Jay Bavisi, Co-Founder and President of the EC-Council on 10 October, this brand new feature will present the latest and most advanced security measures and world renowned authorities to share insights, experiences and knowledge.

"Cyber security in the modern age is not a luxury, but a crucial necessity that should form a key part of our social existence as we integrate more and more into a digital lifestyle that crosses over from the corporate world into our private lives," said Capt. Mohamed Obaid Alobaidli, IT R&D Section Manager, IT & Telecommunication Dept., Abu Dhabi Police, Tetrabyte Sponsor of the brand new Cyber Security @ GITEX feature. "For Abu Dhabi Police, cyber security is one of the key areas that we are constantly monitoring and forms an important focus in our awareness-building campaign."

The brand new CyberSecurity @ GITEX edutainment feature will offer presentations on cybercrime awareness and how to avoid falling into traps, from mobile malware, identity cloning, malware through widgetisation to credit card fraud, phishing websites, social media malware and more. Live demonstrations from Abu Dhabi Police, McAfee, aeCERT and Black Hat will give visitors practical advice on how to defend against attacks across a variety of platforms.

"The TRA and aeCERT are proud to endorse and support the latest GITEX feature, Cyber Security @ GITEX. Through our involvement, we will highlight the growing need for both corporations and individuals alike to understand the range of threats that can impact our day-to-day businesses as well as our private lives, and to assist in the prevention of falling victim to these threats by providing practical advice and demonstrations to all attendees," said H.E Mohamed Nasser Al Ghanem, Director General of TRA.

To raise awareness and highlight the sophistication and speed of ICT security risks, the first ever Middle East and India regional finals of the Global CyberLympics Championships will be held alongside the CyberSecurity @ GITEX feature. Some of the world's most skillful hackers will take part in a series of ethical hacking games of both offensive and defensive security challenges.

The championships involve ten teams of six pitted against each other for a live hacking and counter hacking contests that will be broadcast on a big screen. The game-like format will cover areas such as web applications, OS compromise, exploit hunting, and lock picking.

The Global CyberLympics is organised by the International Council of E-Commerce Consultants (EC-Council), a member-based organisation that certifies individuals in various e-commerce and information security skills, and has trained over 90,000 individuals and certified more than 40,000 security professionals.

The EC-Council hopes to meet its mission of unifying global cyber defence through discovering new talents, educating the public and creating cohesiveness between information security professionals.

"We are very proud to be partnering with GITEX to host the Global CyberLympics Middle East & India Championships," said Leonard Chin, Vice Chair of the Global CyberLympics Organizing Committee. "GITEX has a rich tradition and is the biggest IT related event in the region. In line with the brand new Cyber Security feature making its debut this year, we feel it is an excellent venue to pit some of the best ethical hackers in the region against each other."

Trixee Loh, Senior Vice President, Dubai World Trade Centre added: "Cyber security is one of the clear priorities for many businesses operating not just in this region, but around the world. The Cyber Security @ GITEX feature will help to ensure that small and medium enterprises, larger organisations and members of the public are aware of the latest quality products that are available. It is not only the world class exhibitors who will showcase the very best the industry has to offer, but some of the most experienced and respected figures in the ICT security field will be sharing their thoughts on the issues, challenges and solutions that face businesses today. The CyberLympics will certainly be an exciting addition."

Following three decades of continued modernisation, GITEX Technology Week will this year further evolve and re-invent itself to offer new features reflecting regional and global trends.

GITEX 2011, taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre from 9 - 13 October, is introducing brand new elements to reinforce its position as the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region's leading 'finger on the pulse' technology event. As one of the three largest ICT exhibitions in the world, the show connects more than 136,000 industry professionals from five continents with over 3,500 suppliers, and is seen as one of the most influential and high-profile events in the global ICT sector.

GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK runs from 9 - 13 October 2011, at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. Admission is for trade and industry professionals only. To register, or for more information, please visit www.gitex.com.

¹ Statistics fromTrend Micro Smart Protection Network

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About GITEX Technology Week 2011
Redefine the Future:

GITEX Technology Week delivers the ultimate platform for the international ICT industry to meet and conduct business. The event is a definitive gateway not just to the Middle East market but to the wider region.

GITEX Technology Week hosts thousands of key suppliers and market innovators across three core disciplines:

GITEX Business Solutions: The leading international ICT trade event for enterprise solutions and SMBs for the MENASA region.

GULFCOMMS: The largest international telecommunications trade event for mobile, fixed IP and satellite.

Consumer Technology: The MENASA region's premier international trade event for consumer technology, entertainment, IT systems, components and peripherals.

New to 2011 - GITEX Card Technology:

GITEX expands its portfolio to incorporate this rapidly emerging sector as the Middle East embraces the latest trends, challenges and related products and services in this sector.

New to 2011 - GITEX Digital Media and Marketing:

GITEX Digital Media and Marketing embraces the world of the digital era by bringing together a combination of e-commerce, social marketing and e-marketing in an innovative, multi-dimensional platform, focused on bringing digital opportunities to the forefront.

New to 2011 - CyberSecurity @ GITEX

CyberSecurity @ GITEX edutainment will offer presentations on cybercrime awareness and how to avoid falling into traps including web phishing site, mobile phones credit card scanning and cloning, and identity theft among many more.

About Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC)
Website: www.dwtc.com
As the organiser of GITEX Technology Week, Dubai World Trade Centre offers more than 32 years' experience of delivering world-class events in the Middle East, providing local, regional and international exhibitors with unmatched expertise and in-depth market knowledge.

Our team organises 18 of the largest and most successful international and regional shows in Middle East, providing an ideal platform for business development in the region. Our commitment to ongoing innovation within the exhibition industry has supported the rapid growth and development of a wide range of business-to-business and business-to-consumer shows, and delivered consistent satisfaction to exhibitors and visitors.

For more information, please contact:
Wallis Marketing Consultants
Tel: +971 (0)4390 1950
Gitex@wallis-mc.com

Kurt Parry
PR Manager
Dubai World Trade Centre
Tel: (+9714) 308 6124
Kurt.parry@dwtc.com

© Press Release 2011