It happens to everyone eventually — you click a link in an email without thinking, and immediately a sinking feeling sets in as you realise it might be malicious. Whether it was a phishing email mimicking an Emirates NBD security alert, a fake MOHRE notification, or a suspicious link shared on WhatsApp, the first few minutes after clicking can be critical in determining how serious the consequences are. The good news is that clicking a link does not necessarily mean your computer is compromised — your response speed matters enormously.
This guide provides clear, immediate steps for UAE employees to follow when they suspect they have clicked a malicious link, and explains how to minimize the potential damage.
Step 1 — Stay calm and do not enter any information: If a page loaded after clicking the link, close the browser tab immediately. Do not enter any usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, or any personal information on the page that loaded. If the page asked you to login, install software, or enter banking details, do not comply.
Step 2 — Disconnect from the internet: If you are on a company device, disconnect from Wi-Fi or unplug your network cable immediately. This prevents any malware that may have been downloaded from communicating with its command-and-control server. Do this even if you are not sure whether malware was downloaded.
Step 3 — Report to your IT team immediately: Do not wait to see if "anything happens". Report the incident to your IT helpdesk immediately. Provide them with: the email or message containing the link, what happened when you clicked (what page loaded, any downloads that started), and the time the incident occurred. Early reporting allows your IT team to check network logs, scan the device, and take preventive action before any malware has a chance to activate.
Step 4 — Do not close the browser until IT has reviewed it: Your IT team may want to see the page that loaded to understand what type of attack occurred. Take a screenshot on your mobile phone of any page that loaded so you can share this information even after closing the tab.
Step 5 — Change your password if you entered credentials: If you entered your username and password on the suspicious page before realising it was fake, change your work password immediately from a different, clean device. If the account has Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), the attacker may not be able to use the stolen credentials immediately, but change the password anyway. Contact your IT administrator to check for any suspicious logins.
A responsible IT team will run an endpoint scan using antivirus and EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) tools to check for any malware installation. They will review network logs to check for any unusual outbound connections from your device. If your device was on the company network when the link was clicked, they will also check whether any lateral movement occurred to other devices.
For businesses under IT AMC contracts with Al Aida IT, we provide rapid incident response for exactly these situations across our Dubai and Sharjah client base. We use remote monitoring tools to scan devices and check for compromise within minutes of being notified.
Enable Microsoft Defender SmartScreen on your browser — it checks links against a database of known malicious sites and warns you before the page loads. In Microsoft 365, ATP Safe Links rewrites URLs in emails to check them in real-time. Train yourself to hover over links before clicking to preview the destination URL. For UAE businesses, enabling Microsoft 365 Defender for email significantly reduces the risk of malicious links reaching employee inboxes.
If your business needs help implementing email security or responding to cybersecurity incidents in the UAE, our team at Al Aida IT Technology LLC provides expert managed IT support, cybersecurity, and IT Annual Maintenance Contracts (AMCs) across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and the wider GCC region.
We respond within 1 business hour. Request a free IT consultation today — no obligation.