Cyberattacks on the rise in Morocco, posing a growing threat to individuals and organizations
via Le Matin6 min read
Morocco is experiencing a surge in cyberattacks, highlighted by recent incidents targeting the National Social Welfare Organizations Fund CNOPS and the Office of Vocational Training and Labor Promotion OFPPT, alongside an increase in fraudulent SMS messages related to traffic violations. These events indicate that cybercrime is becoming an everyday reality for citizens. One victim reported losing over 30,000 dirhams after clicking a fraudulent link disguised as a traffic fine payment, illustrating the sophisticated nature of these scams. Professor Youssef Bentaleb, president of the Moroccan Center for Polytechnic Research and Innovation CMRPI, explains that cybercriminals target data for various purposes, from direct monetization of banking information to identity theft and social engineering using personal and administrative details. He emphasizes that the value of a database lies in the ability to exploit, cross-reference, and analyze information on a large scale, with banking details and professional account access being highly sought after on clandestine markets. Even email addresses and phone numbers retain significant value when exploited broadly. Stolen data circulates on dark web forums and encrypted messaging services, making traceability difficult. Professor Bentaleb notes that cybercrime is increasingly structured and industrialized, with specialized roles for intrusion, data extraction, resale, and exploitation. The emergence of "cybercrime-as-a-service" models an
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A unified regional French exam in Morocco's Oriental region has caused a stir after a question on the role of women was circulated online. The written production section, worth 10 points, asked students to respond to the statement: "Some people think that women are made just to get married and have children. Do you share this opinion?" This phrasing led to widespread indignation on social media from women, parents, and equality advocates, who deemed the subject deeply reductive. Critics argue that while schools should foster critical thinking, placing such a historically charged and symbolically violent idea at the core of an official exam, without explicit critical framing, is problematic. Some defended the question as an opportunity to deconstruct sexist prejudices, but this view was largely overshadowed by the criticism. The controversy highlights the difficulty for correctors if students affirm the stereotype, potentially forcing them to choose between penalizing an opinion or validating a discriminatory view in an official setting. Teachers, particularly women, are also placed in a demeaning position by having to grade essays that might support such a limited view of women's roles. The Association Initiatives for the Protection of Women's Rights IPDF expressed its indignation, emphasizing that exams transmit educational messages and values. The IPDF stressed that schools build social representations and anchor values of citizenship, equality, and dignity, making exam sub
Asma Lamrabet states that the world is experiencing an ethical crisis, evident in economics, geopolitics, the environment, and human relations. She notes that while artificial intelligence offers promises, technical power is advancing faster than moral frameworks. Lamrabet highlights a "digital solitude" where increased connectivity does not alleviate isolation, leading to a quest for spirituality over dogmatic religion. In Arab-Muslim societies, she observes a visible religiosity focused on orthopraxy and rituals, which often fails to center ethics in behavior and social bonds. She argues that this emphasis on outward conformity can overshadow interiority, sincerity, and moral conduct, leading to contradictions where displayed piety coexists with incivility or corruption. Lamrabet references a HCP survey in Morocco where respondents prioritized probity, family values, and responsibility over faith and religious tradition for their children. She interprets this as a sign that deeply ethical values are no longer spontaneously linked to religion. For Lamrabet, "halal is ethics," meaning religious prescriptions should not be reduced to prohibitions detached from their moral purpose. She criticizes a literalist, legalistic discourse that focuses on details and forms, making justice, probity, responsibility, and sincerity secondary. Lamrabet believes that a religious practice not leading to greater justice and responsibility is incomplete. She extends this ethical re-reading to is
Approximately 520,000 candidates, including 420,000 enrolled students and 100,000 private candidates, are registered for the 2026 baccalaureate session, an increase of about 25,000 candidates from the previous year. Exams begin on Thursday, June 4, amidst high temperatures across several regions, raising concerns about exam conditions and candidate performance. Dr. Tayeb Hamdi, a physician and researcher in health policies and systems, describes this as a "double health and educational penalty." He explains that high temperatures can impair cognitive abilities, as the brain prioritizes thermoregulation, reducing working memory, concentration, and processing speed. Hot nights can also lead to "sleep debt," affecting recovery between exams. Medical risks include dehydration, headaches, hypotension, and in extreme cases, heatstroke. Dr. Hamdi also highlights equity concerns, noting that climatic conditions exacerbate territorial inequalities based on school exposure and infrastructure quality. He recommends immediate measures such as providing water, misters, first aid personnel and kits in exam centers. He also suggests managing classroom heat by blacking out windows during the day, ventilating early in the morning and late at night, and using fans judiciously, as they are only effective below 35°C. He emphasizes the importance of conducive home environments for rest and recovery. Long-term recommendations include modernizing school buildings for "summer comfort" through roof i
Must ReadThe Atlas Lions departed for the United States on Wednesday to participate in the 2026 World Cup. The national team, its technical staff, and the Moroccan delegation were seen off at Rabat-Salé Airport before boarding a special Royal Air Maroc flight from Rabat to New York-JFK. The National Airports Office ONDA organized a ceremony for their departure, with players walking through a guard of honor formed by ONDA staff, including reception agents, facilitation teams, technicians, engineers, airfield firefighters, and executives. ONDA stated that its teams are mobilized alongside the Royal Moroccan Football Federation to ensure optimal travel conditions for national teams and Moroccan supporters during the 2026 World Cup. This initiative follows a strategic partnership signed in March between ONDA and FRMF, aimed at improving reception and mobility conditions for national teams, strengthening logistical support for sports delegations, and promoting Morocco's international image through sports. This departure is also symbolic, illustrating the mobilization of national institutions around Morocco's sporting ambitions and international image, especially as the Kingdom prepares to host major sporting events like the 2030 World Cup. Mohamed Ouahbi's team will represent Morocco in this global campaign, carrying the hopes of the nation.