Kuwait tells users to turn on 2FA and fingerprint login

If you check your bank balance, pay a bill, or log into Sahel (the government’s official app) from your phone, this advisory is for you. Kuwait’s Cybercrime Department wants you to turn on every security feature your apps offer, before someone else logs in using your name.

The department, part of the Ministry of Interior, released the message in both Arabic and English this week. It’s not tied to one specific case. It’s a general push to get residents to use tools that are already sitting unused on most phones. If you’ve read our coverage of the app approval scam that wiped out a bank balance, you’ll know why this matters.

What exactly is the Ministry asking for?

The message is simple: use the security features that are already built into your phone and apps. The department named three tools in particular.

Two-factor authentication, known as 2FA, adds a second step after your password. Usually it’s a code sent by text message or generated inside an app. Even if someone steals your password, they can’t get in without that second code.

Fingerprint login lets you unlock an app or confirm a payment using your fingerprint instead of typing a password. It’s harder for someone else to copy than a password, and it’s faster for you too.

The third tool is features that detect identity theft and impersonation. Many banking and government apps now flag unusual logins, for example someone trying to access your account from a new device or a different country. These alerts give you a chance to act before damage is done.

So who does this affect?

Everyone with a smartphone in Kuwait, really. That includes citizens and expats, people using banking apps, government portals, social media and shopping apps. The advisory doesn’t single out one group, which suggests the Ministry sees this as a basic habit everyone should build, not a response to one incident.

Residents who already had accounts compromised know how disruptive it can be. We’ve covered cases like the web scam that cost victims KD 161,000 and the AI chatbot scam that drained a man’s savings. Different tricks, same lesson: a weak login is often the first door a scammer walks through.

How to actually turn these features on

Most people know these features exist but never bother switching them on. Here’s a simple way to do it over a cup of karak.

1. Open your banking app, email, and any app with personal or financial data.
2. Go to the settings or security menu, usually found under