Author: Akin Naphtal

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, announced in its Q1 2024 Adversarial Threat Report, removing 63,000 accounts associated with the “Yahoo Boys” scam group. The accounts were used for financial sextortion scams and distributing blackmail scripts, primarily targeting adult men in the United States. A smaller network of 2,500 accounts, connected to about 20 individuals, was also dismantled. Meta identified these accounts using advanced technical signals and comprehensive investigations, enhancing its automated detection systems. The company stated that “Yahoo Boys” are cybercriminals, mainly operating from Nigeria, specializing in various scams. Meta also removed a set of Facebook…

Cybersecurity giant, CrowdStrike has detected a bug in the faulty testing software behind the crash of 8.5 million Windows machines around the world. Recall that there was an outage that impacted multiple companies worldwide including airlines, broadcasters, and many organizations. This problem forced Windows machines into a boot loop, with technicians requiring local access to machines to recover (Apple and Linux machines weren’t affected). Many companies, like Delta Airlines, are still recovering. “Due to a bug in the Content Validator, one of the two [updates] passed validation despite containing problematic data. It promised a series of new measures to avoid…

The Africa Digital Economy Awards (ADEA), the ‘Oscars’ of Africa’s ICT industry, is preparing for its 9th edition of the award event, on September 13th, 2024, at the Emara Ole Sereni Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. This prestigious award event recognizes and celebrates the achievements of leading and innovative Africa’s digital leaders who are shaping the future of the continent’s technology and digital economy. The golden theme for this year’s edition, “Excellence in Digital Innovations” gives prominence to the achievements and transformative impact of technology across the continent, delving into the innovative strides being made in various sectors, from fintech and…

Dublin’s Skippio has secured €540,000 in seed funding to expand its innovative fan experience platform overseas, especially in the United Kingdom. The company, founded in 2022, is in the quest to resolve the issue of long queues for food and drinks at large-scale events such as sports matches and concerts. The funding round was led by private investors, with additional backing from Enterprise Ireland’s High-Potential Start-Up (HPSU) funding. Skippio plans to use the investment to enter the UK market, enhancing its platform’s capabilities and growing its team. Skippio’s app enables users to order and pay for food and drinks from…

Vertiv has expanded its Liebert GXE series with the introduction of 1kVA to 3kVA capacities. This online double conversion, single-phase uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is designed for 230V applications and is now available across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), Asia, and LATAM. The new models complete the Liebert GXE range from 1kVA to 10kVA. The Liebert GXE rack/tower models provide scalable runtime for applications that need extended backup during AC mains outages, achievable by adding up to four external battery cabinets, and a fast recharge time thanks to its powerful 6 Amp internal charger. The hot-swappable VRLA batteries…

Amazon is preparing to launch a paid version of its Alexa voice assistant as part of a strategic overhaul to address significant losses in its devices business. The division suffered over $25 billion in losses from 2017 to 2021. The new AI-enhanced Alexa, which may be priced at up to $10 per month, could debut as soon as this month, the Wall Street Journal has said. Despite the imminent launch, there are internal concerns about the project’s readiness. An employee who worked on the Alexa team revealed to the WSJ that the division is rushing to meet the deadline, even…

Wiz, an Israeli cybersecurity start-up, has ended acquisition talks with Google regarding a potential $23 billion deal. This decision shifts Wiz’s focus to its initial public offering (IPO) and achieving $1 billion in annual recurring revenue. The Chief Executive Officer, Wiz, Assaf Rappaport, explained the decision in a statement, saying: “Saying no to such humbling offers is tough, but with our exceptional team, I feel confident in making that choice.” The memo did not name Google or its parent company, Alphabet, and both companies declined to comment. Recall that Google was in advanced talks to acquire Wiz for approximately $23…

In the ever-evolving world of technology, Ericsson is once again leading the charge with its innovative Reduced Capability (RedCap) RAN software. The novel innovation is aimed to improving the capabilities of communication service providers, opening up a plethora of new opportunities beyond enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) on 5G standalone architecture. Imagine a world where smartwatches, wearables, and industry sensors are not only more efficient but also have significantly extended battery life. This is the world that Ericsson’s RedCap aims to create. By simplifying the complexity of devices and extending their battery life, RedCap is set to enhance existing 5G use…

Swedish audio-streaming giant, Spotify, has reported a record quarterly profit, causing its shares to rise over 14% in premarket trading by reducing costs through layoffs and cuts to its marketing budget last year, while simultaneously expanding its user base through promotions and new investments in podcasts. In the second quarter of 2024, Spotify saw its number of paying subscribers increase to 246 million, just above expectations. CEO Daniel Ek attributed this growth to the company’s diverse subscription offerings. “It really comes down to the number of subscription offerings we have now. We’re moving from one-size-fits-all to having something for everyone,”…

Google has announced that it will keep third-party cookies in its Chrome browser, instead of removing the tiny packets of code used to track users on the internet, despite concerns from advertisers and regulators about the potential impact on the digital advertising landscape. Advertisers, who represent Google’s primary source of revenue, have voiced worries that the elimination of cookies in the world’s most popular browser would hinder their ability to gather information for personalized ads. This, in turn, would increase their reliance on Google’s own user databases. Additionally, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has examined Google’s plan over…