Trending
- EAC monetary affairs committee to discuss single currency progress in Juba talks
- Transport and food prices drive down Kenya’s inflation to 5% in April
- Payment for ransomware attacks increase by 500 per cent in one year
- History beckons as push for Kenya’s President Ruto to address US Congress gathers pace
- IMF’s Sub-Saharan Africa economic forecast shows 1.2 percent GDP growth
- The US Congress proposes extending Agoa to 2041, covering all African countries
- Millions at risk of famine as fuel tax row halts UN aid operations in South Sudan
- Empowering the Future: Humanity Protocol’s Dream Play Initiative
Tech & Business
- Payment for ransomware attacks is not only impacting large businesses even smaller ones have been hit with 7-figure demand.
- The rate of ransomware attacks falls slightly, but recovery costs hit $2.73 million.
- Despite the soaring ransoms, this year’s survey indicates a slight reduction in the rate of ransomware attacks
The amount organisations are paying to get back their data from cyber criminals has increased by 500 per cent in the past year, a new report by Cybersecurity solutions provider Sophos has revealed.
Sophos, in its annual “State of Ransomware 2024” survey, says this has seen organizations that paid the ransom report an average payment of $2 million, up from $400,000 in 2023, with ransoms being just one part of the cost.
Excluding ransoms, the survey found the average cost of recovery reached $2.73 million, an increase of almost $1 million since the $1.82 million that Sophos reported in 2023. …
- TikTok Community Guidelines will see introduction of stricter For You eligibility standards.
- Video sharing entity says this code emphasizes responsible behavior on and off the platform
- According to the recently released Reuters Institute Digital News report 2023 survey, Kenya leads in world TikTok usage.
Popular video sharing platform TikTok, has unveiled significant updates to its Community Guidelines and introduced new features aimed at supporting creators and maintaining a safe environment for users. The platform’s Community Guidelines, which outline rules and standards for all users, have been updated to provide greater clarity and transparency.
These updates, set to take effect in a few weeks, include refined definitions for policies on hate speech and health misinformation. Additionally, TikTok has detailed how it moderates features like Search, LIVE, and the For You feed to ensure a positive user experience.
One of the key updates is the introduction of stricter For You eligibility standards. …
- Market size of Africa’s digital economy could reach $712 billion by 2050.
- In 2022 only 36 percent of the African population had access to broadband internet.
- Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are streamlining adoption of 5G services.
Africa is on the verge of an economic revolution. From the north to the southern part of the Saharan desert, nations are striving to eliminate poverty and gain a strong foothold in global markets.
In the same vein, the continent is banking on the potential held by the digital economy. Reports ping the sector to higher standards, including a report from non-profit Endeavor predicting that the market size of Africa’s digital economy could reach $712 billion by 2050.
The growth is propelled by the massive engagement of the continent’s younger population, rising smartphone adoption and increasing internet penetration.
Read also: World Bank backs Smart Africa’s Digital Academy with $20M grant
Digital economy in
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The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) in South Africa recently fell victim to a cyberattack, potentially compromising the sensitive data of at least three million entities and individuals registered with the commission.
The breach occurred earlier this March and exposed a wide range of sensitive information, including addresses, credit card details, ID numbers, and company names. The CIPC has urged its clients to remain vigilant for any unusual requests or messages and to be cautious when receiving emails, even those appearing to be from the CIPC email address.
Lungile Dukwana, the organization’s Chief Strategy Executive, stated that the attack appeared to be targeted. Upon discovering the breach, the CIPC’s ICT technicians promptly shut down part of the systems to prevent further unauthorized access. However, the full extent of the breach and the data compromised are still under investigation.
This breach underscores the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures to …
- The digital revolution has transformed how we approach education. Today, we have the world at our fingertips – literally.
- From researching to drafting and editing, every step of creating a college assignment can be enhanced with technology.
- Utilizing these resources saves time and ensures that your references are credible and up-to-date.
Navigating through the labyrinth of college assignments can be quite a challenge. It’s like being an explorer in the vast world of academia, where each assignment is a new territory to conquer.
But what if you had a map and compass in the form of technology? In today’s digital age, tech tools are not just accessories but essential allies in the quest for academic success.
The Digital Revolution in Education
Remember the days of poring over stacks of books in the library? While traditional methods are charming, the digital revolution has transformed how we approach education. Today, we have …
- The economic benefits of green innovation primarily manifest through increased investment in the initial years.
- Research indicates that doubling green patent filings can elevate the gross domestic product by 1.7 percent after five years.
- The IMF advises against the use of government policies that restrict international trade to support domestic industries, cautioning against the act of protectionism.
The IMF states that the momentum of low-carbon innovation has now slowed, as promising technologies are not spreading rapidly enough to lower-income countries including in Africa where they can be particularly helpful.
This is in spite of the progress made in the recent past when green innovation reached its peak at 10 per cent of total patent filings in 2010.
“Since then, it has experienced a mild decline, reflecting various factors, including hydraulic fracking lowering the price of oil and technological maturity in some initial technologies such as renewables, which slows the pace …
- Startups can leverage the power of AI and automation to streamline operations, gain invaluable insights, and trim down expenses.
- Integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria is emerging as a pivotal trend, transcending buzzwords to become integral deal-breakers among startups.
- Startups that invest in robust remote work infrastructure and flexible policies are poised to attract top talent and adapt to evolving work preferences.
As we enter the dawn of a New Year, startups in 2024 are poised for a dynamic transformation, with several vital trends taking centre stage across the globe. AIM Startup delves into the forefront of these on-demand trends, offering valuable insights that investors and industry players should keenly observe.
According to the 13th edition of the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) startup – a crucial platform under AIM Congress 2024 – the acceleration of digital transformation is set to define the entrepreneurial landscape this year.
Startups are no …
- MediaTek Technology says it aims to improve 5G adoption in East Africa as a strategic priority in 2024.
- Some of the best 5G smartphones in Kenya are powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity chipsets.
- Broadband demands are expected to continue rising in the Sub-Saharan region with the advent of augmented reality.
Fabless semiconductor company MediaTek Technology will collaborate with telecom operators and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in Kenya and greater East Africa region to promote the adoption of 5G and contribute to narrowing the digital divide in the region.
This partnership is occurring at a time when significant progress has been made in terms of 5G adoption, not only in Kenya but across the continent, over the past couple of years.
Kenya ranks as the third-largest country in Africa in the continent’s mobile phone market, with 5 million smartphones shipped annually.
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Some of the best 5G smartphones in the country are …
- Vienna Payment Solutions has joined the Kenyan market by partnering with Interswitch East Africa.
- Kenya has been a regional powerhouse in digital payments, with the 2023 Economic survey placing the value of mobile money transfers at $47.6 billion.
- Interswitch East Africa Head of Technology, Naomi Wachira, says the solution marks a significant leap towards bridging gaps in the payment industry.
Austria-based firm Vienna Payment Solutions has entered the Kenyan market through a partnership with Interswitch East Africa, as the increasing popularity of mobile money continues to open up a new frontier for spirited competition in the space.
Following the partnership, the two companies introduced VIPASO, a payment solution comprising two applications: a consumer app and a merchant app. This initiative aims to enhance payment solutions for banks, players in the hospitality industry, on-the-go services, financial institutions, and retailers.
This comes when merchant payment platforms are projected to grow and …
