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Android Surges, Windows Phone Gains @ Smartphone OpS Market

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Android and Windows Phone both managed slight increases in the worldwide smartphone operating system market for the second quarter of 2013.

Despite beating some expectations in terms of shipment volumes, Apple’s share in the worldwide smartphone operating system market posted a year-over-year decline during the period.

According to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, vendors shipped a total of 236.4 million smartphones in 2Q13, up 51.3% from the 156.2 million units shipped in 2Q12. Second quarter shipments grew 9.3% when compared to the 216.3 million units shipped in 1Q13.

“The iOS decline in the second quarter aligns with the cyclicality of iPhone,” said Ramon Llamas, Research Manager with IDC’s Mobile Phone team.

“Without a new product launch since the debut of the iPhone 5 nearly a year ago, Apple’s market share was vulnerable to product launches from the competition. But with a new iPhone and revamped iOS coming out later this year, Apple is well-positioned to re-capture market share.”

 “Last quarter we witnessed Windows Phone shipments surpassing BlackBerry and the trend has continued into the second quarter,” said Ryan Reith, program manager with IDC’s Mobility Tracker Programs.

“Nokia has clearly been the driving force behind the Windows Phone platform and we expect that to continue. However, as more and more vendors enter the smartphone market using the Android platform, we expect Windows Phone to become a more attractive differentiator in this very competitive market segment.”

On smartphone operating system highlights shown by the result, Android maintained its leadership position, with strong contributions from Samsung and its Galaxy S4.

Not to be overlooked were LG and Chinese vendors Huawei, Lenovo, and ZTE, which each recorded double-digit shipment volumes in the millions.

Combined, these vendors accounted for 62.5% of all Android-powered smartphone shipments during the quarter.

Still, the remaining vendors within the Android ecosystem should not be overlooked, as many have developed a strong local presence within key developing markets.

iOS finished the quarter as the clear number 2 operating system, showing that, even without new product launches, demand remains strong.

Moreover, Apple added new mobile operators to its camp, boosting short-term volumes and cementing long-term end-user relationships.

What remains to be seen is how the new iOS 7 will be received once it reaches the market later this year, as much of the look and feel of the user interface has been revamped.

Windows Phone posted the largest year-over-year increase among the top five smartphone platforms, and in the process reinforced its position as the number 3 smartphone operating system.

Driving this result was Nokia, which released two new smartphones and grew its presence at multiple mobile operators. But beyond Nokia, Windows Phone remained a secondary option for other vendors, many of which have concentrated on Android.

By comparison, Nokia accounted for 81.6% of all Windows Phone smartphone shipments during 2Q13.

BlackBerry saw its market share decline during the quarter, reaching levels not seen in the history of IDC’s Mobile Phone Tracker.

However, BlackBerry has shown steady progress since the launch of its BB 10 platform, which has grown to three models, additional mobile operators, and a greater presence within its total volumes.

It is still early days for the platform, however, and BlackBerry will need time and resources to evangelize more end users.

Linux, with few vendors supporting the open source platform and virtually no global presence, barely scraped together a single percentage point of market share during the quarter. Most vendors have transitioned to Android and those that remain have limited presence within specific markets.

IDC includes Linux-branded shipments in these numbers, and excludes Android-branded shipments. Several other branded variations of Linux, including Firefox, Tizen, and SailFish, are expected to launch later this year, providing a potential boost to volumes and market share.


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E-Business

Black Friday: How Konga Yakata is Defying Global Inflation

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We have been taught that economics is a force of nature, an invisible hand that giveth and, more recently, taketh away. We watch global indices, inflation charts, and the shrinking purchasing power of our currency with a sense of resigned inevitability. But what if a company decided to push back? What if, instead of merely responding to market forces, it created a counter-force?

That is the story of Konga Yakata, Nigeria’s boldest retail response to inflation. Far from being a shopping festival, Yakata has evolved into a nationwide economic intervention. In the face of rising prices and tightening wallets, Konga’s month-long sales event has emerged as a stabilizing force, helping households stretch their Naira further.

For years, the traditional 24-hour Black Friday rush has felt misaligned with Nigerian realities. A single day of discounts cannot solve month-long financial pressure. Yakata changes the model, transforming it into a 30-day strategic purchasing window. This isn’t a marketing gimmick; it is economic practicality. It gives families time to plan, prioritize, and purchase essentials without panic or strain.

Nigeria’s inflation has driven up the cost of food, housing, and household essentials. Konga Yakata provides relief. By offering genuine products at real and sustained discounts, the campaign helps families save, spend wisely, and maintain their quality of life.

Independent retail analytics show that households that shopped strategically during last year’s Yakata saved up to 35% on essential items: refrigerators, generators, laptops, and groceries. These are not luxuries; they are investments in stability and productivity, made possible by Konga’s pricing and flexible payment options.

Beyond savings, Yakata has reshaped consumer behaviour. It has taught shoppers to anticipate value, plan ahead, and expect quality without compromise. It has evolved into a trusted national tradition.

Industry data reinforces its scale. The 2024 edition generated over ₦12 billion in transaction value across electronics, fashion, appliances, and groceries, with small and medium sellers benefiting through Konga’s marketplaces.

In essence, Konga Yakata is not just a sales event, it is a market stimulus. It challenges the narrative of helplessness in the face of inflation by creating a commercial environment built on trust, affordability, and value. Through innovation, efficient logistics, and consumer-focused fintech, Konga has turned Yakata into a lever of national economic resilience.

As global prices rise and budgets tighten, Konga Yakata stands firm, not only as a celebration of shopping, but as a purposeful act of support for Nigerian households.

Indeed, Konga Yakata 2025 is more than Black Friday Reloaded, it is proof that innovation, empathy, and strategy can rewrite the rules of economics, one household at a time.


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Report Reveals DLL Hijacking Attacks have Doubled since 2023

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Dynamic link library (DLL) hijacking is a common technique in which attackers replace a library loaded by a legitimate process with a malicious one.

It is used by creators of mass-impact malware, like stealers and banking Trojans, as well as by APT (advanced persistent threat) and cybercrime groups behind targeted attacks. Kaspersky reports that DLL hijacking attacks have doubled in the past two years.

Kaspersky has observed this technique and its variations, like DLL sideloading, in targeted attacks on organisations in Russia, Africa, South Korea, as well as other countries and regions.

To further enhance its protection capabilities against this threat, Kaspersky SIEM has introduced a specialised AI-based subsystem that continuously analyses information about all loaded libraries.

The new feature has already proven effective, helping to detect an attack by the APT group ToddyCat. It enabled the threat to be identified and blocked at an early stage, preventing any impact on the targeted organisations. The model also uncovered attempts to infect potential victims with an infostealer and a malicious loader.

“We are seeing DLL hijacking attacks become more common, where a trusted program is tricked into loading a fake library instead of the real one. This gives attackers a way to secretly run their malicious code.

“This technique is difficult to detect, and this is where AI can help. Using advanced protection techniques empowered with AI is now essential to staying ahead of these evolving threats and keeping critical systems safe,” says Anna Pidzhakova, Data Scientist at Kaspersky’s AI Research Center.

Securelist has published two related articles: the first explains how a machine-learning model was developed to detect DLL hijacking attacks, while the second describes how this model was integrated into the Kaspersky SIEM platform. The updated Kaspersky SIEMnow features AI functionality for detecting signs of DLL hijacking attacks, improving detection efficiency.

 


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Meta, NDPC Resolve $32.8m Privacy Dispute Out of Court

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Meta Platforms, Inc., has, reconciled its differences with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) in the suit it filed to challenge NDPC’s $32.8m fine imposed against it.

Meta, NDPC Resolve $32.8m Privacy Dispute Out of Court

The legal dispute between Meta and the NDPC ended after both sides agreed on terms to settle the $32.8 million fine earlier imposed on the company.

On February 18, 2025, the NDPC fined Meta $32.8 million and issued eight corrective orders for allegedly violating the privacy rights of Nigerian users through behavioural advertising practices on Facebook and Instagram.

At Monday’s proceedings before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Fred Onuobia, SAN, Meta’s counsel, informed the court that the parties had signed terms of settlement dated October 30 and filed on October 31.

“We adopt the terms of settlement and ask my lord to enter them as the judgment of the court,” Onuobia said.

Adeola Adedipe, SAN, Counsel for the NDPC, did not oppose the application.

Justice Omotosho then adopted the agreement as the court’s judgment and commended both parties for choosing to resolve the matter amicably.

“The terms of settlement entered by the parties in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/355/2025, dated October 30 and filed October 31, 2025, are hereby adopted as the judgment of this court,” the judge ruled.

The decision ends months of litigation after Meta challenged the NDPC’s fine and enforcement orders through a judicial review, claiming the agency acted beyond its powers and failed to follow due process.

After several adjournments to allow for discussions, both sides eventually reached a mutual resolution.

The NDPC’s case against Meta is one of its major enforcement actions under the Nigeria Data Protection Act, signed into law by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023, which seeks to strengthen the protection of Nigerians’ data privacy rights.

 


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