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IBM, Cisco Partner to Counter Cyber Crime

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Cisco and International Business Machines (IBM) have announced a strategic partnership in a bid to strengthen efforts to curb cyber crime.

The companies say they will work together on products, services and threat intelligence to protect organisations across networks, endpoints and the cloud.

Launching on the back of the recent global cyber attack WannaCry, the companies said they realised a growing need because of the rising costs of data breaches to enterprises.

Marc Van Zadelhoff, general manager at IBM Security, elaborated: “The partnership will also build new relationships between the companies’ researcher teams, from the IBM X-Force and Cisco Talos. “With Cisco joining our immune system of defence, joint customers will greatly expand their ability to enhance their use of cognitive technologies like IBM Watson for cyber security.”

A data-driven approach will be used to minimise cyber crime, while both parties work towards eventually being able to predict cyber threats faster and with more efficiency.

“In cyber security, taking a data-driven approach is the only way to stay ahead of the threats impacting your business,” said Bill Heinrich, Chief Information Security Director, BNSF Railway.

Last year, the cost of cyber attacks was found to be at its highest ever at $4 million – up 29% over the past three years. This is according the Ponemon Institute’s global research, ‘The Cost of Data Breach Study,’ which also found that incidents which took longer than 30 days to contain – costing $1 million more than those contained within 30 days. “These rising costs make visibility into threats, and blocking them quickly, central to an integrated threat defence approach,” adds Van Zadelhoff.

According to a Cybersecurity Ventures report, cybercrime is expected to cost the world $6 trillion annually by 2021. Zadelhoff says this is why IBM has been a proponent of open collaboration and threat sharing in cyber security.

In the past month, Cisco has acquired the advanced analytics team and the analytics intellectual property of Saggezza, a US-based data analytics company. It has also bought Viptela, an SD-WAN start-up, for $610 million. IBM has acquired Verizon’s cloud and managed hosting service.


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Konga Unveils ‘All in All, Everything ×2’ Campaign, Offering Month-Long Discounts Across Product Categories

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Konga, Nigeria’s leading composite e-commerce giant, has announced the launch of its highly anticipated ‘All in All, Everything ×2 – Category Month’ campaign.. This month-long shopping festival, running from September 1 to September 31, offers customers unprecedented discounts across a vast range of products.

The campaign is strategically designed to empower households and businesses by providing a golden opportunity to enjoy massive savings from globally renowned brands across diverse product categories.

The core of the “Category Month” campaign lies in its dynamic, week-by-week approach. Each week, Konga will spotlight a specific category, delivering targeted discounts that excite and engage shoppers.. For instance, the first week is set to focus on the Home and Kitchen category, presenting customers with a chance to upgrade their living spaces and culinary tools at unbeatable prices. This phased approach allows shoppers to plan purchases and shop intentionally throughout the month.

This strategic campaign is made possible through robust partnerships with top brands from around the world. These collaborations enable Konga to not only offer substantial price cuts but also guarantee the authenticity and quality that shoppers have come to expect from Konga. The synergy between Konga’s expansive platform and these global powerhouses ensures exceptional value while reinforcing Konga’s reputation as a trusted source for premium goods at affordable prices.

Over the course of the month, shoppers will enjoy exciting discounts across categories, including Home and Kitchen, Electronics, BHPC/Konga Fashion, Power and Automobile, Phones and Tablets, Computing and Accessories, Drinks and Groceries, and Baby, Kids and Toys. Konga’s “Category Month” has something for everyone.

In addition to the incredible deals, the campaign is bolstered by Konga’s efficient logistics infrastructure, offering customers unparalleled convenience. Customers in select locations can leverage KongaNow, the company’s express delivery service, with guaranteed delivery within one to six hours on eligible items. This fast and reliable delivery ensures shoppers can enjoy their purchases almost immediately.

Industry watchers have hailed Konga’s innovative campaigns as a catalyst for driving consumer confidence in online shopping, while also giving partner brands unmatched visibility.. The Category Month campaign further strengthens Konga’s commitment to enabling a vibrant digital marketplace where value, affordability, and trust intersect seamlessly.

The Category Month campaign is a strategic effort to enrich the lives of its customers by making high-quality products more accessible. Customers are encouraged to visit the Konga website to explore all the offers and take full advantage of ‘All in All, Everything ×2 – Category Month’.


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Firm Warns of Phishing Through Fake University Login Pages Targeting Academia

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As the new international academic year begins, Kaspersky has detected a wave of phishing webpages targeting college and university students as well as professors. Attackers are deploying fake login portals that mimic official university websites, tricking users into entering credentials which can lead to stolen data or a complete loss of access to their university accounts.

Links to these phishing portals are either distributed in emails or appear in web search results when looking for academic institutions’ login pages.

The fraudulent portals closely replicate the branding and design of legitimate university systems. Students of multiple academic institutions across different regions have been targeted, including in the Middle East, Turkiye and Africa (META) region.

If users enter their credentials on these fake academic portals, cybercriminals can steal sensitive data such as login details which grant access to university accounts containing personal information, academic records, and financial data. Attackers may also change the passwords, blocking students and professors from critical resources like course materials, email, or payment systems. Compromised accounts can be used to send phishing emails to peers, spreading the attack within university networks.

“Colleges and universities are vulnerable due to their reliance on digital platforms and the high volume of users accessing systems during the international back-to-school rush.

These fake login portals can appear convincing, exploiting the trust that students and professors place in their university systems. We’re urging the academic community to stay vigilant and double check the web addresses of their educational institutions’ login pages to avoid losing data,” commented Olga Altukhova, Senior Web Content Analyst at Kaspersky.

To stay safe against education fraud, Kaspersky recommends the following:

  • Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA): Activate MFA wherever possible, adding an extra layer of security to your online accounts. Use a reliable password manager that doesn’t just store your passwords but also generates one-time passwords for 2FA automatically.
  • Use a reliable security solution for comprehensive protection from a wide range of threats, such as  Kaspersky Premium.
  • Stay skeptical: Exercise caution when encountering “too good to be true” offers, especially if they require payments or personal information upfront.
  • Verify the source: Thoroughly research any scholarships, giveaways, or offers that come your way. Look for official contact details and confirm legitimacy before taking any action.
  • Secure personal information: Avoid sharing sensitive data online unless you’re absolutely certain about the legitimacy of the request.
  • Use trusted sources: Stick to official school websites, recognised scholarship platforms, and reputable retailers when making payments or providing personal information.

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FG Shuts Down over 13.5m Social Media Accounts for Alleged Policy Violations

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Federal government has confirmed the closure of 13,597,057 social media accounts over harmful content and breaches of the country’s digital code of practice.

FG Shuts Down over 13.5m Social Media Accounts for Alleged Policy Violations

The figure was contained in the Code of Practice 2024 Compliance Report, submitted by major technology firms including Google, Microsoft, and TikTok.

The report outlined efforts made by online platforms to curb offensive content and strengthen user protection.

The compliance framework, introduced in 2022 and jointly enforced by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), required platforms to address user complaints and remove content that violates community guidelines or national regulations.

According to the latest report, social media platforms collectively deleted 58,909,112 posts flagged as offensive within the year.

Authorities also recorded 754,629 user complaints, while 420,439 pieces of content were reinstated following successful appeals.

In a statement issued by Hadiza Umar, spokesperson, NITDA, commended global platforms for what she described as “continued compliance” with Nigeria’s Code of Practice. She noted that the submission of the annual reports demonstrates a shared commitment to creating a safer digital environment.

“The compliance reports provide valuable insights into the platforms’ efforts to address user safety concerns in line with the Code of Practice and their community guidelines,” Umar said.

“We remain committed to working with industry players, civil society, and regulatory partners to strengthen user safety measures, enhance digital literacy, and promote trust and transparency in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.”

The government said the monitoring exercise underscores its drive to ensure that Nigeria’s growing digital space remains secure, responsible, and free from harmful content.


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