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NITDA Cautions Nigerians on New Email-based Attack from Solarwind Hackers

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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has cautioned Nigerians of a widespread malicious email campaign undertaken by the hacking group- NOBELIUM.

The caution came as a result of information obtained by Microsoft, a world renowned multinational technology company, and made available to National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

Mrs. Hadiza Umar, head, Corporate Affairs and External Relations, NITDA, gave this warning in a statement released on Sunday.

She stated that cybercriminals leveraged the legitimate mass-mailing service, to masquerade as a US-based development organisation and distribute malicious URLs to a wide variety of organisations especially government organisations, non-government organizations (NGOs), think-tanks, military, IT service providers, health technology and research, and telecommunications providers.

Mrs. Umar explained the cybercriminals antics involve the use of emails claiming to be an alert from USAID about new documents published by former President Donald Trump about “election fraud.”

According to her, “Once users click the link in the email, the URL would direct them to the legitimate Constant Contact Service and then redirect to Nobelium-controlled infrastructure through a URL that delivers a malicious ISO file.

“This in turn, enables the criminals to execute further malicious objectives, such as lateral movement, data exfiltration and delivery of additional malware.

She advised Nigerians to be wary of such criminals masquerading as USAID and follow the following recommendations:

 Turn on cloud-delivered protectionin Microsoft Defender Antivirus or the equivalent to cover rapidly evolving attacker tools and techniques.

 Run EDR in block mode to enable antivirus block malicious artifacts (EDR in block mode works behind the scenes to remediate malicious artifacts that are detected post-breach.)

 Enable network protection to prevent applications or users from accessing malicious domains and other malicious content on the Internet.

 Enable investigation and remediation in full automated mode to allow antivirus take immediate action on alerts to resolve breaches.

 Use device discovery to increase your visibility into your network by finding unmanaged devices on your network and onboarding them

 Enable multifactor authentication (MFA) to mitigate compromised credentials.

 Block all Office applications from creating child processes.

Users and administrators are advised to review and apply the above mitigations.

To report an incident, contact NITDA CERRT via email [email protected] or via telephone +2348178774580.


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Ugo Onwuaso is an ICT enthusiast. He believes technology should be used for general good. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Lagos state University. Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

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Google Rolls Out Search Live AI to 200+ Countries, Including Nigeria

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Google has launched its Search Live feature globally to over 200 countries, including Nigeria, where AI Mode is available, enabling voice-and-camera conversations in users’ preferred languages.

Google Rolls Out Search Live AI to 200+ Countries, Including Nigeria

Google

Powered by the new multilingual Gemini 3.1 Flash Live model, it delivers natural, real-time interactions via the Google app on Android or iOS—tap the Live icon under the Search bar.

Ideal for hands-free help, users can speak queries for audio replies, follow-ups, or web links. Camera integration adds visual context, like troubleshooting a shelving unit, or pairs with Google Lens for real-world chats.

From the app or Lens, Nigerians can now explore, learn, or solve tasks instantly, boosting everyday productivity worldwide.


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IFC Invests $45m to Green African Telecom Sites

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Clean and reliable power for telecom networks in Ethiopia, Liberia, and Sierra Leone will be expanded following a $45 million investment by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in IPT PowerTech.

The investment targets countries where limited power supply continues to slow digital connectivity and broader economic participation, the institution stated earlier this week.

To enable this expansion, the IFC is providing a $45 million corporate financing package consisting of an A-loan of $27 million and $18 million in blended finance.

The blended portion is sourced from the Canada-IFC Blended Climate Finance Programme and the IDA20 Private Sector Window Blended Finance Facility.

The initiative marks the IFC’s first direct infrastructure engagement in Liberia in a decade and in Sierra Leone in six years.

It will help scale solar- and battery-based power systems that reduce reliance on diesel and support greener, more resilient telecom networks.

By improving the quality and stability of power to telecom towers, the initiative will strengthen mobile coverage and ensure that households, schools, health centres, and small businesses can depend on consistent digital services, said the IFC.

The funding supports the modernisation, operation, and maintenance of 2 235 telecom sites across the three nations. More than 90% of these are located in off-grid or weak-grid locations.

With new solar and battery systems powering these sites, mobile networks will experience fewer outages and improved service quality.

Optimising the energy mix is estimated to reduce power costs for operators by up to 30% in Liberia, 26% in Sierra Leone, and 52% in Ethiopia.

This transition is also expected to cut emissions by more than 10 624 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. Furthermore, the partnership will promote gender inclusion by expanding opportunities for women in technical, operational, and leadership roles within the sector, says the IFC.

This agreement reflects a shared vision for a greener telecom industry and empowers the company to scale its innovative energy platforms, according to Nabil Haddad, CEO of IPT PowerTech Group.

Reliable and affordable power for telecom networks is a cornerstone of Africa’s digital transformation, said Nathalie Kouassi-Akon, IFC regional director for West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea.

Through this partnership, the institution is supporting a scalable, private sector-led solution that enables mobile operators to reach underserved and fragile communities more sustainably, added Kouassi-Akon.

The project advances the World Bank Group and African Development Bank’s Mission 300 initiative, which aims to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030.


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Expedier Launches Platform to Ease Cross-Border Payments for African Firms

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Expedier has unveiled “Expedier for Business,” an online pro-banking platform to simplify global payments, multi-currency transactions, and financial operations for expanding companies.

Expedier Launches Platform to Ease Cross-Border Payments for African Firms

Kingsley Madu

The tool centralizes payments, invoicing, payroll, and treasury into one secure dashboard, tackling challenges like fragmented systems and poor visibility that hinder international scaling.

Kingsley Madu, Co-Founder and CEO of Expedier, said: “African businesses are increasingly global… Expedier for Business was built to simplify how companies manage money across borders while maintaining visibility, control, and compliance.”

Key features include customizable dashboards for payments, invoices, and workflows; support for USD, CAD, GBP, EUR, and more; virtual cards; automated payroll/invoicing; currency swaps; and real-time tracking.

Security measures cover two-factor authentication, KYC/KYB verification, and team access controls.

As cross-border trade and remote work boom in Africa, the platform aids firms dealing with international suppliers, teams, and customers. It is now available for organizations scaling globally.


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