IT News
3 Things You Should Do if You Suspect Infected Apps On Your Android Device
Sourced from Forbes A new variant of the Joker Dropper and Premium Dialer spyware has been discovered in the Google Play Store, according to researchers at Check Point. Joker, one of the most prominent types of malware for Android, keeps finding its way into Google’s official application market as a result of small changes to its code, which enables it to get past the Play store’s security and vetting barriers. This time, however, researchers report that the malicious actor behind Joker adopted an old technique from the conventional PC threat landscape and used it in the mobile app world to avoid detection by Google. To realize the ability of subscribing app users to premium services without their knowledge or consent, the Joker utilized two main components – the Notification Listener serv...
South Africa’s eCommerce Market to Reach $3.5 Billion in 2020, says Researchers
eCommerce has broken barriers as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic’s lockdown restrictions. Statista believes that the South African market will reach just over R62 billion this year, and show a compounded annual growth rate of 10% for the next four years. User penetration will be 37% this year and is expected to hit almost 51% by 2024. And even given the devasting impact of the national lockdown restrictions, which meant that online shoppers could order only “essential” items, 22% of a thousand South African adults surveyed in late April by Ipsos said they were using online shopping more frequently than in the month before, with 65% shopping less at a supermarket according to Nielsen figures released in early May. eCommerce and Consumer Trust “We’re seeing more and more people real...
Google and Telkom Launch Balloon-Powered Internet Service in Kenya
Image sourced from MIT Technology Review Google’s Loon Project and Telkom Kenya have announced that it’s balloon-powered mobile Internet service is now available and covers more than 50,000 sq.km of the country with a fleet of 35 balloons – specific areas include Iten, Eldoret, Baringo, Nakuru, Kakamega, Kisumu, Kisii, Bomet, Kericho and Narok. According to the companies, this is the first balloon-powered internet to launch in Africa and the first non-emergency commercial deployment in the world. The Loon service will work by beaming Internet connectivity from ground stations to balloons 20 km overhead. The balloons (floating base stations) are linked to the ground stations that have been connected to Telkom’s network. These ground stations utilise millimeter wave spectrum to send connecti...
Why Senior Citizens Should Choose Online Banking
While citizens are encouraged to remain indoors and work from their homes as a result of COVID-19, research around the world also highlights that senior citizens are among the most vulnerable to the pandemic. This is one of the compelling reasons for senior citizens to consider efficient ways of banking to minimise the risk of exposure to COVID-19. The adoption of digital banking channels over this period empowers consumers of all ages with tools to easily manage their money from anywhere and at any time; allowing them to protect their health at the same time. “As a bank for all, we continue to scale our efforts in educating our customers on the ease and safety of using our digital platforms. To those customers over the age of 55, we want to emphasise the endless benefits such as cost-savi...
WHO Partners with Facebook to Provide Data-Free COVID-19 Info
The World Health Organization (WHO) has partnered with Facebook and South African based Praekelt.org to provide data-free information on the COVID-19 pandemic to vulnerable communities across the globe. This is said to add a vital element to the organisation’s work to fight misinformation – and ensure everyone has access to accurate health information and resources on COVID-19. In announcing this partnership, WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “Through this collaboration, we will reach some of the most vulnerable people who will be able to access lifesaving health information without any data charges in more than 50 countries”. The collaboration makes use of Free Basics and Discover by Facebook which provides people with access to useful services on their mobile phon...
Canon Unveils Two Mirrorless Cameras – the EOS R5 and EOS R6
Canon has added two advanced full-frame mirrorless camera additions to its EOS R System range – the EOS R5 and EOS R6. The pro-level EOS R5 delivers 45-megapixel stills at up to 20fps and is the first full-frame mirrorless ever to record 8K RAW up to 29.97fps internally and 4K to 120p. The EOS R6 is perfect for enthusiasts and professionals moving to mirrorless and looking for greater capabilities, capturing 20.1-megapixel stills at 20fps, stunning 4K video up to 60p and Full HD at up to 120p. Redefining professional mirrorless Next-generation CMOS sensor technology combined with high-performance RF lenses enable users to capture new levels of detail at industry-leading speeds. EOS R5 and EOS R6 can shoot with the electronic shutter in complete silence with full auto exposure (...
Mastercard and FASTA Launch South Africa’s First Virtual Credit Card
Mastercard has teamed up with FASTA – a digital lending fintech – to launch the FASTACard, South Africa’s first virtual credit card. The FASTACard – backed by Standard Bank and Tutuka – is said to give locals access to instant credit which is loaded onto a secure digital card that can be used online and in-store. This virtual card will help to meet the demand of today’s cash-strapped consumers who are increasingly seeking ‘no contact’ digital payment solutions in the wake of the pandemic. South Africans who choose to apply can select their own credit limit – up to R8,000 – and repayment plan – with up to three instalments paid over four months. Within minutes, the loan application is approved and customers are sent a virtual card which is valid for three years. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_070....
TikTok Glitch Makes Views and Likes Disappear
Sourced from Gadgets 360. Popular video-sharing platform, TikTok has confirmed that some users have experienced a glitch where their account page, following feeds and For You Page all displayed zero likes and views. Hi TikTok community! We’re aware that some users are experiencing app issues – working to quickly fix things, and we’ll share updates here! — TikTokSupport (@TikTokSupport) July 9, 2020 “Some of our users experienced app issues around notifications, the display of likes and view counts, and trouble loading videos on some pages of the app,” says the Chinese app in a statement to The Verge. “The issues appear to have been caused by higher traffic than normal on our servers, causing temporary service disruptions. We’ve resolved the problem and are investigating the cau...
Google Maps is Testing New Traffic Light Feature
Sourced from Shutterstock. Google has confirmed that it is testing a new feature that’ll show Google Maps users the location of traffic lights. In a statement reported by The Verge, Google says “To help people stay better informed on the road, we’re testing a Google Maps feature on Android that shows the location of traffic lights in select cities across the US”. Image sourced from The Verge This feature was first spotted by droidlife which notes that “the little traffic light icon isn’t that easy to see just yet and Google doesn’t seem to be actively letting users know about lights, but the icons could be a start to more meaningful info.” This feature isn’t exactly new as it’s been used successfully by Google Maps users in Japan for a few years now – however, a global rollout of...
ESET Research Dissects Evilnum Group as its Malware Targets
ESET researchers are releasing their in-depth analysis into the operations of Evilnum, the APT group behind the Evilnum malware. According to ESET’s telemetry, the targets are financial technology companies – for example, platforms and tools for online trading. Although most of the targets are located in EU countries and the UK, ESET has also seen attacks in countries such as Australia and Canada. The main goal of the Evilnum group is to spy on its targets and obtain financial information from both the targeted companies and their customers. “While this malware has been seen in the wild since at least 2018 and documented previously, little has been published about the group behind it and how it operates,” says Matias Porolli, the ESET researcher leading the investigation into Evilnum. “Its...
REVIEW: Fujifilm Instax Link Mini Smartphone Printer
The resurrection of the polaroid-aesthetic camera has been massive, with Fujifilm leading the charge in Africa. Now, lovers of the old-school instant print photos are in for a wild ride as Intax’ Link Mini Smartphone printer mixes new tech with old tech to create something that needs to be seen to be believed. The Instax Link Mini is sleek in design, it features a rounded shape that is deceivingly small and comfortably fits in hand. The device is mostly controlled through a large Instax button at its centre and features a backport for the film and an output slide for printed photos. Most of its connectivity and usage is done straight through the Instax Mini Link app, available on Android and iOS via instant Bluetooth connectivity. Through the app, the printer can be used ...
MTN Ranked as South Africa’s Best Network during Lockdown
Image sourced from Pinterest. MTN has been named as the best mobile network in South Africa during lockdown – a title awarded by MyBroadband in their lastest insights report. The report is based on 278,890 speed tests which were performed by thousands of Speed Test App users across the country between 1 April and 30 June 2020. The research shows that South Africa had an average mobile download speed of 27.13Mbps and an average upload speed of 10.53Mbps. Telecoms and Lockdown During the lockdown, there was pressure on mobile networks to maintain good service levels amidst the increased demand for data. The higher data traffic, which increased by up to 50%, would typically result in a decrease in network speeds. However, this was not the case thanks to the temporary spectrum issued by ICASA ...
