tech news
Why CEO’s Shouldn’t Take on the Role of CIO
The heads of medium to large organisations have a very specific and all-embracing role to play. Peter Drucker, modern business futurist, said it best in 2004: “The CEO is the link between the Inside that is ‘the organisation,’ and the Outside of society, economy, technology, markets, and customers.” It’s a wide-angle lens role that is bestowed on CEOs while everyone else in the organisation applies a much narrower focus in one direction, for the most part, according to the Harvard Business Review. In a medium to large organisation, the CEO does not get involved with the day-to-day operations of the organisation. This is a responsibility shared (among others) by the Chief Operating Officer (COO), the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and the Chief Technology ...
Beyond Diversity and Inclusion – Why Allyship Must be the Way Forward
The past year has presented a number of unforeseeable challenges for both businesses and households alike. Working parents soon found their homes turning into not only makeshift offices but also fully-fledged classrooms. While this brought parents and children closer together it has also placed increasing strain with regards to managing work-life balance and keeping personal and professional lives separate. The pandemic has not only presented logistical challenges but has also affected our mental and physical wellbeing. With rules in place on how and where we engage with each other, parents have had to consider how to build their children’s social skills through new ways, while also trying to find time for themselves. In households where one of the parents may have lost their job, one can ...
Apple Reportedly Targeted in $50 Million Ransomware Attack
Apple Inc has reportedly suffered a ransomware attack at the hands of REvil operators. The hackers have revealed that the tech company has until 1 May to pay the ransom or risk losing confidential drawings and gigabytes of personal data. “Our team is negotiating the sale of large quantities of confidential drawings and gigabytes of personal data with several major brands,” says REvil operators. “We recommend that Apple buy back the available data by May 1.” According to The Record, the REvil gang asked for a $50 million ransom demand, similar to the sum they requested from laptop maker Acer last month. Denis Legezo, Senior Security Researcher for Kaspersky’s Global Research and Analysis Team, says “REvil ransomware has been known since 2019 and it can both encrypt data and steal it. I...
Tecno Mobile Outsells Samsung Across Africa in 2020
Tecno Mobile has reportedly outsold Samsung in Africa during 2020, confirming its status as the top smartphone brand on the continent – this is according to research from Counterpoint. The Chinese smartphone brand managed to achieve this despite a 6.7% year on year fall in Africa’s smartphone shipments in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The IDC (International Data Corporation) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker had already placed the company first in Africa for Q1 to Q3 last year, achieving an overall 4th Global Mobile Phone Ranking. According to the Counterpoint data, Tecno Mobile was responsible for 18% of the total smartphone shipment to Africa last year thanks to the company enjoying a strong second half of the year. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_8a0.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; ...
Samsung Ranked as Worlds No.1 TV Manufacturer
Image sourced from Samsung Samsung has been named the number one TV manufacturer across the world for the 15th consecutive year, according to Omdia. The tech company recorded 31.9% in global TV market share by revenue in Q4 2020 and retained the largest annual category market share by revenue in 2020, at 31.9%. Samsung’s growth across the Visual Display Business is said to reflect a commitment to the most premium at-home viewing experiences, coupled with the fast-growing QLED portfolio, category leadership in the ultra-large screen segment over 75-inches as well as the introduction and expansion of a Lifestyle TV portfolio. “Consumers use screens every day to entertain, connect with loved ones, work, exercise from home and do much more. And we have seen how different lifestyles and ro...
Why Cybersecurity Patches are only Part of a Plan
Patches are undoubtedly an essential component of a cybersecurity strategy. They can be used to address vulnerabilities, resolve issues or improve solutions. However, a patchwork approach alone is simply no longer sufficient. The current digital landscape, with many employees continuing to work from home, means most organisations’ attack surfaces are so much wider and less contained than before. Businesses need a plan that includes patch management and vulnerability management as part of an overarching strategy aimed at mitigating and managing cybersecurity risk. A place for patches Patches are useful tools, ensuring that updates can be pushed out, vulnerabilities addressed and recommended configuration changes made across an organisation. Patches are typically a retrospective development ...
MTN Nigeria Launches Unlimited Music Streaming Data Bundles
Sourced from TheTechieGuy (https://thetechieguy.com/) MTN Nigeria has partnered with Audiomack to offer subscribers tailored data bundles for streaming unlimited music and accessing content on Audiomack free of data charges. The partnership is expected to see MTN subscribers gain free access to Audiomack’s streaming service via their mobile devices on weekly and monthly subscriptions. The weekly plan offers 1.2GB + Free Audiomack while the monthly plan offers 2.5GB + Free Audiomack. “At Audiomack, we recognise the importance of access to quality music, and this coupled with Nigeria’s vibrant music industry has influenced this partnership,” says Dave Macli, CEO and Co-Founder of Audiomack Africa. “This relationship not only allows us to create shared value for MTN subscribers by delivering ...
Top 7 Forex Trading Apps for 2021
Mobile phones these days aren’t merely for entertainment and conversations. It has also made a lot of things more convenient for many users, including trading. Trading via smartphones allows easier access to your account and more benefits any time of the day regardless of your location. Because of this, you can get more opportunities that will help you grow your money. In fact, because of this, you can indulge in the market 24/7. Apps can also have various features that will help you trade better and have a better experience depending on your needs. With such apps, you won’t need to analyze big overwhelming charts. You can also take advantage of trend indicators and oscillators. However, it’s so easy for beginners to know where to start as numerous forex trading apps appear left and right ...
Twitter Users Can Now Tweet Pictures in 4K
Image sourced from Mission Statement Academy Twitter began testing new ways to post images back in March. Now, Twitter users will be able to post images in 4K. “Time to Tweet those high res pics – the option to upload and view 4K images on Android and iOS is now available for everyone,” says the company in an official tweet. To begin uploading and viewing images in 4K, users simply need to update their high-quality image preferences in “Data usage” settings. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_404.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_404.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } Time to Tweet those high res pics –– the option to upload and view 4K images on Android and iOS is now available for everyone. To start uploading and viewing images in 4K, update your high-quality image preferences in “Data u...
Amazon Set to Open New HQ in South Africa
Image sourced from CNBC Amazon is set to open up its new base of African operations in Cape Town, South Africa. The company is currently based in an office block and has been on the hunt for a bigger base of operations in Cape Town since 2018, reports Business Insider. The new headquarters will be located on a 15-hectare parcel of land that has been approved for development by the Liesbeek Leisure Properties Trust. The planned mixed-use development – where Amazon is listed as an anchor tenant – is expected to be a significant boost to the Cape Town economy as the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown remains. “The planned mixed-use development will be a significant boost to the economy and the people of Cape Town in the aftermath of the national COVID-19 lockdown. The City has carefully and thor...
Instagram Introduces New Feature to Filter Abusive DMs
Image sourced from Time Instagram has introduced a new tool that will allow users to turn on an abusive message filter for direct messages (DMs). It will work in a similar way to the comment filters Instagram already offers – which allow users to hide offensive comments and choose what terms they don’t want people to use in comments under their posts. “We’re announcing a new way to protect people from seeing abusive DMs in the first place, as well as the ability to prevent someone you’ve blocked from contacting you from a new account,” reads a blog post from Instagram. “We understand the impact that abusive content – whether it’s racist, sexist, homophobic, or any other kind of abuse – can have on people. Nobody should have to experience that on Instagram.” But the social platform goes on ...
South African can Use WhatsApp to Pay SMEs
Image sourced from YoMZanzi Nedbank, Mastercard and Ukheshe have partnered to launch Money Message – a new payment platform that lets small businesses receive secure in-chat payments from their customers via WhatsApp. A first in South Africa, the solution is expected to enable merchants to send an invoice requesting payment from any customer seamlessly through WhatsApp. Their customers in turn can quickly settle payment directly from the platform. “The need for a diverse range of contactless payment methods is more important today than we could have possibly imagined, as we seek to rebuild the economy by giving businesses the ability to transact in a safe and secure way,” says Chipo Mushwana, Executive of Emerging Payments at Nedbank. “In order to support entrepreneurship and sustainable b...
