Cybercriminals, Asylum Ambuscade have been exposed. The group has been active since 2020, and recently caught the attention of cybersecurity researchers. The group that has launched attacks on Ukraine’s neighboring countries targets individuals, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), banking application users, and cryptocurrency users across North America and Europe. In addition to cybercriminal activities, Asylum Ambuscade has been conducting espionage operations against government entities in Europe and Central Asia, as revealed by ESET Research.

Diversification into Cyberespionage

Asylum Ambuscade’s cyberespionage campaigns, which began in 2020, primarily targeted government officials and employees of public companies in Central Asian countries and Armenia. In 2022, the group expanded its focus to European countries neighboring Ukraine. ESET’s research indicates that the attackers aimed to steal confidential information and email credentials from official government email portals. This shift from primarily cybercriminal activities to cyberespionage is an unusual development that has prompted close monitoring by cybersecurity experts.

Attack Techniques and Compromise Chain

The compromise chain initiated by Asylum Ambuscade in their cyberespionage operations involved a phishing email with a malicious attachment in Excel or Word format. If the targeted machine was deemed interesting, the attackers proceeded to deploy AHKBOT, a downloader equipped with various plugins for spying on victims’ devices. These plugins enable screen capture, keystroke logging, stealing web browser passwords, file downloading, and information theft.

Wide-Ranging Targets and Victim Profile

Although Asylum Ambuscade gained notoriety for its cyberespionage operations, the group has primarily engaged in cybercriminal campaigns since early 2020. ESET Research identified over 4,500 victims worldwide since January 2022, with most located in North America. However, victims have also been discovered in Asia, Africa, Europe, and South America. The group’s broad targeting primarily focuses on individuals, cryptocurrency traders, banking customers, and SMEs across various sectors.

Observations from ESET Research

Matthieu Faou, an ESET researcher investigating Asylum Ambuscade’s activities, notes the group’s unusual diversification into cyberespionage campaigns. The compromise chain in their cyberespionage operations closely resembles their cybercriminal campaigns, with the main difference lying in the initial compromise vector. In cyberespionage, the vector can involve malicious Google Ad redirection or multiple HTTP redirects leading to websites distributing malicious JavaScript files.

Moreover, the group has expanded its activities from cybercriminal campaigns to cyberespionage operations. With a primary focus on individuals, SMEs, and users of banking applications and cryptocurrencies in North America and Europe, the group has recently targeted government officials in European countries neighboring Ukraine. As young individuals navigate the digital landscape, it is essential to stay informed about evolving cyber threats like Asylum Ambuscade. By following cybersecurity research and adopting secure practices, individuals can protect themselves and contribute to a safer online environment.

//Staff writer

Zindi, a professional network for data scientists in Africa has launched the South African Artificial Intelligence Association (SAAIA) to promote the adoption of AI as a tool for education and social impact.

The association’s Founding Advisory Board includes major law firms, government entities, universities, and AI startups. The co-founder of SAAIA, Dr. Nick Bradshaw, brings extensive experience in enterprise collaboration software and cloud platforms.

Research conducted by AI Media Africa, another co-founder, shows the global impact of AI and automation technologies on various industries. The CEO Zindi & SAAIA advisory board member Celina Lee, emphasize the importance of responsible AI adoption for South Africa’s economic development, fairness, and inclusivity, saying “The adoption of responsible AI is necessary to maintain the integrity of South Africa’s economic development and uplifting of its people.”

SAAIA aims to focus on regulation, economic growth, trade, investment, and equality in the AI space. Founding members include South African institutions and international organizations like GIZ. The vision of SAAIA is to guide stakeholders toward achieving these objectives.

Zindi CEO said, “Our community at Zindi is made up of 65 000 data scientists from more than 50 countries on the continent, as well as hundreds of groups, societies, businesses, and other partner organizations working in the AI space. The introduction of SAAIA bodes well for bringing all of these groups together, to discover new ways of working and uplift the AI sector in South Africa and Africa as a whole.”

With the right guidance and institutions, AI (Artificial Intelligence) will elevate economic growth, trade, investment, equality and inclusivity in South Africa and across the continent.

Generative AI, which involves AI systems creating new content and ideas such as conversations, stories, images, videos, and music, has gained significant attention in recent times. Amazon Web Services (AWS) aims to democratize access to generative AI and make it easier for customers to integrate it into their businesses. To support the infrastructure needs of generative AI, AWS has announced the general availability of Amazon EC2 Trn1n instances powered by AWS Trainium and Amazon EC2 Inf2 instances powered by AWS Inferentia2. These instances are specifically optimized for machine learning (ML) training and inference, offering high performance and cost-effectiveness.

AWS has been focusing on AI and ML for over 20 years, with many of its capabilities driven by ML. From e-commerce recommendations to robotic picking routes optimization in fulfillment centers, supply chain management, forecasting, and capacity planning, ML plays a crucial role. Technologies like Prime Air and computer vision in Amazon Go also rely on ML. With over 100,000 customers of all sizes and industries, AWS has played a key role in democratizing ML and making it accessible. It offers a wide range of AI and ML services, including infrastructure for ML training and inference, Amazon SageMaker for building and deploying models, and various services for adding AI capabilities to applications.

Generative AI is powered by ML models known as Foundation Models (FMs), which are pre-trained on vast amounts of data. Recent advancements in ML have led to the development of FMs with billions of parameters, enabling them to perform a wide range of tasks across different domains. FMs are general-purpose models that can be customized for specific functions using a small fraction of the data and compute required to train a model from scratch. This customization allows companies to create unique customer experiences and tailor the models to their specific needs.

To address the challenges faced by customers in accessing and integrating FMs, AWS has introduced Amazon Bedrock. Bedrock provides access to a range of powerful FMs from AI21 Labs, Anthropic, Stability AI, and Amazon via an API. It offers a serverless experience, allowing customers to find the right model, customize it with their own data, and easily integrate and deploy it into their applications using familiar AWS tools. Bedrock ensures data privacy and security by encrypting all data and keeping it within the customer’s Virtual Private Cloud (VPC).

Additionally, AWS has introduced the Titan FMs, which consist of two new large language models (LLMs). The first Titan model is a generative LLM suitable for tasks like summarization, text generation, classification, and open-ended Q&A. The second model is an embeddings LLM that translates text inputs into numerical representations for applications like personalization and search. The Titan FMs are designed to detect and remove harmful content and provide contextual responses.

AWS also offers specialized infrastructure for generative AI. The Amazon EC2 Trn1n instances powered by AWS Trainium provide significant cost savings for ML training, while the Amazon EC2 Inf2 instances powered by AWS Inferentia deliver high-performance inference with low latency and high throughput networking.

By introducing Amazon Bedrock, Titan FMs, and specialized infrastructure, AWS aims to make generative AI accessible to companies of all sizes, accelerating the use of ML across organizations. The availability of FMs through a managed service and the ease of customization enable developers to build their own generative AI applications quickly and securely. AWS continues to drive innovation in ML and AI, empowering customers to transform their businesses with these technologies.

Google Cloud and Moniepoint have partnered to provide financial services to underbanked businesses in remote areas of Nigeria.

The collaboration aims to bridge the banking gap in suburban locations and make financial services accessible to millions of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). With over 41 million micro-businesses in Nigeria, enabling digital payments is crucial for their success. Moniepoint has shifted its focus to consumer-facing products that digitize these businesses, and it has chosen Google Cloud’s scalable infrastructure to support this mission.

Moniepoint efficiently delivers banking services in remote areas by leveraging Google Cloud’s technology. This collaboration significantly impacts SME growth and success by providing accessible financial services and enabling digital payment acceptance.

Felix Ike, Chief Technology officer (CTO) of Moniepoint, expressed gratitude for Google Cloud’s support saying “Google Cloud has been a key enabler in fueling Moniepoint’s growth journey from day one, as we expanded from a small business to become a licensed business bank that caters to 1.3 million businesses across Nigeria today. Our development team is empowered with the latest technology to process financial transactions quickly and move fast with requests as Google Cloud technologies are easy to deploy. With Google Cloud’s scalable infrastructure, we are confident that we can grow our customer base exponentially to cater to three million customers in the coming 18 months as we expand our footprint across Africa.”

Niral Patel, Google Cloud Africa Director, emphasized Moniepoint’s impactful business model addressing Nigeria’s underbanked population. By leveraging cost-effective Google Cloud solutions, Moniepoint empowers SMEs and addresses the underbanked population in Nigeria, enabling its growth. By automating manual processes, Moniepoint has achieved remarkable efficiency gains, reducing transaction times from eight hours to just 10 minutes. Automation instills confidence, expanding Moniepoint’s customer base as businesses rely on its seamless and secure financial services.

//Staff writer

South Africa’s Cell C welcomes Maya Makanjee and Godfrey Motsa, to its Board of Directors. Their appointment to the board exemplifies Cell C’s strategic focus on accelerating growth and fostering investor confidence.

Maya Makanjee, a highly accomplished business leader, has accumulated nearly 30 years of diverse executive director experience across industries. Maya brings a diverse skill set, spanning FMCG, Telecommunications, and Financial Services. Her track record includes leadership roles at Vodacom, FinMark Trust, SABMiller, and Nestlé. Currently, Maya serves as an independent non-executive director on several boards in both the public and private sectors and non-profit organizations. Maya’s strategic acumen and governance expertise will guide Cell C toward a successful future.

With 17 years of telecom experience at MTN and Vodacom, Godfrey drove profitability, empowering teams for outstanding results. Godfrey drove profitability, leveraging market knowledge and exceptional leadership to empower teams for outstanding results. Godfrey’s appointment to Cell C’s board signifies a new chapter of growth and strategic direction, instilling confidence within the investor community.

“We are thrilled to welcome Maya and Godfrey to our board,” expressed Cell C Board Chairman, Joe Mthimunye. “Their remarkable track records and diverse experiences will strategically guide Cell C into the future.

Maya’s stakeholder engagement expertise and Godfrey’s transformative leadership will expedite growth, solidifying our position in telecoms. This move highlights our commitment to South Africa and our dedication to delivering exceptional value to our stakeholders.”

Maya and Godfrey’s appointments invigorate Cell C with cross-industry knowledge and strategic guidance for accelerated growth. Their expertise enriches the board, enabling the company to navigate telecom landscape and seize emerging opportunities.

//Staff writer

Technology has revolutionized the way we live, and parenting is no exception. Millennials (born between 1981-1996) are the largest group of parents in South Africa (26% according to Statistics South Africa), and they are embracing innovative tools and apps.

As digital natives, millennials have been immersed in technology since their early years. Whether it’s smartphones, laptops, or desktop computers, technology is a natural part of their lives. According to a 2021 report by We Are Social and Hootsuite, South Africa has a high rate of internet penetration, with 38.2 million active internet users, which is equivalent to 64% of the population. From pregnancy apps to smart baby monitors, South African millennials are embracing technology to make their lives easier through easy access to information and tools that can help them navigate the challenges of raising children.

Baby monitors no longer deliver scratchy audio or grainy images. Today’s smart baby monitors give parents peace of mind, allowing them to check in on their little ones from anywhere. These monitors allow parents to keep an eye on their baby from wherever they may be, using their smartphone or tablet. Some models even come equipped with features like night vision, two-way audio, and motion sensors, giving parents added peace of mind.

Technological advances have resulted in a changing pad that doubles as a scale for parents to track their baby’s weight. Smart bottle warmers allow parents to warm a bottle to the optimal temperature – not too cold, not too hot – via an app. Smart pacifiers, baby activity trackers, and sleep aids are other examples of how technology is being incorporated into baby products to help parents monitor and care for their babies.

And it’s not just about parenting. We’ve seen how technology has transformed the way South African millennials plan and host baby showers, compile baby registries, and shop for gifts as well as school requirements online. With e-commerce on the rise, it’s easier than ever for parents to find what they need for their growing families.

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the trend of virtual communication, with millennials leveraging platforms like Zoom, Skype, and Teams to stay connected with teachers and support systems while using the same to manage their new hybrid working models. Remote learning and virtual parent-teacher conferences have become the norm, making it easier for parents to stay involved in their children’s lives. With older South Africans also embracing mobile devices and smart technology, it’s never been easier for millennials to stay connected with their families and loved ones, no matter where they are in the world.

While some may view the use of technology in parenting as excessive, for many South African millennials, it’s a crucial tool that simplifies their lives and enhances their parenting journey. Ipsos’ survey in 2020 found that 86% of South African millennials believe that technology has made parenting easier, with 52% using technology to monitor their children’s online activities and 47% using technology to monitor their children’s location. And with technology continuing to advance, we can expect to see even more innovations that make parenting more accessible and rewarding than ever before.

By Ronald Govender Dis-Chem Baby City FMCG Executive

As South Africa celebrates youth month, Lewis Stores (Pty) Ltd, a leading organisation in the country’s retail industry, is celebrating its successful partnership with redAcademy, an experiential learning hub specialising in coding and technology skills for local youth. Lewis Stores, together with redAcademy is empowering next generation developers through supporting and uplifting young people who may not have the opportunity to study in formal tertiary education. Beyond that, it sees the strategic value for the country in fast-tracking young people onto the career ladder.

Based in Cape Town, Africa’s tech capital, redAcademy is hosted by redPanda Software, an enterprise software developer and technology partner of Lewis Stores (Pty) Ltd.

As part of the partnership for the one-year Career Sprint, candidates – known as Sprinters – spent a six-month period engaging with software project development and delivering real-world tech solutions for the Lewis group as a whole. By developing solutions based on the organisation’s operational process and with their IT needs in mind, Sprinters have acquired invaluable knowledge and skills that have prepared them to enter into a career in the tech industry.

“By investing in programs like redAcademy’s Career Sprint, we have not only provided these young individuals with valuable knowledge, skills and real-world experience from working on our tech solutions, but we have made a meaningful difference in their lives,” said Arno Geldenhuys, Head of Information Technology for Lewis Stores (Pty) Ltd. “This successful initiative aligns perfectly with the spirit of youth month, which celebrates the potential and achievements of the younger generation.” According to Waleed Achmat, HR Director for Lewis, this initiative supports the Lewis vision of developing and upskilling youth to become future leaders for the country.

On 31 May 2023, redAcademy celebrated the successful graduation of its first cohort of Sprinters as Junior Software Developers, all with permanent roles within a software development organisation. Jessica Hawkey, Managing Director of redAcademy, expressed her gratitude to Lewis Stores (Pty) Ltd for their visionary leadership and steadfast commitment to investing in the future talent of South Africa. She also acknowledged the invaluable contribution of redPanda Software, for hosting the academy and providing ongoing mentorship to the Sprinters.

“Lewis Stores (Pty) Ltd’s partnership with redAcademy goes beyond mere collaboration; it is a testament to their shared mission of empowering South Africa’s youth and transforming the country’s tech landscape,” said Hawkey.

//Staff Writer

IT infrastructure & network service provider SevenC highlights load shedding impact mitigation and continuity strategies for businesses.

“Load shedding relentlessly challenges South African businesses, disrupting operations, causing downtime, data loss, and hindering productivity,” says Graeme Millar, managing director of SevenC Computing.

“With strategic planning and meticulous optimization of IT infrastructure, however, businesses can empower themselves to minimize the crippling impact of load shedding and forge an unyielding path of continuity amidst the chaos.”

Here are SevenC’s 10 critical strategies for businesses to consider:

1. Power-Efficient Hardware: Opt for energy-efficient servers, storage, and networking gear to save power and extend backup during outages.

2. Load-Balancing Strategies: Utilize load balancers to optimize performance by distributing network traffic across multiple servers or resources.

3. Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Systems: Deploy UPS systems to ensure continuous power supply for critical IT infrastructure during load shedding.

4. Disaster Recovery Planning: Regularly back up critical data off-site or in the cloud, ensure redundancy, and conduct disaster recovery drills.

5. Cloud Computing and Remote Access: Migrate critical resources to the cloud for uninterrupted access, even during physical infrastructure disruptions. Cloud service providers offer robust data centers with redundant power backup systems, enabling businesses to maintain operations during power outages.

6. Monitoring and Alerting Systems: Implement monitoring tools for real-time insights on power consumption, system utilization, and potential issues, facilitating prompt actions.

7. Managed Services and Outsourcing: Outsource IT management for hardware, software, security, and disaster recovery to experienced professionals.

8. Power Backup Solutions: Explore alternative power back-ups solutions like generators, solar systems, and energy storage based on specific needs and budgets.

9. Training and Skill Development: Invest in IT training programs to enhance knowledge of power management, load balancing, disaster recovery, and cloud technologies.

10. Continuous Evaluation and Improvement: Regularly evaluate systems, identify areas for improvement, and implement necessary updates to ensure ongoing resilience.

Optimizing IT infrastructure for load shedding requires a proactive and strategic approach. Engaging SevenC helps businesses mitigate load shedding’s impact by implementing effective strategies and leveraging their IT expertise.

Network International (NI) partners with Vodacom Financial and Digital Lifestyle Services in digital payments technology.

This partnership enables NI to deliver a fully managed service offering, leveraging its omnichannel digital payment capabilities. Cardholders can make payments anywhere using various methods, ensuring seamless and secure transactions through end-to-end tokenization. This deal encompasses managed card services, processing, transaction switching, and value-added support functions for card issuing and acquiring.

Merchants will benefit from the ability to accept payments across different modes, enabling them to provide a comprehensive omnichannel experience. Carlo Ricci, Co-Regional Managing Director of Southern Africa at Network International, aligns Vodacom and NI in empowering underbanked customers and enabling commerce. The partnership showcases NI’s expertise in serving banks and supporting mobile network operators (MNOs) and fintech on their digital payments journey.

Network International’s commitment to the local and African markets is evident through ongoing investments. Earlier this year, the company introduced its advanced AWS cloud-based integrated payment suite, hosted and operated in South Africa.

Dr. Reda Helal, Group MD, Processing Business – Africa, emphasizes NI’s dedication to offering innovative solutions and services to clients, “NI is well-positioned to offer innovative solutions and services to its clients. We commit to continuing our investment in local resources and capabilities in South Africa to ensure agility in delivering the best to our clients. Our Payment as a Service offering gives African banks, telcos, and retailers the confidence to radically transform their operations and, through this, their products and services, ensuring they remain competitive and sustainable”.

//Staff writer

Kaspersky is a company dedicated to safeguarding individuals and businesses from online threats. With a wealth of experience in cybersecurity and digital privacy since their establishment in 1997, their primary objective is to develop innovative solutions and services that ensure the security of your information.

On June 16, an auspicious day known as Stop Cyberbullying Day coincides with Youth Day in South Africa. These occasions hold great significance as they concentrate on empowering young people and ensuring their safety both in the virtual and physical realms. In commemoration of these days, Kaspersky aims to impart some valuable tips that can help combat cyberbullying and establish a safer online environment for everyone.

Brandon Muller, a technology expert at Kaspersky, comprehends the paramount importance of protecting young individuals in today’s digital landscape. He asserts, “We acknowledge the significance of safeguarding our youth in today’s digital era. While the Internet serves as a vital tool for supplementing education, socializing with friends and family, and engaging in recreational activities, it also poses risks due to the ongoing threat of cyberbullying. As South Africans honor these noteworthy occasions, we are reminded of the imperative to foster a safer online milieu for our young generation. By equipping our youth and their parents with knowledge and tools to shield themselves online, we empower them to navigate the digital world with confidence and security.”

Below, you will find ten tips that Kaspersky wishes to share:

1. Be cautious: Be aware of what you do online. Understand the rules and what is okay to share on websites, apps, and platforms.

2. Privacy settings: Use privacy settings on social media to control who sees your posts and personal information.

3. Think before taking action: Think carefully before posting anything online. Remember that once something is on the internet, it can be there forever, even if you delete it.

4. Use Strong passwords: Protect your accounts by using strong and unique passwords. Never share your passwords with anyone.

5. Report & block bullies: If someone is bullying you online, report and block them. Most platforms have tools to help you do this.

6. Avoid Trolls: Don’t engage with bullies or trolls online. Ignoring and blocking them is usually the best option.

7. Keep Evidence: Keep evidence of any cyberbullying incidents. Take screenshots or save conversations. This evidence can be helpful if you need to show it to parents, teachers, or authorities.

8. Reach out for help: Talk to someone you trust if you’re being cyberbullied. Reach out to your parents, teachers, or school counselor. They can support you and help you take action.

9.  Educate yourself and others: Educate yourself about cyberbullying and how it can affect your life. Share what you learn with friends and family to keep them safe too.

10. install security software: Consider using security software like Kaspersky Safe Kids. It helps parents monitor their children’s online activities, block inappropriate content, and keep them safe.

Furthermore, by following these tips, you can help create a better digital world for everyone while keeping in mind that staying safe online is of utmost importance.

//Staff writer

In today’s professional landscape, staying connected is essential as individuals and teams embrace mobility, working and collaborating from anywhere. The emergence of 5G technology has become increasingly relevant, especially in the past year. Major mobile network operators in South Africa are expanding their 5G networks, making this technology widely available in most major cities. Notably, many organizations are eagerly preparing for private 5G deployments. According to IDC, projections indicate that the number of 5G connections worldwide will exceed one billion this year, marking a substantial increase from around 10 million in 2019. The adoption of 5G is expected to be driven by enterprises, and there are several reasons for this.

1. 5G is more than just speed: While 5G is often described as 10 times faster than its predecessor, 4G, its impact goes beyond speed alone. The strengthened security, increased bandwidth, and reduced latency offered by 5G are potential game-changers for organizations.

2. Enhanced Security: With 256-bit encryption, 5G provides a more secure connectivity option compared to 4G’s 128-bit encryption. This makes data transmission safer, protecting companies from cybersecurity threats that may arise from using unsecured public Wi-Fi networks in places like airports or coffee shops.

3. Ample Bandwidth: 5G’s increased bandwidth reduces waiting time for file transfers, benefiting employees who regularly exchange large chunks of data such as architects, engineers, and content creators.

4. Reduced Latency: Real-time performance is crucial for time-sensitive decision-making, making reduced latency a key feature of 5G. Industries like emergency response and healthcare can greatly benefit from uninterrupted connectivity in remote locations. Reduced latency also aids fast-paced sectors like finance.

Moreover, Dell’s engineers and software specialists have been designing for hybrid work lifestyles for years. Their high-quality, lightweight devices coupled with intelligent features like Dell Optimizer software, including ExpressConnect, provide seamless connectivity and prioritize bandwidth for conferencing applications. Dell Latitude laptops, compatible with 5G, are ideal for today’s mobile workforce. Other innovative connectivity options include 4G LTE and 5G-enabled devices, eSIM technology for global LTE access, and Wi-Fi 6E for faster and more reliable connectivity.

To ensure global connectivity, Dell is forming partnerships to address regional nuances in 5G networks. The introduction of 5G-enabled laptops, like the Latitude 9510 with Intel vPro, offers executives and mobile professionals ultra-fast 5G speeds and reliable connectivity, enhancing organizational performance and productivity.

As we move forward, the concept of connectivity has taken on new meaning. Both interpersonal and technological connections will continue to shape the future of work. With 5G technology and Dell’s advanced devices, the possibilities for an always-connected future are within reach, empowering individuals and organizations to thrive in a mobile world.

 Chris Buchanan, Client Solutions Director, Dell Technologies South Africa