Africa is at the Forefront of an ICT Revolution

Africa is currently experiencing a digital revolution, driven by the rapid adoption of cutting-edge technology in other countries. The younger generation, benefiting from improved internet access, finds it easier to embrace technology.

In the year 2023, Nigeria is expected to witness an increased utilization of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to tackle problems and improve services. AI will play a prominent role in various industries, including healthcare, education, and agriculture. Experts predict that by 2030, AI will contribute $1.15 trillion to Africa's economy.

According to Juniper Research, digital twin technology is projected to generate $13 billion in revenue by 2023. African nations are adopting a forward-thinking approach, leveraging digital twin technology to level the playing field. By enhancing operational efficiency and embracing data-driven decision-making, African businesses can reduce risks. Furthermore, the development of such technologies has the potential to create jobs and address traffic issues in major cities.

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies, at the intersection of virtual and physical realities, have had a significant impact on the emergence of the Metaverse. Businesses of all sizes are utilizing metaverse technology to enhance their social media presence and cultivate customer relationships. Additionally, the metaverse is revolutionizing the workplace, fostering improved teamwork and offering immersive storytelling experiences. Beyond enabling efficient remote work, the metaverse provides business owners with opportunities to enhance their marketing capabilities.

In the first quarter of 2022, African blockchain startups raised $91 million, as reported by the African Blockchain Report 2021. The first half of 2022 saw an increase in blockchain venture capital investment, totaling $304 million, with Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa leading the way. Companies across various industries have integrated blockchain into their operations due to its decentralized nature, which ensures data security. African blockchain startups, motivated by this secure model, consistently produce cutting-edge concepts and solutions. Although blockchain adoption in Africa remains relatively slow, these startups face little difficulty securing funding from reputable investors.

However, the continent's progress will be hindered if it neglects issues such as outdated legislation and poor technological infrastructure. To achieve full socio-economic growth, decision-makers and stakeholders must actively address the technology gap.

MAY-JUNE 2023

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Chris N. Fernando chris@ryshamedia.com

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Fake ChatGPT Apps Scam Users Out of Thousands of Dollars, Says Sophos

Sophos has announced that it had uncovered multiple apps masquerading as legitimate, ChatGPT-based chatbots to overcharge users and bring in thousands of dollars a month. As detailed in Sophos X-Ops’ latest report, “’FleeceGPT’ Mobile Apps Target AI-Curious to Rake in Cash,” these apps have popped up in both the Google Play and Apple App Store, and, because the free versions have near-zero functionality and constant ads, they coerce unsuspecting users into signing up for a subscription that can cost hundreds of dollars a year.

“Scammers have and always will use the latest trends or technology to line their pockets. ChatGPT is no exception. With interest in AI and chatbots arguably at an all-time high, users are turning to the Apple App and Google Play Stores to download anything that resembles ChatGPT. These types of scam apps—what Sophos has dubbed ‘fleeceware’—often bombard users with ads until they sign up for a subscription. They’re banking on the fact that users won’t pay attention to the cost or simply forget that they have this subscription. They’re specifically designed so that they may not get much use after the free trial ends, so users delete the app without realizing they’re still on the hook for a monthly or weekly payment,” said Sean Gallagher, principal threat researcher, Sophos.

In total, Sophos X-Ops investigated five of these ChatGPT fleeceware apps, all of which claimed to be based on ChatGPT’s algorithm. In some cases, as with the app “Chat GBT,” the developers played off the ChatGPT name to improve their app’s ranking in the Google Play or App Store. While OpenAI offers the basic functionality of ChatGPT to users for free on- line, these apps were charging anything from $10 a month to $70.00 a year. The iOS version of “Chat GBT,” called Ask AI Assistant, charges $6 a week—or $312 a year—after the three-day free trial; it netted the developers $10,000 in March alone. Another fleeceware-like app, called Genie, which encourages users to sign up for a $7 weekly or $70 annual subscription, brought in $1 million over the past month.

The key characteristics of so-called fleeceware apps, first discovered by Sophos in 2019, are overcharging users for functionality that is already free elsewhere, as well as using social engineering and coercive tactics to convince users to sign up for a recurring subscription payment. Usually, the apps offer a free trial but with so many ads and restrictions, they’re barely useable until a subscription is paid. These apps are often poorly written and implemented, meaning app function is often less than ideal even after users switch to the paid version. They also inflate their ratings in the app stores through fake reviews and persistent requests of users to rate the app before it’s even been used or the free trial ends.

“Fleeceware apps are specifically designed to stay on the edge of what’s allowed by Google and Apple in terms of service, and they don’t flout the security or privacy rules, so they are hardly ever rejected by these stores during the review. While Google and Apple have implemented new guidelines to curb fleeceware since we reported on such apps in 2019, developers are finding ways around these policies, such as severely limiting app usage and functionality unless users pay up," said Gallagher.

iSTYLE Opens UAE’s First Apple Premium Partner Store in Dubai

iSTYLE has announced that it will formally open UAE’s first Apple Premium Partner (APP) store on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at 6 pm in Dubai Marina Mall (Level 1) with a grand opening event. The new Apple Premium Partner store is the perfect destination to shop the entire ecosystem of Apple Products and accessories in a spacious and welcoming environment. The store’s professional team speaks multiple languages to give customers the best-personalized service for all their Apple requirements.

“Established in 2005, iSTYLE has 13 Apple Premium Reseller stores in UAE, with Dubai Marina Mall being the first Apple Premium Partner store, taking the customer experience to the next level for all visitors. We cater to the needs of all types of customers, including business enterprises. We encourage you to drop by one of our stores, where iSTYLE’s professional team can tell you more about incorporating Apple hardware and software into your digital lifestyle,” said Nicolas Daher, General Manager, iSTYLE- Middle East and North Africa.

“We conduct workshops, training, and group demo sessions regularly, where our customers can meet up, learn something new and share their experiences. Along with the products, we offer multiple services like AppleCare+, Trade-in & B2B solutions. The authorized Apple service center at the new store will take care of customers’ post-purchase requirements,” said Julia Manzyuk, Retail Manager, iSTYLE UAE.

iSTYLE Apple Premium Partner runs more than 59 dedicated Apple points of sale in 12 countries (Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa). iSTYLE is part of the Midis Group, which has over 50 years of experience representing the leading global technology vendors in the Middle East, Europe, and Africa.

KIOXIA Launches Data Center NVMe E3.S SSDs on Hewlett Packard Enterprise Systems

KIOXIA Europe GmbH has announced that its lineup of CD7 Series Enterprise and Datacenter Standard Form Factor (EDSFF) E3.S Data Center NVMe SSDs are first to ship on servers and storage from Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE).

The industry’s first EDSFF drives designed with PCIe 5.0 technology, KIOXIA CD7 E3.S SSDs increase flash storage density per drive for optimized power efficiency and rack consolidation. HPE ProLiant Gen11 servers, HPE Alletra 4000 data storage servers, and the HPE Synergy 480 Gen11 Compute Module are enabled with the latest PCIe 5.0 interface, enabling up to twice the performance over PCIe 4.0, and come with optionally equipped EDSFF E3.S drive bays.

As a natural evolution of the 2.5-inch form factor, EDSFF E3.S is designed for the needs of high-performance flash storage. E3.S enables more dense, efficient deployments in the same rack unit compared to 2.5-inch drives, while improving cooling and thermal characteristics and raising capacities by up to 1.5 – 2x.

“HPE is pleased to work with KIOXIA to offer new CD7 Series EDSFF E3 SSDs to our customers, bringing high performance to our latest generation server and storage product lines,” said Jim Jackson, executive vice president and chief marketing officer, Hewlett Packard Enterprise. “Together, the two companies are focused on continuing to innovate and deliver solutions that improve application performance and efficiency benefits, while lowering TCO.”

Available in capacities from 1,920 – 7,680 gigabytes (GB), KIOXIA CD7 Series SSDs support PCIe 5.0 and NVMe 2.0 specifications, conform to the EDSFF E3.S specification, and feature read-intensive 1 DWPD endurance.

Paul Rowan, Vice President SSD Marketing and Engineering, KIOXIA Europe GmbH said, “Delivering Technology leading SSD’s with greater performance, reliability, and value through our enhanced SSD products is our core focus. It underlies our commitment to partners like HPE, enabling high-performance systems while utilising EDSFF and PCIe 5.0 technologies.”

Acer Intros the Predator Triton 17 X and the Predator Helios Neo 16 Gaming Laptops

Acer has announced major updates to its gaming laptop line-up, with new designs and support for industry-leading technology: 13th Gen Intel Core processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs. The new Predator Triton 17 X and Predator Helios Neo 16 are made for gamers and creators alike, due to their powerful components and premium display options. The thin and powerful Predator Triton 14 is designed for work or play, while its sleek, understated design makes it ideal for any environment. Lastly, the Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition brings glasses-free, stereoscopic 3D to the world of gaming, infusing new life into more than 70 modern and classic titles, with more being continually added.

The all-new sleek and powerful Predator Triton 17 X (PTX17-71) pairs a sophisticated minimalist design with game-ready hardware. It appeals to gamers and professionals who want a thin mobile workhorse that can handle graphic-intensive AAA games and resource-intensive work apps, all while having enough battery life to use throughout the day. Less than an inch in height, the slim Triton 17 X is meticulously crafted and highly portable. It includes a polished, sandblasted texture on the solid metal CNC unibody chassis, a delicate micro-etched RGB Predator logo, stainless-steel speaker mesh, diamond-cut highlights, and strategically placed vents.

Housed inside its sleek metal chassis are some of the most powerful components available, placing the Predator Triton 17 X among the fastest laptops for gamers and creators. It can be configured with up to a 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13900HX processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 GPU. The 13th Gen Intel Core i9 processor with new performance hybrid architecture features up to 24 cores at a 5.4 GHz max turbo frequency, delivering the ultimate mobile gaming experience.

The all-new Predator Helios Neo 16 (PHN16-71) includes the powerful components the Helios line is known for but offers a more affordable price point. In addition to the latest top-line components, the Predator Helios Neo 16 adds some fun as it features laser-etched encrypted codes on its abyssal-black anodized cover, inviting gamers to take on the challenge of deciphering the message.

The Predator Helios Neo 16 will offer models with high-performance 13th Gen Intel Core HX processors paired with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU with a Maximum Graphics Power (MGP) of 140 W. Up to 32 GB of dual-channel DDR54800 MHz RAM and up to a 2 TB PCIe NVMe SSD in RAID 0 deliver lightning-fast load times in the most demanding games. To keep all this power cool, the Helios Neo also includes Acer’s advanced cooling system, featuring a custom-engineered all-metal AeroBlade fan technology and liquid metal thermal grease on the CPU to push performance to its maximum potential.

Acer Predator’s small but powerful Triton 14 includes up to a 13th Gen Intel Core i713700H Processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 or 4050 Laptop GPU. In addition, gamers and creators alike will appreciate the new panel option that delivers vivid levels of contrast and a wide range of colours. The brilliant 14-inch (16:10 aspect ratio) with up to a WQXGA (2560 x 1600) Mini LED display also includes a blazing fast 250 Hz refresh rate, is DisplayHDR 600 certified, and covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color range.

Lenovo Launches Devices for the New Hybrid Work World

Lenovo has launched its latest ThinkStation and ThinkPad workstation solutions designed to provide the high levels of power and performance needed to run sophisticated workloads with ISV certifications. Lenovo workstations are engineered to push the boundaries of performance that help unleash users’ potential while maintaining the reliability, usability, and configurability needed across a variety of industries. End users can configure tailor-made workstations built using state-of-the-art components such as 13th Generation Intel Core processors and professional NVIDIA RTX GPUs and support the industry’s latest operating systems including Windows 11 and several distributions of Linux.

ThinkStation P3 series desktop workstations provide the value users need without compromising on performance or versatility. An all-new Tower form factor built for mission-critical tasks is an ideal solution for value-conscious designers, engineers, and students who seek flexibility and expandability without compromising on computing power. The ThinkStation P3 Tower with its expanded chassis supports larger power supplies up to 1100W to handle more demanding configurations and multiple storage options up to 26TB for data-heavy applications.

ThinkStation P3 Ultra enhances a revolutionary form factor that packs power and performance in a space-saving chassis that is less than four liters in volume. An intelligently compact workstation, P3 Ultra is designed to handle demanding workflows and easily adapt to changing hybrid workspaces. ThinkStation P3 Tiny is engineered to go where other workstations can’t. Its class-leading size of one liter allows the P3 Tiny to fit into virtually any location.

ThinkPad mobile workstations are synonymous with power, premium design, and durability. The latest ThinkPad P Series models deliver human-centric innovations designed for hybrid work and foster positive employee experiences while providing high levels of power and performance allowing users to do more on the move. ThinkPad P14s i Gen 4 and P16s i Gen 2 will delight highly mobile professionals, educators, and students who seek an ideal mix of performance and power at a comfortable price point without compromising security or durability.

ThinkPad P16v i is designed to close the gap between entry-level and high-end workstations. Built for creators who require more power to handle large workloads and multitask with ease, it includes Intel Core H-Series processors, advanced graphics, and the latest security features to protect valuable data and identity on the move. Extreme levels of mobile workstation performance are delivered by ThinkPad P16 Gen 2 and ThinkPad P1 Gen 6 allowing users to do complex workflows such as high-definition rendering and high-end VR on the go.

P16 Gen 2 is focused on raw performance approaching that of some desktop workstations, with the highest-class mobile CPUs, professional NVIDIA RTX GPUs, and Lenovo’s highest-ever memory capacity in a mobile workstation with as much as 192GB. ThinkPad P1 now in its sixth generation focuses on producing top performance in a thin and light form factor without compromising on power or durability.

Zoho Launches Privacy-Focused Web Browser ‘Ulaa’

Zoho Corp. has launched Ulaa, a privacy-centered browser built specifically to help users secure their personal data and activity by providing a browser solution that universally blocks tracking and website surveillance. According to Norton, 85% of global adults want to do more to protect their online privacy, with two-thirds of global consumers feeling that tech companies have too much control over their data. Ulaa is the next step in Zoho Corporation’s long-standing commitment to privacy and designed to help users protect their personal information and internet activity from the prying eyes of user tracking.

“Privacy continues to be an uphill battle in the world of internet browsers because the model is broken — browsers are offered by vendors with ad-based business models so the incentive to gather, sell or buy user data is significant. This is meant to leave little room for users to guard their privacy becoming accustomed to sacrificing it in the name of access or convenience,” said Hyther Nizam, President of Middle East and Africa at Zoho. “With Ulaa, users don’t have to compromise their privacy to browse the web, which unfortunately has become a surveillance minefield. Zoho’s commitment to privacy and a privacy-centric business model allows us to offer a conflict-free, privacy-centric browser that values their own privacy and their kid’s privacy.”

The web browser comes equipped with features that allow for privacy customisation, built-in user profile modes, and integrated productivity tools while keeping user data safe and private. Users can also sync browsing sessions between devices — either an entire browser window or a singular tab — allowing them to use multiple devices for the same browsing session seamlessly.

Ulaa, a word derived from the Tamil language, means journey or voyage and was developed to protect against tracking and surveillance. Ulaa is rooted in ensuring a maximum privacy web browsing experience by blocking unauthorised push notifications, pop-ups, and time tracking, preventing DNS prefetching, adding an extra layer of security through a multi-ID model in addition to privacy customisations, anonymised user data and stats, disabled APIs, geographical data isolation, end-toend encryption, and privacy reports.