by Tech Talk | Feb 14, 2023 | Articles
The web browser on your Android device is one of the primary ways you access online services and resources. If it is not private and secure, it could open you up to nuisances and risks such as viruses, spyware, privacy-invading trackers, and annoying ads. For Safer Internet Day (8 February) TCL recommends some ways you can improve privacy and security when you’re browsing the mobile web from an Android phone.
1. Android—secure from outset
Provided you keep your smartphone browser and operating system up to date with the latest security patches and updates, you shouldn’t encounter too many problems. Features such as Google Safe Browsing helps protect your device by showing warnings when you try to navigate to dangerous sites or download dangerous files.
Many browser vulnerabilities arise from extensions. Google Safe Browsing’s scanning infrastructure protects the Chrome Web Store from potentially harmful extensions. You also see a Safe Browsing message in Search results or in Gmail when Safe Browsing has found that the site you’re about to visit might be dangerous.
On the Chrome browser installed by default on most Android phones, you have the option to use Incognito mode. When you browse privately, other people who use the device won’t see your history. Chrome doesn’t save your browsing history, information entered in forms, cookies or site data when you exit the browser.
2. Check whether your browser is secure
If you are particularly worried about security and privacy concerns, you can use an app for online service to get peace of mind or confirm your fears. You can navigate to the following sites to do a security check on your browser: Cover Your Tracks, AmIUnique, Cloudflare Browser Check, or Qualys BrowserCheck.
If your browser gets a pass from these services, its security is as sound as you could hope for. If it fails these tests, you should consider replacing it with a more secure alternative. This is especially the case if you have sensitive data on your device, or you simply want to make sure that no one can track your browsing activity.
3. Using a privacy-centred browser
If you’re really cautious about security privacy, a privacy-centred browser like Tor, DuckDuckGo, Braveor Firefox Focus takes protection for your personal data to a whole new level. Most of these block common Web trackers, so advertisers can’t follow you around the web. Tor Browser takes things further by preventing someone watching your connection from knowing what websites you visit.
Editor@tech-talk.co.za.
by Tech Talk | Feb 1, 2023 | Articles
NTT Ltd. sued its former global chief executive officer Jason Goodall in the UK, alleging he had a secret financial interest in a Johannesburg deal that was meant to improve the Black Economic Empowerment rating of the telecoms company’s South African arm.
Goodall in 2019 approved the sale of NTT-owned Dimension Data Pty Ltd.’s sprawling headquarters in Johannesburg suburbs at “significantly less” value to a majority black women-owned fund, Identity Fund Managers Pty Ltd., in which he had either already invested or at least had a plan in place to invest, NTT alleged in the suit.
“Goodall and the other executives’ conduct in arranging and acquiring their interests in the Identity Fund and concealing and failing to disclose those interests amounts to gross misconduct involving dishonesty,” NTT’s lawyers said in the court filing.
Goodall didn’t respond to messages left for comment.
Identity Fund was unaware that there was a case taking place in the UK, it said in an emailed statement. The fund, however, denied any wrongdoing and said the allegations by Dimension Data in South Africa were based on hearsay and are “defamatory distortion.”
A spokesperson for NTT and Dimension Data confirmed that legal action was being taken in the UK and South Africa, declining to comment further.
Goodall’s “fraudulent misrepresentation” means he should repay the $17.6 million he received as part of his retirement package in 2021, argued NTT and Dimension Data.
On Jan. 18, the UK high court allowed NTT to serve Goodall the court documents, initiating the formalities for the case to proceed.
Dimension Data, South Africa’s biggest listed technology stock before a 2010 buyout by NTT, decided to sell its Johannesburg headquarters for the twin purpose of selling assets unrelated to its core business and improving its Black Economic Empowerment rating, according to NTT’s court filing.
These ratings are a core part of government policy to encourage the sale of assets to people disadvantaged during apartheid in Africa’s most industrialized nation.
The campus was bought by Identity Fund for 1.4 billion Rand ($81 million) in 2019. The deal is now in the early stages of being unwound, NTT’s lawyers said in the suit.
Dimension Data has separately sued other officials of the company for the alleged graft in South Africa.
Editor@tech-talk.co.za
by Tech Talk | Feb 1, 2023 | Articles
SAP says that it plans to cut 3 000 jobs, or 2.5% of its global workforce, and explore the sale of its remaining stake in Qualtrics, as the Germany software company looks to cut costs and focus on its cloud business.
SAP is the latest tech company to cut jobs after companies including Google, Microsoft and Amazon.com announced thousands of layoffs to cut costs as they brace for tougher economic conditions.
“We expect only a moderate cost saving impact for 2023, and a more pronounced one in 2024, about €300-million to €35- million in run-rate savings as of 2024,” chief financial officer Luka Mucic said in a call with journalists.
In Germany, where SAP is headquartered, the company will cut slightly more than 200 jobs.
The layoffs come after SAP reported a 30% revenue increase in its cloud business in the fourth quarter, helped by strong demand for its software.
SAP has also started the process to sell its stake in Qualtrics. It bought the company for US$8-billion in 2018 and took it public in 2021 at a valuation of nearly $21-billion.
Currently, survey-software seller Qualtrics has a market value of $7-billion and SAP has a 71% stake.
“[The sale] would result in a quite significant one-time gain,” Mucic said. “This would materially increase the profit performance of SAP, but it’s currently not reflected in the outlook.”
SAP forecast core operating profit of €8.8-billion to €8.9-billion at constant currencies for this year. It also expects cloud revenue at constant currencies for 2023 to rise to €15.3-billion to €15.7-billion, from €12.6-billion last year.
While analysts had raised concerns that SAP’S lucrative cloud business might take a hit with other companies tightening their budgets due to economic uncertainty, SAP has been signing more customers.
“We are going to announce a unique strategic partnership with BMW betting on SAP on all dimensions — one of the biggest deals ever, which was signed yesterday,” CEO Christian Klein said. — Reuters
Editor@tech-talk.co.za
by Tech Talk | Feb 1, 2023 | Articles
China’s smartphone sales endured a record fall in 2022, tumbling 13% to their lowest level in a decade as Covid controls and a slowing economy sapped consumer appetite, data from third-party research firms showed.
The total number of devices shipped was 286 million, down from 329 million in 2021. It was the lowest sales volume since 2013 and the first time since then that annual sales have dropped below 300 million, IDC said in a report.
Strict Covid-19 controls weighed heavily on the Chinese economy last year but Beijing started dismantling the restrictions in December, boosting consumption.
“The strict pandemic control policy has resulted in historically high household savings as consumer spending became conservative,” said Lucas Zhong, who tracks China’s smartphone sector for research firm Canalys.
Android handset maker Vivo was the top-selling brand in 2022, with a market share of 18.6%, according to IDC. Its total shipments fell 25.1% year-on-year.
Huawei Technologies spin-off Honor ranked as the second best-selling brand, with shipments growing more than 34%, albeit from a low base.
Apple was the third best-selling phone brand in 2022, tied with Oppo, moving up from fourth place in the previous year.
Apple’s overall sales fell 4.4% year on year, according to IDC, while all other rivals excluding Honor saw sales fall in the double digits.
Overall, the plunge in smartphone sales in China reflected the sector’s performance globally. In 2022, global smartphone shipments hit 1.2 billion, the lowest since 2013 and a year-on-year fall of more than 11%, according to IDC.
A separate report from Canalys published on Monday said that in the fourth quarter of 2022, Apple sold 16.4 million devices, down 24% year on year. This compared to a 37.3% shipments slump from Xiaomi and Honor’s 14.1% fall during the same quarter.
That marks the first time Apple shipments dropped year on year in China since early 2020, when the first wave of Covid-19 swept the country. The fall was caused by an earlier release of the latest iPhone series as well as by worker unrest at its major manufacturer Foxconn’s plant in the city of Zhengzhou that impacted its supply chain, Canalys said.
Editor@tech-talk.co.za
by Tech Talk | Feb 1, 2023 | Articles
Covid-19 triggered a boom in digital payments, the market continues to surge, reaching a new record transaction value and more users than ever before.
According to data presented by TradingPlatforms.com, the total transaction value in the digital payments sector is expected to grow by 15% year-over-year and hit almost $9,5-trillern in 2023.
The global digital payments industry has seen many innovations over the past years, including mobile wallets, P2P mobile payments, real-time payments and cryptocurrencies. This new, simple-to-use, cashless payment methods have drawn millions of users and pushed the total transaction value to new record highs.
According to a Statista survey last year, the global digital payments industry has seen $8,38-trillion worth of transactions, 11% more than the year before. In 2023, the market is set to witness even bigger growth of 13% year-over-year, with digital payments reaching nearly $9,5-trillion in transaction value.
Digital commerce, the market’s largest segment, will make up 63% of that value, or $5,99-trillion, growing by 11% year-over-year. Although much smaller in transaction value, mobile POS payments will continue growing faster. Last year, mobile POS payments hit $2,86-trillion in transaction value. This figure is expected to grow by 17% YoY and hit $3,35-trillion in 2023.
By 2025, the entire digital payments market is forecast to reach an $11,95-trillion value. The transaction value in the mobile POS segment will grow by another 32% to $4,43-trillion in this period.
While China remains the world`s largest digital payments market, generating $3,85-trillion or one-third of total transaction value this year, the US market will still grow faster. According to Statista, Americans are expected to make over $2-trillion worth of digital payments in 2023, or 15,6% more than a year ago. On the other hand, the transaction value in the Chinese market is forecast to grow by 9,7% year-over-year.
Together, the two countries will generate 62% of total transaction value in the digital payments segment, far more than any other country. Far below, the UK ranked third with $433-million worth of digital payments in 2023. Japan and Germany follow, with $325-million and $245-million, respectively.
The Statista survey also revealed the number of people using digital payments would grow by 6% YoY to 4,43-billion in 2023. By 2025, the number of users in the digital payments segment is set to touch almost 5-billion worldwide.
Editor@tech-talk.co.za
