Microsoft has released its 2018 Security Intelligence Report (SIR), the 24th in its volume. Analysis of over 6.5 trillion daily threat signals highlight a 73 percent global decline in malware encounters. It however noticed a rise in crypto mining malware.
From the report, Ethiopia and Cameroon ranked among the top five countries mostly impacted by ransomware. With 0.72 and 0.36 percent ransomeware encounter rates respectively. Whilst Namibia, 0.5%, South Africa, 0.8% and United Arab Emirates, 0.5% are countries with lowest ransomware encounter rates in MEA.
MEA Monthly Average Ransomware Encounter Rates
Microsoft says “low ransomware encounter rate countries are known to communicate with their citizens about basic security. Countries with lowest ransomware encounter rates also have mature cybersecurity infrastructures and well-established programmes for protecting critical infrastructure.”
“The five locations with the highest average monthly ransomware encounter rates in 2018 were Ethiopia (0.77 percent average monthly ransomware encounter rate), Mongolia (0 46), Cameroon (0 41), Myanmar (0 33), and Venezuela (0 31), each of which had an average monthly ransomware encounter rate of 0 31 percent or higher during the period.
The locations with the lowest ransomware encounter rates in 2018 were Ireland (0.01), Japan (0.01), the United States (0.02), United Kingdom (0.02), and Sweden (0.02 percent), each of which had an average monthly ransomware encounter rate of 0.02 percent or lower during the same period.”
The 24th edition of the Microsoft Security Intelligence Report showed cryptomining malware as another stealthy threat on the rise.
“The decline in ransomware encounters was due in part to improved detection and education that made it more difficult for attackers to profit from it As a result, attackers began to shift their efforts away from ransomware to approaches such as cryptocurrency mining, which uses victims’ computing resources to make digital money for the attackers.
Mining for cryptocurrency is a lucrative past time for hackers, but it consumes massive computing resources. To overcome this challenge, hackers infect unsuspecting users’ computers with malware so that they can use the collective processing power of all their victims’ machines to mine for coins.
And unlike ransomware, cryptocurrency mining does not require user input – it’s able to work in the background while the user is performing other tasks or is away from their computer. In other words, they won’t necessarily notice its presence at all unless their system’s performance is significantly compromised.”
The Microsoft SIR states that in the “Middle East and Africa, cryptocurrency mining is particularly prevalent. Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zambia account for three of the top five nations most impacted by cryptocurrency mining. With encounter rates well above the global average at 5.58, 1.83 and 1.13 % respectively.”
How can you keep yourself, your family and organization safe from these attacks? Read on how to stay security conscious online.
Kenya environment and health reporter, Verah Okeyo, wins Microsoft Modern Journalism and ICFJ Alumni reporting grant program award.
Verah Okeyo is an environment and health reporter at The Daily Nation in Kenya. She is one of the first two Microsoft Modern Journalism grant program award recipients. Her project looks to uncover why child mortality is declining in some Kenyan counties and rising in others.
Microsoft’s Modern Journalism program is a Data Journalism and Immersive Storytelling grant initiative in partnership with International Center for Journalists (ICFJ). The imitative will award grants to alums of ICFJ programs for reporting projects focusing on data journalism and immersive technology. In two phases, there will be the Data Journalism award and the Storytelling award, with two recipients in each category.
Microsoft says it “recognizes not just the fundamental need for a free press., But also the fundamental need for the free press to adapt to how people seek information.”
“How can we help journalists around the world tell stories. From sports updates to watchdog investigations, in ways that promote transparency, understanding and engagement?
The grant program will operate in two phases. The first will award funding and hands-on data journalism training to two alumni of ICFJ programs. The second phase will award grants for funding and training journalists need to pioneer storytelling using immersive technologies like livestreaming and mixed reality.” – Microsoft
ICJF’s Senior Vice President of new initiatives, Sharon Moshavi, talks about the collaboration with Microsoft.
“We’re thrilled to partner with the Microsoft Modern Journalism Initiative. To support reporting projects focused on data analysis and immersive storytelling. Through these projects, we aim to highlight innovative ways that journalists can enhance news coverage and connect more deeply with audiences.”
Child Mortality Project
Verah Okeyo’s data driven investigations will use demographic health surveys, studies and research to track Kenya’s child mortality since 1965. She says “rather than selecting a county or a set of circumstances from the outset, the investigation will follow a meaningful analysis of the available data.”
“Okeyo will work with her colleagues at the Nation Media Group science desk to investigate child mortality trends in Kenya. By pairing demographic data analysis with field reporting at health facilities. She says the team hopes their work will inform ongoing efforts to extend the lifespan of children in the country”. – ICJF
Verah will receive $7,500 and hands-on data visualization training using Microsoft Power BI.
The second part of the grant, Immersive Storytelling is currently opened. It is opened to journalists from all beats who would benefit from immersing audiences in their stories. Click to apply.
Microsoft is increasing its investments on African soil. It is launching two development centers in Africa. With offices in Kenya and Nigeria. Early this month Microsoft’s planned Africa datacenters became a reality and went live in South Africa. Last year in partnership with Techno Brain Limited Microsoft opened Africa’s first Software Testing Centre in Kenya. It also opened its first Africa customer service support center in Lagos, Nigeria in partnership with Tek Experts.
The latest announcement was highlighted by Alex Kipman, Microsoft’s technical fellow for AI and Mixed Reality. Alex is known as the man behind Microsoft HoloLens. A software engineering job posting on Microsoft’s career page gives more details about this.
The role description says Microsoft is launching a “Cognition Africa engineering team to build Mixed Reality Cloud Services”. And asks software engineers who meet the qualifications to apply.
Here’s what the job posting tells us about the Mixed reality and AI engineering office in Lagos.
“We are launching a Cognition Africa engineering team to build Mixed Reality Cloud Services that bring those technologies to a wider range of devices. Do you want to join us on this journey? We are offering opportunities for passionate Software Engineers to help us build the team and suite of cloud services which bring these capabilities to the cloud“.
Excited to share that our team is opening an engineering office in Africa to build #MixedReality and #AI. We are going to be based in Lagos, Nigeria. You can apply for roles here: https://t.co/wFJzUbIl3k … looking forward to my first visit soon [)-)
Alex Kipman in his tweet also says “looking forward to my first visit soon“. I want to believe we might have a HoloLens 2 showcase event in town soon. Microsoft unveiled the HoloLens 2 recently at the 2019 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.
The Blacks at Microsoft Employee Resource Group celebrated 30 years of diversity and inclusion as part of Black History Month.
Microsoft says “we strive to create an environment that brings the power of diversity to life. Where people with different backgrounds and experiences thrive in both their professional and personal lives. Where we’re all able to channel our passions.“
Blacks at Microsoft (BAM) is a Microsoft Employee Resource Group with a mission to achieve a strong representation of Blacks at all levels of the company. Founded in 1989 as the first Microsoft-sponsored employee resource group. It is dedicated to supporting the continued growth and development of black employees and encouraging students to pursue a career in technology. It is also a community that provides its members an opportunity to learn, listen, grow, and network.
Blacks at Microsoft fireside chat. ?: Chris Capossela
The Blacks at Microsoft (BAM) Employee Resource Group celebrated 30 years of empowerment. Hosting an Anniversary Gala, conferences, and speaker series across other Microsoft chapters.
The conference tracks conversations covering professional and personal development, social change and justice, and systematic education.
Speaking at this year’s Microsoft 2019 Black at Microsoft conference was Microsoft Chief Marketing Officer, Chris Capossela. Here is what he says about the community.
“Creating an inclusive community is a journey – one that I’m on as an individual, we’re on as a company, and so many of us are working towards as an industry. I’ve learned that it’s so important to understand someone else’s background and daily struggles to overcome our differences“.
– Chris Capossela, Chief Marketing Officer, Microsoft
BAM, NY chapter at Nasdaq
Throwback
In celebrating 30 years of the group, Microsoft’s channel 9 caught up with some of the founding members. Take a look.
“At Microsoft, we have made the long-term commitment to build and sustain a culture that fosters an inclusive working environment. Which will enable our employees to do their best work and serve the diverse needs of our customers around the world. We also are committed to engaging in and advancing diversity and inclusion conversations in communities where we believe we can help empower people”. – Toni Townes-Whitley – President, US Regulated Industries at Microsoft.
One of BAM’s goals is to encourage black students to pursue a career in technology. Every year the community offers a Black at Microsoft scholarship. This year BAM will award two US$5,000 scholarships to outstanding high school seniors. Who are interested in pursuing careers in technology. Learn more about the scholarship here.
Some initiatives of the BAM community in Africa include the NexTech Africa conference and Africa to Redmond Hack for Africa program.
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Microsoft has announced dates for its premier event for developers. Build 2019 event will take place May 6th to 8th at the Washington State Convention center, Seattle Washington. Microsoft will open registration starting tomorrow 27th February 2019.
With an invitation that reads “Come experience the latest technologies and imagine new ways to create solutions“. The developer focused event highlights new tools and technologies the software giants are developing. As well as changes and improvements coming in softwares. Developers also get to connect their various communities, get hands on and deep dive trainings. Consumers will get an overview or the roadmap Microsoft has for most of its tools.
Microsoft Build 2019 Invitation
” Join us in Seattle for Microsoft’s premier event for developers. Come and experience the latest developer tools and technologies. Imagine new ways to create software by getting industry insights into the future of software development. Connect with your community to understand new development trends and innovative ways to code. “
I believe as usual the conference fee will be about $2500. Microsoft opens Build 2019 event up with a call for speakers submission, a move which is new.
I’m personally not sure what big announcements to expect but looking forward to this. The theme this year reads out “Imagine, Create, Code”. We’ll keep you updated and have the live stream and updates here. Bookmark and check this out later in May.
Microsoft renames its game development division to Xbox Game Studios
Xbox Game Studios will replace Microsoft studios in name moving forward. Microsoft shares this as it continues to bring its gaming platform across all devices. This means all Microsoft Studios game divisons will come under Xbox Game Studios. Microsoft Studios is Microsoft’s video game development division of 13 teams[studios].
Xbox Game Studios’ Corporate Vice President Matt Booty, shared this announcement in a post. He shares;
“At Xbox, we believe when everyone plays, we all win. It’s why we’re passionate about building a portfolio of games for players across console, PC and mobile. As we’ve expanded our focus beyond the console, the Xbox brand has also evolved from its original roots. Today, Xbox is our gaming brand across all devices, no matter how or where you want to play, or who you want to play with. In that spirit, I’m pleased to share that we are changing the name of our game development organization from Microsoft Studios to Xbox Game Studios.”
Microsoft’s game studios produce games such as Forza, Gears of war, Minecraft, Halo, etc. Positioning itself as a gaming organization, Microsoft looks forward to a great 2019 for gamers. It is also looking to bring in more exculsive and big update games.
