Technology
Kaspersky Upgrades Fights Against Ransomware
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Kaspersky Lab has launched updated versions of its Kaspersky Internet Security in a bid to ensure better protection against ransomware.
The upgraded version is able to protect Mac computers while using public Wi-Fi networks and also offers an extra layer of protection with a secret code for Android users to prevent specific apps like instant messaging services, social media and email from being seen by others if they are accessing a user’s phone.
In addition, the consumer line-up is extended by a free solution aimed at protecting Windows home users from cyber threats. The release of Kaspersky Free is coincided with the company’s celebration of its 20th anniversary.
The number of Internet users is growing every day. According to Internet World Stats, by March 2017, the number of people connected to the Internet amounted to 3,7 billion across the world.
However, the Kaspersky Cybersecurity Index shows that only slightly more than half of Internet users protect all of their connected devices.
Kaspersky Lab says it believes that all Internet users around the world have the right to be protected against digital threats. That is why the company has developed a free security solution with an optimal set of security technologies for Windows devices in addition to its flagship consumer products, being able to provide world-winning protection for Windows and Mac computers, smartphones, and tablets running under Android, Windows Phone, and iOS.
As such, now users can choose a suitable Kaspersky Lab solution depending on the devices they use, activities that they do in the digital space and cyber awareness skills that they have.
The latest versions of Kaspersky Internet Security and Kaspersky Total Security are designed to protect the modern household, helping people care for their connected devices and every aspect of their digital lives.
In particular, people tend to have major concerns about their data falling into the hands of others, with some of the data stored on personal devices being so sensitive that Kaspersky Lab research shows that globally, 44% of users wouldn’t want anyone else to see it.
To ensure users’ data stays firmly in their own hands, the new App Lock feature for Android offers an extra layer of protection with a secret code for users to prevent specific apps like instant messaging services, social media, email, or other confidential information from being seen by others when they are accessing a user’s phone.
Users can also benefit from the Kaspersky Secure Connection service, integrated with Kaspersky Internet Security and Kaspersky Total Security, which encrypts all user traffic when using insecure Wi-Fi or sensitive websites.
Because their data is so precious to them, over half (56%) of Internet users globally are concerned about the prospect of having their data held at ransom, concerns that are expected to rise following the recent WannaCry and ExPetr epidemics.
To help give people peace of mind, Kaspersky Internet Security and Kaspersky Total Security include the company’s anti-ransomware feature, which has been updated to fight even the most complicated ransomware.
The average household today spends a huge part of its awake hours online, and the more people surf the web, the greater their risk of falling victim to a malicious programme or website.
In its annual research, Kaspersky Lab has found that 63% of Internet users globally are worried about phishing emails and websites.
To address this concern, Kaspersky Internet Security and Kaspersky Total Security include anti-phishing technology to prevent users from falling victim to fake or spam emails, fake websites and fraud.
In addition, the updated URL Advisor tells a user whether a link in the search engine leads to a trusted, suspicious, dangerous or phishing website, or a website that may cause their computer harm, via a special indicator close to each link.
The new product in the company’s line-up – Kaspersky Free – is based on the company’s advanced technologies, which have repeatedly proved their efficiency in numerous independent tests. The reliable and user friendly solution provides basic features to secure users from the most common cyberthreats.
Riaan Badenhorst, General Manager at Kaspersky Lab Africa, commented: “This year, Kaspersky Lab is celebrating an extremely successful 20 years in the IT security market. During all of this time, our mission has been to provide as many people as possible with reliable protection against cybercrime. And we are happy that users from now on will be able to benefit from an extended line-up of consumer products. The new free security solution for Windows is the crown jewel on a comprehensive set of Kaspersky Lab free and freemium solutions for a range of different platforms. The engine in Kaspersky Free is the same as the engine in all of our personal products, and the solution provides users with basic high-quality protection against the most common threats, which is especially important for those who are not able to pay for a full-function solution”.
Kaspersky Free detects and automatically blocks suspicious and malicious files and programmes, as well as alerts users on potentially malicious websites and phishing (fake) pages, thus preventing criminal attempts to steal a user’s money or their identity. Kaspersky Free databases are updated automatically in real-time, so that users can be sure they are protected from the most current threats, without slowing down their computers.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The reach of the Meta Business Agent is being expanded to Instagram and other platforms of the social media giant.
Meta Business Agent is an artificial intelligence (AI) that allows business owners to attend to customers’ needs with ease.
Customers expect instant responses, but no team can be everywhere at once. This innovation handles such without hassles.
It helps businesses to answer questions specific to the business, makes product recommendations from the catalogue, books appointments, qualifies incoming leads, and closes sales.
More than one million businesses are already using a Meta Business Agent on WhatsApp and Messenger to respond to customers around the clock.
“We’re now expanding our Business Agent to businesses big and small globally, so within minutes you can have yours up and running, responding in your customer’s local language using your tone,” Meta said in a statement.
“We’re also expanding these agents to Instagram since businesses connect with their customers there, too. Businesses can activate their Business Agent here. Getting started with the Business Agent is free. In the coming months, businesses will access the agent through our paid subscription offerings, with options for businesses of every size,” it added.
Meta also stated that it is making it simpler for people to discover businesses powered by a Meta Business Agent directly on WhatsApp. It noted that starting soon, people will be able to find businesses by typing their name in the Search bar, or by sharing their phone number or contact card in chats with friends and family. This way, when more customers reach out, they get a quick, helpful response.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Lagos State government plans to expand the city’s data centre capacity to over 250 megawatts (MW) by 2030 as part of efforts to strengthen its digital infrastructure ecosystem.
This was disclosed by the state’s Commissioner for Innovation, Science, and Technology, Mr Olatubosun Alake, at the launch of the Kasi Cloud LOS1 data centre facility in Lekki. Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) invested in Kasi Cloud through an $8 million convertible loan note in 2021.
Mr Alake said Lagos already hosts nearly three-quarters of Nigeria’s commercial data centre capacity, adding that the government intends to expand its infrastructure footprint significantly over the next five years.
“There are about 146 additional megawatt data centres planned in the pipeline,” he said. “We envisage that by 2030, we would have over 250 megawatts of data centre capacity in Lagos, three times the current capacity growth.”
The expansion comes as demand for cloud services, AI computing power, and local data storage continues to grow across Nigeria’s digital economy, with Lagos at the forefront, housing thousands of businesses and startups.
Mr Alake said the Kasi Cloud facility represents Lagos’ entry into “large-scale hyperscale AI infrastructure,” signalling the state’s ambition to evolve beyond being known primarily as a startup hub into a major centre for digital infrastructure and AI computing.
“Lagos is no longer simply a startup city,” he said. “It is an infrastructure city.”
The Kasi LOS1 facility is designed as a 40MW hyperscale data centre campus, beginning operations with an initial 7.2MW IT load.
According to Mr Alake, the facility includes advanced GPU computing infrastructure powered by Nvidia H100 and H200 chips, alongside liquid cooling systems and cloud infrastructure services designed to support AI workloads.
The Lagos State government believes such infrastructure will become critical as AI adoption accelerates globally.
Mr Alake said the state is investing in fibre optic networks, smart city technologies, university innovation programmes, and digital government systems to prepare for the transition.
“The AI economy is going to require hundreds of megawatts,” he said. “The market has already made its decision about where digital infrastructure belongs.”
On his part, Mr Johnson Agbogun, co-founder and chief executive officer of Kasi Cloud, said the project was built to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on foreign cloud infrastructure and give African businesses more control over how their data and AI systems are developed.
“Nigerian enterprises are currently spending $850 million every year on foreign cloud infrastructure,” he said. “Every naira spent abroad on cloud and AI infrastructure helps build capabilities somewhere else.”
He added that the facility runs GPU-powered AI workloads from local enterprises and described the Lekki campus as “the beginning of Nigeria’s AI factory.”
“As artificial intelligence reshapes economies globally, the nations that control their own compute infrastructure and data will be the ones positioned to lead,” added Mr Kolawole Owodunni, NSIA’s Executive Director and Chief Information Officer.
The goal of Google Search has always been simple: to help you ask anything on your mind. Whether it is a quick fact to help with your daily hustle or a complex question about starting a new business, Nigerians rely on Search every single day.
Over the last year, Google has rapidly reimagined what Search can do with AI. The momentum has been incredible—just one year after its debut, AI Mode has surpassed one billion monthly users globally. As people have realised just how much more Search can do for them, they are searching more than ever before, reaching an all-time high in search queries last quarter. Today at Google I/O, Google shared the next step in its journey to bring together the best of a search engine with the best of AI.
To power this next chapter, Google is officially upgrading Search with Gemini 3.5 Flash as the new default model in AI Mode for everyone worldwide. Delivering sustained frontier performance for agents and coding, Gemini 3.5 Flash is the engine driving the new era of AI-powered Search. Because curiosity doesn’t always fit into standard keywords, this powerful AI model is transforming Search from a tool that simply finds information into an intelligent platform capable of reasoning, monitoring the web, and executing complex tasks on your behalf.
Here is a look at the four biggest AI-powered announcements coming to Google Search:
1. A Completely Reimagined Search Box
Google is introducing the biggest upgrade to its Search box in over 25 years. Now completely reimagined with AI, the new intelligent Search box dynamically expands to give you the space to describe exactly what you need. It goes beyond simple autocomplete by anticipating your intent and helping you phrase your questions. You are no longer limited to typing; you can now search using text, images, files, videos, or even Chrome tabs as inputs. Additionally, Google is making it easier to ask follow-up questions directly from an AI Overview, flowing naturally into a conversational back-and-forth where your context stays with you as you explore.
2. New Search Agents That Work in the Background
We are entering the era of Search agents, where you can create and manage multiple AI agents directly in Search. Google is launching “Information agents” that operate in the background 24/7. These agents intelligently scan the web—alongside fresh data on finance, shopping, and sports—to monitor for changes related to your specific questions. For example, if you are house hunting, your agent will continuously scan the market and notify you the moment a listing matches your exact criteria. Furthermore, Search is expanding its agentic booking capabilities; you can soon share specific criteria (like a late-night private karaoke room) and Search will pull the latest pricing and links to finish booking. For certain categories, Google can even call businesses on your behalf.
3. Custom Mini-Apps and Visuals Built Just for You
Search is no longer just returning links; it is now building the ideal response in the perfect format for your query entirely on the fly. By bringing the power of Google Antigravity and the agentic coding capabilities of Gemini 3.5 Flash into Search, users will get a custom “Generative UI.” This means Search can design custom layouts, interactive visuals, tables, graphs, or simulations in real-time. But it goes a step further: if you have an ongoing task, like establishing a new health routine, Search can actually code a custom fitness tracker or mini-app for you. These custom dashboards tap into real-time sources like live maps and weather, giving you a personalised tracker you can return to again and again.
4. Expanded Personal Intelligence Without a Subscription
For AI to be truly helpful, it shouldn’t just know the world’s information—it should understand your personal context, too. To achieve this, Google is expanding Personal Intelligence in AI Mode to more people in nearly 200 countries and territories across 98 languages. Crucially, this is being rolled out with no subscription required. Users can securely connect apps like Gmail, Google Photos, and soon Google Calendar directly to Search. Designed with transparency and choice at its heart, this allows you to safely ask Search to find information buried in your own personal files, always keeping you in complete control of your connected data.
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