E-Business
Cyberoam Warns! Ebola Forms New Exploits among Scammers

Cyberoam at the weekend, raised alarm of scammers now using Ebola virus outbreak in West African as a lure of Phishing campaign.
In its blog post, www.cyberoam.com/blog/death-of-robin-williamsebola-epidemic-new-exploit-topics-among-scammers, Cyberoam said that in lieu of the Ebola Epidemic and as with most phishing emails, the message body warns the user of a trending problem and unsuspecting users could open the email, click on the links or even share them with others.
Kalpesh Devmurari, representative of Cyberoam reported that the scary aspect in these emails seem like they come from a legitimate source like your friends, colleagues, thus increasing the chances of a victim opening them.
“Once you open that email it will ask you to click on a link to read more about the report. Following the link, infects your computer with the Trojan.Zbot malware. This malware runs on different versions of the Microsoft Windows operating system and is often used to steal information submitted through online forms such as usernames, passwords, banking details, etc”.
He also cited the death of Robin Williams, as been exploited by the cyber criminals also.
Devmurari said, “We recently lost Robin Williams – a well-known American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. I’ve been thinking a lot about Robin Williams, and his suicidal behaviour. It’s extremely sad that such a talented, funny man – who brought joy to so many lives, felt that there was no other option than suicide. I was curious, to know the story behind his suicide. Many people received an email capsuling his life and link to photos/videos of the great comedian. I personally could not resist but open the email, following the links, as the great comedian was still playing on our minds.
“Unfortunately, those emails were later found not to be genuine. They were phishing emails launching malware. It turned out to be part of a big Phishing Scam, as Hackers exploited death of Robin Williams for a full-fledged malware campaign. I was shocked when I got to know that scammers can even use such topics for Cybercrime. I researched more and found that this is not the first time it happened.
“Over the years, scammers have used both real and fake celebrity deaths as a way to persuade users to click on links and perform actions. There has been lot of instances in past like deaths of Amy Winehouse, Paul Walker, and fake deaths of Miley Cyrus and Will Smith. News of MH 17 has also become a part of similar scams.The tragic death of actor Robin Williams had opened a world of opportunities for identity thieves as these cybercriminals use news of a celebrity death for their financial gain.
“Yet another form in which criminals utilised the incident was by using it as a social media post on their Facebook page that provides a link to videos or photos related to Robin Williams. The post appeared to come from Facebook friends who were less suspected.
“In another case, the link showed a video of a rare footage of the suicide. Both the links were fake and don’t deliver what they promise. When a user clicks on these links, they might be taken to a page that prompts them to complete a survey to unlock the rare video. This is a hoax, and by completing the survey, the user just works for the scammer who gets paid by survey sites. And that’s not all, when the user fills the survey form, they also pass critical information to the scammer who can use it to create further phishing attacks for identity theft.
“It’s not necessary that all the links will take you to the survey site, some of them are very dangerous and can right away start downloading malware on your machine. It could be key loggers stealing your credit card number, user-password details and much more”.
To avoid being victimised by such scams, Devmurari advised users should be educated about Phishing scams.
“Be cautious of emails received from unknown senders. Open email attachment with extreme care. Always check the attachment’s extension. Never open attachment with “pif”, “exe”, “bat”, “.vbs” extension. Do not visit suspicious websites or follow the links provided at those websites. Do not share personal or financial information over internet/email
Talking about Cyberoam security solutions, the Anti-Spam feature available over its appliance range offers real-time spam protection over SMTP, POP3, IMAP protocols, protecting organizations from zero-hour threats and blended attacks that involve spam, malware, botnets, phishing, Trojans and more.
Apart from that, Cyberoam also offers comprehensive Email Security, preventing sophisticated forms of zero-hour threats and blended attacks involving spam, botnets, phishing, spyware and more.
E-Business
Cyberattack Could Cost it Up to $400m – Coinbase

Coinbase forecast a hit of between $180m and $400m from a cyberattack that breached account data of a “small subset” of its customers, the crypto exchange said in a regulatory filing on Thursday.
The company received an anonymous email on May 11, claiming to have information about certain customer accounts as well as internal documents.
While some data — including names, addresses and emails — was stolen, the hackers did not get access to login credentials or passwords, Coinbase said.
Still, it will reimburse customers who were tricked into sending funds to the attackers.
Hackers had paid multiple contractors and employees working in support roles outside the US to collect information.
The company has fired those involved, it said.
Separately, the New York Times reported that the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) was investigating whether the company had misstated its user numbers.
Coinbase shares extended losses after the report and were last down 6.5%.
“This is a hold-over investigation from the prior administration about a metric we stopped reporting two-and-a-half years ago, which was fully disclosed to the public,” said Paul Grewal, Coinbase’s chief legal officer.
“While we strongly believe this investigation should not continue, we remain committed to working with the SEC to bring this matter to a close.”
The SEC declined to comment.
The latest developments come days before the company is set to join the benchmark S&P 500 index, casting a shadow over what was expected to be a landmark moment for the crypto industry.
Security remains a challenge for the crypto industry despite its growing mainstream acceptance.
In February, Bybit disclosed a hack in which about $1.5bn worth of digital tokens were stolen — widely described the biggest crypto heist ever.
“The cyberattack may push the industry to adopt stricter employee vetting and introduce some reputational risks,” said Bo Pei, an analyst at US Tiger Securities.
Funds stolen by hacking crypto platforms amounted to $2.2bn in 2024, according to a report from Chainalysis, a US-based blockchain analysis firm.
“As our nascent industry grows rapidly, it draws the eye of bad actors, who are becoming increasingly sophisticated in the scope of their attacks,” said Nick Jones, founder of crypto firm Zumo.
Coinbase has refused to pay a ransom of $20m demanded by the attackers and is working with law enforcement agencies. Instead it has established a $20m reward for information on the hackers.
The company is also opening a new support hub in the US and taking other measures to prevent such cyberattacks, it said.
E-Business
Q1 2025 .ng Domain Name Statistics Reflect Nigeria’s Advancing Digital Landscape

The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) presents its report on .ng domain name registration and renewal statistics for the first quarter of 2025, highlighting the continued expansion of Nigeria’s digital footprint. The data underscores a consistent and significant adoption of the nation’s Country Code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD), reinforcing its pivotal role in the burgeoning Nigerian digital economy.
During the period spanning January to March 2025, a total of 40,791 .ng domain names were recorded. This figure comprises 22,236 new registrations and 18,555 renewals, indicating a healthy balance between the acquisition of new digital identities and the sustained commitment of existing domain name holders to their online presence.
Analysis of the registration trends within the quarter reveals a notable upward trajectory, with a 13.92% increase in domain name registrations observed between February and March 2025.
This growth signifies an increasing recognition of the importance of a localized online identity by a diverse range of stakeholders, including individuals, startups, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), and larger organizations.
Notably, the .com.ng extension continues to be the dominant choice, accounting for over 60% of both new registrations and renewals. This reaffirms its status as the preferred domain name extension for Nigerian businesses seeking to establish a credible and locally relevant online brand presence while maintaining global accessibility. The sustained popularity of .com.ng underscores its perceived value among Nigerian entrepreneurs and enterprises seeking to secure their digital real estate.
This upward trajectory isn’t happening by chance. The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) has remained intentional in its drive for digital inclusion and domain adoption. Through public education, training via the .ng Academy, outreach campaigns, and partnerships with stakeholders across the tech ecosystem, NiRA has consistently advocated for the importance of owning a local domain. The current standing of .ng as the second most registered ccTLD in Africa reflects the efficacy of these efforts.
Digital adoption in Nigeria is no longer just about being online—it’s about owning your digital identity. And with a .ng domain, Nigerians are better positioned to assert that identity, connect with local and international audiences, and gain better control over their digital footprints.
As we look toward the rest of 2025, the Q1 results serve as a strong signal: more people are embracing the digital future, and the .ng domain is increasingly becoming their first step.
E-Business
NIMC Launches NINAuth Digital Identity Verification App for Govt Services

National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) of Nigeria has launched a new digital identity verification tool called the NIN Authentication (NINAuth) application.
The initiative, which forms part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aims to strengthen the country’s national digital identity management framework.
The launch builds upon Nigeria’s comprehensive unified digital identity system that has been transforming access to financial services and government programs.
The NINAuth application introduces several key features focused on data security and privacy.
The platform requires explicit user consent before sharing identity information for Know Your Customer (KYC) processes, giving individuals greater control over their personal data.
The system provides seamless access to various government services, including SIM card registration, immigration applications, passport processing, tax filings, and financial transactions.
The development follows significant investment in Nigeria’s digital identity infrastructure, including a $45.5 million support from the World Bank as part of the Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) project.
As the official service for integration with NIMC’s backend infrastructure, NINAuth enables secure verification processes across ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
The application is available for download on both the Google Play Store and Apple iOS App Store for users of the National Identification Number (NIN).
The rollout represents a significant milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to digitize government services and strengthen identity verification processes.
“NINAuth is a cutting-edge suite of services including web, API, and mobile verification designed to enhance data security, protect privacy, and simplify access to government services,” said Dr. Kayode Adegoke, Head of Corporate Communications at NIMC.
“The platform introduces a robust layer of protection, empowering individuals with greater control over their personal information.”
The implementation supports the objectives of the recently established Nigeria Digital Identification for Development Project Ecosystem Steering Committee, which oversees the country’s digital identity initiatives.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the launch of the NINAuth app and directed its use for verification and authentication across all MDAs.
The application provides a secure single sign-on solution for accessing government services and social protection programs while maintaining strict data privacy controls.
The centralized approach to digital identity management represents a significant step forward in Nigeria’s digital transformation journey and its commitment to modernizing government services.
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