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Get Back to School Ready Using Technology at your Fingertips

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By Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, communications & public affairs manager, Google West Africa,

With schools starting next week, there is so much to do. From re-establishing routines, stocking up on school supplies, and setting aside time for studying, there’s so much more to think about as your child heads into the new school year.

 

As students, parents, and teachers prepare for the year ahead, here are a few ways you can use Google Maps and Google Assistant to make the transition as painless as possible.

 

Ace the school commute with Google Maps:

Google Maps helps you navigate anywhere, fast: search for places, get alternative routes, real time information about traffic jams and delays, and an up-to-date ETA so you know exactly when you’ll be at your destination. Here are 5 ways you can use Google Maps to navigate during this new school year.

  • Never miss your stop again: Use Google Maps to get transit navigation times, ETAs and a notification that tells you when to transfer or get off your bus or train, so you can stop worrying about missing your stop and focus on getting the most out of your day with your family.

  • OK Google, what’s my ETA? Keep your focus on the road by using voice commands on Google Maps. Just say “OK Google, find petrol stations” or “Show alternate routes” to get the information you need, hands free.

  • Wait time estimates and popular times: When school is in session you likely have even less time to get everything done! Use Google Maps to find out what the estimated wait times and popular times are at your favorite businesses so you can beat the crowds and save time.

  • Add detours to your route: We’ve all been there – you’re on your way to school drop-off and you’ve forgotten supplies. Cue panic – or not. With Google Maps you can easily search for places along your route while in navigation mode, so you can find the nearest store and get back on the route as quickly as possible.

  • Create lists to keep track of often-visited places – like the locations of after-school activities – and share them with others.

Let the Google Assistant help with homework:

Google Assistant is Google’s voice assistant, which grew out of Google Now, and is available on many Android devices and the iPhone. You can use Google Assistant to trigger apps and devices, ask all kinds of questions, make plans, and carry out a variety of useful tasks.

The Google Assistant offers the easiest way to get things done whether you’re at home, in the car, or on the go. Just ask for what you need and get instant help, saving you time so you can focus on the things that matter most.

  1. Set reminders. If your child struggles with remembering when and what to study, set up reminders using Google Assistant. Just say “OK Google, set a reminder” and answer the Assistant’s questions to save the reminder. At the beginning of study time ask, “Hey Google, what are my reminders?” to know exactly what needs to be studied that evening.

  2. Set study timers.  Studies show that frequent breaks during tasks can lead to better concentration and higher productivity. With Google Assistant, you can schedule homework breaks to help make study time more effective.  “OK Google, set my homework timer” will create a timer named ‘My Homework’ and ask you how long you want the timer to last. Once the time goes off, let your child know it’s break time.

  3. Translate. Studying foreign languages can be tricky, especially if you don’t know the language for the course your child is taking. Google Assistant can help get you up to speed by answering questions like:

    • Hey Google, what is the French word for bathroom?

    • OK Google, what does “n’est-ce pas” mean?

    • Hey Google, how do you say milk in Spanish?

  4. Use it as a calculator. Have you ever checked your child’s math homework and had no idea if the answer is correct? Thankfully, Google can help with equation solving abilities. For example, you can ask, “OK Google, what is pi times 49 squared?” Google Assistant will answer back, “The answer is 7,542.96.”

  5. Learn how to solve complex problems and explore more niche info. Google Assistant can also teach you and your child how to solve more complex problems by pointing you to tutorials. For example you can say, “Hey Google, show me how to find the second derivative of a function” and Google will search for a YouTube video on the subject like this one from Khan Academy and display it on devices with a screen like Google Nest Hub. You can also explore education-related Actions for the Assistant that can help you learn more about particular topics — just say “Hey Google, talk to Physics Buddy” or “Hey Google, ask Chinese Tones to play a game”.

 


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Ugo Onwuaso is an ICT enthusiast. He believes technology should be used for general good. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Lagos state University. Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

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Ride the ‘Wicked’ Wave: Temu Brings Green Magic to Christmas

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Temu is set to enchant the holiday season with its unique blend of green magic, bringing a touch of festive wonder to Christmas celebrations. The initiative, themed “Ride the ‘Wicked’ Wave,” promises to deliver an unforgettable experience, combining technology, entertainment, and commerce to create a magical holiday atmosphere.

Temu

Temu’s green magic initiative aims to captivate audiences with a variety of festive offerings, from fashion to home decor, handmade crafts, beauty items, chic clothes, shoes, and more.

The platform’s innovative approach ensures that customers can enjoy a seamless shopping experience, with free shipping on all orders1.

As part of the celebration, Temu has also introduced a magical winter Christmas backdrop, perfect for creating a festive ambiance at home.

This backdrop, made from high-quality polyester, is designed to bring the spirit of the season to life, making it an ideal addition to any holiday decor.

With its commitment to providing exceptional products and services, Temu continues to set new standards in the e-commerce industry, ensuring that customers can enjoy the magic of Christmas in style


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Kaspersky Cybersecurity Experts Warn of Evolving Holiday Scams

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With the holiday season here, it’s not only a time for magic and celebration but also a prime opportunity for fraudsters to exploit the festive rush for gifts and bargains.

Kaspersky Cybersecurity Experts Warn of Evolving Holiday Scams

Amid the sparkle of year-end celebrations, cybersecurity experts at Kaspersky have identified several prominent scams targeting consumers across various regions and languages.

Fake holiday shops

Deceptive online stores mimic the look and feel of legitimate e-commerce sites, offering seasonal items such as decorations, gifts, and even trees at steep discounts.

These sites often appear highly localised, adapting their language and currency based on the user’s geographic location, leveraging data extracted from browsers.

Victims typically encounter these stores by following links in ads or pop-ups.

These sites aim to steal funds. Often, these fraudulent stores exist only for a short period, as they get flagged by the vendors of goods.

Free mobile data offer

This scam plays on the allure of free services, claiming to provide free mobile data valid across all major telecom providers.

In order to receive the free data, victims are required to share the promotion link with 10–15 contacts via WhatsApp, ensuring the scam spreads exponentially.

After sharing, victims are prompted to enter their personal details — name, phone number, and email — into a form.

The collected data is then sold on the Dark Web or used in other fraudulent activities.

In some cases, victims unknowingly download malware that compromises their devices, leading to further exploitation.

Holiday payments on behalf of government agencies

Fraudsters impersonate government authorities, promising fictitious payments in celebration of the holidays.

This scam has been reported in several African countries, including Kenya and Nigeria.

To receive payment, victims are directed to fill out a survey which requires personal details like name and phone number.

Once the survey is completed the user is asked to share the link to the announcement with their connections via WhatsApp.

These details are collected and added to fraudulent databases, then sold to third parties or used for phishing attacks and identity theft.

This scam exploits trust in government systems and the festive spirit of giving.

Christmas recipe scam

This scam begins with a seemingly harmless email promoting a holiday cake recipe.

Victims are encouraged to pay a small fee to access the recipe.

Once payment is made, the victim’s credit card information is stolen. The fraudsters also collect other personal information essential for accessing banking services.

“Holiday scams are not a new phenomenon, but they have evolved to become increasingly sophisticated, leveraging regional traditions and technology to exploit unsuspecting victims.

The rush of the holidays makes people more vulnerable — they’re distracted, eager to grab a deal, or trust promotions that align with festive themes. Cybercriminals are not just stealing money — they’re building massive databases of personal information that fuel future fraudulent schemes.

The holiday season is a time for joy and giving, but users need to remain vigilant to ensure they’re not unknowingly giving fraudsters the tools to exploit them further,” said Olga Svistunova, Senior Web Content Analyst at Kaspersky.

 

 

 

 

 

 


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Hackers Seize NBS Newly Redesigned Website

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Cybercriminals have persisted in targeting Nigerian government websites, with the most recent attack on the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Hackers Seize NBS Newly Redesigned Website

The NBS confirmed the development in a brief statement posted on its X (formerly Twitter) account

It said that its newly redesigned official website has been hacked.

The NBS disclosed the incident and assured the public that efforts are underway to recover the website.

It urged the public to disregard any messages or reports posted until the full recovery of its website.

The statement on X read: “This is to inform the public that the NBS website has been hacked, and we are working to recover it. Please disregard any message or report posted until the website is fully restored.”

The NBS plays a vital role in Nigeria’s development, serving as the official statistical agency responsible for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating statistical data on the country’s economy, governance, and development

This marks the latest in a series of attacks on Nigerian government websites, a trend that has been ongoing for some years.

From government ministries to officials, cyberattacks in Nigeria have surged to alarming levels, with even financial institutions falling victim.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) frequently issue warnings of cybercriminals targeting individuals, government entities, banks, and telecom companies.


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