Fullerton India’s Second Edition of Finnovatica Enters the Appathon Round

Fullerton India Credit Company Limited (Fullerton India), a leading non-banking financial company with a strong pan-India presence, launches the Appathon round or the second round of this year’s Finnovatica programme. This is the second year the Company is hosting the Finnovatica programme, a platform that seeks to leverage the ideas of talented young students to develop innovative digital solutions that may redefine the landscape of retail and rural lending in India. The initiative is in alignment with Fullerton India’s agenda of continued focus on digital innovations to improve consumer experience.

Finnovatica comprises of three stages – i) Genesis, where ideas from students are received; ii) Appathon, where the shortlisted teams are first mentored by senior executives of Fullerton India and subsequently, the ideas are presented to an eminent jury and iii) The Final Arena, where the shortlisted teams give  a demo of their fully functional prototypes, post which the winners are announced. This year, the programme has received an active participation of almost 200 students from six premier engineering institutions across the country. During the Appathon round, the aspiring teams will be mentored and counselled on the business viability of their ideas, by senior executives of Fullerton India, having more than a decade of experience. The ideas presented by the participants will facilitate the use of new technology to enhance customer experience, explore new channels for customer acquisition, and introduce innovative ways to redefine business processes.

Commenting on the programme, Rajashree Nambiar, MD & CEO, Fullerton India said, “We launched Finnovatica last year to boost entrepreneurship skills among promising students and encourage the young minds to bring in new ideas that can help improve efficiencies in our day-to-day business. We are delighted to witness a 33% increase in participation this year. We will continue to support these bright minds to create new technological solutions and guide them to transform their ideas into scalable business models. This initiative is a part of our overall agenda of being a digitally-driven organisation to offer enhanced consumer experience.”

Fullerton India has been committed to improve customer experience and expand its reach through the development of digital assets using unique initiatives to ensure quick and hassle-free loan processing.

Tata Motors Announces the ‘Festival of Gifts’ Campaign in India

Bringing in the joyous festive season, Tata Motors has announced a special festive campaign for car buyers in the country – ‘Fes tival of Gifts’. As the name suggests, through this campaign, the Company is offering assured gifts like Tanishq Vouchers, iPhone X, Tablet, 32” LED TVs and much more, worth up to Rs 1 lakh on every purchase of a new Tata car, making this festival season more gratifying for its customers. Additionally, the Company is also providing its customers with a chance to win a brand new Tata Tigor, on purchase of any passenger vehicle from the Company.

Commenting on the offer rollout, S.N Barman - Vice President, Sales, Marketing & Customer Support, Passenger Vehicles Business Unit, Tata Motors said, “With the onset of this auspicious festive season, it is an exciting time for us to be a part of our customers’ celebrations by providing them with various offers. To provide our customers with the maximum benefit this year, we have rolled out the ‘Festival of Gifts’ campaign. Through this campaign, we have tried to make an effort to bring a smile on every customers face by providing each and every Tata car buyer with an assured gift on his/ her purchase till October 31st. We firmly believe that this proposition will provide a huge boost to the buyer morale, thus cultivating for them a strong sense of association with our brand. We wish all our customers and partners greetings for the season.”

While winning the Tigor is valid on every purchase through a luck draw every week, customers also stand a chance to win an assured gift through a scratch coupon, which they will receive on delivery of their car. For assured gifts, customers will need to download the ‘Festival of Gifts’ app from the Play Store.

PRODUCT PRICE BENEFITS
Tigor  5.06  73000
Nexon  6.23  57000
Storme 10.9  87000
Hexa  12.57  98000
Zest   5.54  83000
Tiago   3.4  40000

Extortion Spam Emails have Raked in Rs 1.5 Crore since August 2018: eScan

Although Bitcoin has been the most volatile in the past few years, yet this has not deterred the criminals from collecting bits from the Bitcoins. When we talk about extortion, we have seen the emergence and effectiveness of Ransomware using Bitcoins and other forms of crypto-currencies. We have also seen Crypto-Currency Miner (sic.Monero) being deployed on hacked servers/systems, so as to take advantage of the computational resources and generate crypto-currencies. However, lately, we have seen a rising trend in extortion emails, asking for Bitcoins.

These emails are in plain text format and warn the recipient of a malware being deployed on an Adult Porn Site, furthermore, in the mails, it is also explained in brief how the recipient's, the webcam was hacked, keylogger was deployed and the login credentials were stolen. The email also explains that a video was captured while they were busy visiting the Adult Porn site and the recipient is threatened with dire consequences viz. sharing of the video with those present in the stolen address book.

Similar to Ransomware and Miner Attacks, this scam also relies on the anonymity provided by crypto-currencies. It's a simple plain text threat, based on the premise that the recipient has visited some Porn site. The criminals have in most of the cases, successfully invoked the aspect of fear and social stigma into the psych/mind of the email recipients.

eScan's research team has been analyzing and tracking these emails and most importantly, the Bitcoin addresses found in these mails. The Modus-Operandi of the criminals is to
Create Bitcoin-Address for every Spam campaign.
In case the recipient's do pay up the extortion BTCs, the BTC is broken down and transferred to multiple Bitcoin Wallets so as to ensure that researchers find it difficult to track the transactions.
The breakdown and subsequent transfer of the BTC is done a couple of times, hence at the end of third iteration we have close to 100 BTC wallets.
Finally, all these wallets are consolidated and the BTCs transferred to one single wallet.

During the course of research, we came across numerous wallets with one of them (3FJDeT2E1fWb4oZBeub4MH9ennUp5e4QG6) having received around 31 BTC and were then sent to other wallets. The criminals have sometimes transferred the BTCs to Escrow Accounts / Exchanges to further anonymize/convert the BTCs into cash. At the existing exchange rate of BTC, the wallet was worth 1,49,09,139 INR and thus the Spam Campaign can be considered highly profitable and successful.

Some of the BTC addresses of the campaign:
* 19YayKasVoiRcjcihqmUpjVwvWB9aGyKCC
* 1DtBY4zD7cK35fpbNecpxSaEuEmfu9uyVG
* 1BmXuzjeWdoBKhsX8kJMNBFz5uJzrc2Gvc
* 1HRpxFdKGc7Anb7xfpQf3tmAcH6pph2ssX
* 1FCaw9jXhHveRyLxB54ypCpJ2CtanVoLC1
* 1MJcj7MdWeKR7eT7PukLG78jcRGf4opcsD

Due to the anonymity provided it is impossible to track the identity of the Wallet Owner. Since the month of August 2018, there has been steady increase in these extortion spam mails.

According to eScan researchers these mails are a part of a spam campaign and advices that recipients shouldn't reply to these emails. However, since this campaign is in its nascent stages, there is a possibility that in near future the emails might be weaponized with the usual variants.

Prevention Measures:
Ensure to not reply to these emails at all.
Install and Configure eScan with all security modules active.
eScan Real Time Monitoring
eScan Proactive protection
eScan Firewall IDS/IPS Intrusion prevention
Users shouldn't enable macros in documents.
Organizations should deploy and maintain a backup solution.
Most important, Organizations should implement MailScan at the Gateway Level for mail servers, to contain the spread of suspicious attachments.

Absolutdata Names Dr. Sudeep Haldar Senior Vice President of Growth Analytics and AI Solutions

Absolutdata, a leader in delivering scalable business impact through AI-powered solutions, advanced analytics, and data science services, today announced the appointment of Dr. Sudeep Haldar as Senior Vice President of Growth Analytics and AI Solutions.

In his role, Dr. Haldar will be instrumental in leading key strategic accounts and providing thought leadership to the organization. With deep expertise in leading-edge predictive analytics, he will help clients drive digital transformation, particularly through innovative use of AI and Machine Learning based solutions. He will also lead the development of Absolutdata’s NAVIK AI Platform for the enterprise. NAVIK AI combines AI, technology, data and analytics to serve as a foundation for building the intelligence stack for forward-thinking companies.

 “Absolutdata has already made ground breaking strides in bringing AI deep into the enterprise,” said Dr. Haldar. “I look forward to driving growth in key strategic accounts and deploying AI solutions that bring scalable business impact to our clients.“

Dr. Haldar has over 25 years of experience in global analytics, marketing strategy, marketing effectiveness and consumer insights. He has worked in leadership roles with organizations such as Mondelēz, Kraft, Staples, McKinsey and Cerenti Marketing Group.

Sudeep holds a PhD in Marketing from Cornell University and has taught at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management and Syracuse University. He is an engineering graduate from Indian Institute of Technology at Kanpur and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management at Bangalore.

“Sudeep is an important asset to Absolutdata’s growth and an excellent fit for our executive team,” said Absolutdata’s CEO, Anil Kaul. “The NAVIK AI Platform and AI services are experiencing a high growth trajectory. Adding Sudeep to our team gives us strategic momentum and support during this time of rapid expansion in the AI arena.”

Greaves Care Centre Opens 100th Outlet for Conventional/ Alternate Fuel and Electric Vehicles in India

Greaves Cotton Limited, India’s specialist in last mile mobility solutions and a diversified company, announced the opening of its 100th organized service retail outlet, catering to current as well as future vehicles in the mobility segment. With the opening of this milestone store, Greaves aims to continue to deliver higher lifetime value for end customers at the bottom-of-the-pyramid with professional service. Greaves Care is a one-stop shop for all the service & repair needs of customers in the last mile transportation segment.

Commenting on the milestone, Nagesh Basavanhalli, MD & CEO, Greaves Cotton Limited, said “Greaves Care is a step closer to the customer in providing assurance to end customers in last mile segment. We aim to provide quality customer experience enhancing productivity for the last mile user. Greaves Care is a significant step towards delivering a rewarding retail experience, as we organize the existing unorganized service. This 100th service center strengthens our commitment to the market & supports our future foray to support future products and services.”

Greaves Care offers quality repairs by Company-trained mechanics, Greaves certified quality spare parts, quick service, transparent operations with a 6 months’ warranty on select parts. It also offers end-to-end vehicle service covering body, engine, transmission, electrical, lubricants & more through all of its 100 stores which have a standardized branded look & feel and customer centric process & systems. The quick turnaround time ensures customers get higher uptime on road, improved productivity & higher earning opportunity. Customers can also access the customer lounge and relax, access internet on their mobile phones through free Wi-Fi and watch TV while their vehicle gets serviced. They also get advice on vehicle upkeep & maintenance. In addition, frequent service camps, on-road assistance & night camps have been planned to help keep customers on the go and earn in an uninterrupted way. It will also be a center for service & care for products in the Farm & Energy segment.

Adding to this, K.Vijaya kumar, President Special Projects, “Greaves Care was started with a mission to provide our customers with end to end solutions. From humble beginnings in early 2018, Greaves Care has grown to 100 stores in a short timeframe. Greaves Cotton Limited aims to continue growing Greaves Care retail footprint and ensure everyone gets access to future ready services& products across India.”

These 100 Greaves Care service centers not only provide entrepreneurial support to workshop owners, but gives good opportunity to re-skill mechanics who are key breadwinners for their families & now live with a sense of pride in their communities.

Saveyra App Launches Worldwide on iOS and Android Platform

Silvermine Group launches Saveyra, India’s homegrown emoji, avatar and stickers app.  Saveyra is designed specifically for a new generation of India’s youth, who like to express identity, emotions and greetings with images. Saveyra presents a visual language that celebrates both our unique identity and the diversity of our community. Built with love and teamwork, this language helps us clearly see that we are stronger when we are together.

Saveyra, the app and keyboard, currently supports Hindi and English. It features avatars and stickers depicting a variety of emotions, greetings, and expressions. Avatars and stickers are customized for the user based on seasons, local customs, and the user’s design of the avatar. Dil ki baat, emoji ke saath.

Saveyra’s team is led by ESPN and NFL alum Manish Jha. A mobile industry veteran, Manish brings over two decades of media and technology expertise to Saveyra.

“Saveyra represents dawn, a new beginning, full of hope and optimism. The Saveyra app infuses the distinct voices of India’s diverse communities with a modern sensibility, a union inspired by the colourful history and tapestry of India itself,” said Manish Jha, CEO of Saveyra.

“Designed to be fun and playful, Saveyra empowers a new generation of youth with a positive self-image.  Rather than using technology to divide people based on gender, race, class, caste, religion, etc., the Saveyra team celebrates our differences, reminding us that all of the world is indeed one family,” Jha continued.

With offices in Bengaluru, Los Angeles, and Madhubani, the Saveyra team collaborates across the world to bring the latest episode of what our ancestors started thousands of years ago when they started drawing on cave walls. 

Saveyra supports the major communications platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, What’s App and Hike. Saveyra is adding new platforms all the time. Users can seamlessly browse for emojis and stickers within the keyboard and share their customized user created avatars.

Skullcandy Introduces Noise Canceling Tech as Part of Premium Headphone Line with Venue

Skullcandy, Inc. the performance and lifestyle audio brand founded at the intersection of innovation and creative culture, announced the expansion of their product line with new headphones-Venue. These innovative headphonesoffers a fully immersive listening experience that allows the user to discover their audio in a whole new way.

“Skullcandy is an iconic audio brand that embodies independence, creativity and appeals to our youthful and adventurous audio consumer,” said Jason Hodell, CEO of Skullcandy. “For 15 years, Skullcandy has thrived at the intersection of music, technology and boardsports by unleashing the visceral power of music for all. With Venue, we’re continuing our vision of delivering incredible immersive audio experiences,”.

Speaking on the launch Amlan Bhattacharjya, founder and CEO of Brandeyes Distributors Pvt. Ltd said, “The Venue brings with it the best in class audio experience with premium acoustics, innovation in voice technology and unrivaled comfort. It also has unique features such as fast charging and the TILE technology to track your headphones. We believe Venue will be a game changer in the active noise cancellation category.

While most noise-canceling products are only seen in the business class section of an airplane, Skullcandy’s newest wireless headphone, Venue, offers a noise-canceling experience designed for everyone — co-workers, roommates and commuters struggling to find their own space in shared working, living and traveling environments. Venue’s active noise canceling (ANC) technology is designed to deliver powerful ANC performance at an affordable price so that Skullcandy’s consumer can tune into what matters most to them: music they can feel. When users do need to tap into the outside world, Monitor Mode easily lets them hear their surroundings with just a push of a button.

In partnership withTile,Venue is embedded with a technology that allows you to track or find your headphones through the Tile application on a mobile device. With up to 24 hours of battery life, Bluetooth® capability and a premium travel case, Venue keeps the music going wherever it’s taken. Venue is also equipped with Rapid Charge technology, providing five hours of battery life with just a 10-minute charge.

Venue is available now for order online in both Black/Black and White/Crimson at Skullcandy.in, Brandeyes.in and in select retailers on October 10, 2018 priced at Rs. 18,999.