Trend Micro Predicts More Sophisticated Attacks Will Dominate 2019

Trend Micro Incorporated, a global leader in cybersecurity solutions, today released its 2019 predictions report, warning that attackers will increase the effectiveness of proven attack methods by adding more sophisticated elements to take advantage of the changing technology landscape. The report, Mapping the Future: Dealing with Pervasive and Persistent Threats, highlights the growing threats faced by consumers and organizations that are exacerbated by the increasingly connected world.

“As we head into 2019, organizations must understand the security implications of greater cloud adoption, converging IT and OT, and increasing remote working,” said Greg Young, vice president of cybersecurity for Trend Micro. “Cybercriminals will continue to follow a winning formula – exploiting existing flaws, social engineering and stolen credentials – to drive profits. As both the corporate attack surface and unknown cyber threats increase, it’s more important than ever for organizations to put more resources behind employee education to help protect against these growing attacks.”

The role of social engineering in successful attacks against businesses and individuals will continue to increase throughout the year. Since 2015, the number of phishing URLs blocked by Trend Micro has increased by nearly 3,800 percent. This offsets the lessening reliance on exploit kits, which has decreased by 98 percent in the same time. Additionally, attackers will continue to rely on known vulnerabilities that remain unpatched in corporate networks for 99.99 percent of exploits, as this remains a successful tactic.

“The full range of known and unknown threats can never be addressed by one single technology. In 2019, enterprises should not look for a silver bullet, but a mix of threat defense techniques that complement each other and work together,” said Nilesh Jain, Vice President, India and Southeast Asia, Trend Micro.

Trend Micro also predicts attackers will leverage these proven methods against growing cloud adoption. More vulnerabilities will be found in cloud infrastructure, such as containers, and weak cloud security measures will allow greater exploitation of accounts for cryptocurrency mining. This will lead to more damaging breaches due to misconfigured systems.

Attackers will also implement emerging technologies like AI to better anticipate the movements of executives. This will lead to more convincing targeted phishing messages, which can be critical to BEC attacks. Additionally, it is likely that BEC attacks will target more employees who report to C-level executives, resulting in continued global losses.

SIM swapping and SIM-jacking will be a growing threat to take advantage of remote employees and everyday users. This attack method allows criminals to hijack a cell phone without the user’s knowledge, making it difficult for consumers to regain control of their devices. Additionally, the smart home will be an increasingly attractive target for attacks that leverage home routers and connected devices.

L&T Infotech Hires Former Cognizant Executive Nachiket Deshpande as New Chief Operating Officer

IT services firm Larsen & Toubro Infotech has appointed former Cognizant senior executive Nachiket Deshpande as its Chief Operating Officer.

In his last role as the Senior Vice President & Global Delivery Head for the Banking and Financial Services unit at Cognizant Technology Solutions, he was responsible for global delivery and P&L across all services lines, products, and platforms, as well as driving large-scale skills transformation.

In a career spanning more than two decades, he has held management positions in the US, Europe, and Asia across delivery, practice building and client facing roles.

Sanjay Jalona, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, LTI, said, “Nachiket joins us at an exciting phase of LTI’s transformation as customers entrust us with solving their unique challenges. He brings extensive experience and diverse capabilities to continue our growth . On behalf of the entire organization, I welcome him to LTI and wish him unprecedented success with scaling operations, globally.”

Speaking about his appointment, Nachiket Deshpande, said, “LTI is at the forefront of building the next generation IT Services company, and I am excited to be part of this outstanding team. We will be bolstering the industry expertise and deep technology capabilities that have made LTI the growth leader in the sector.”

Nachiket brings more than 23 years of rich experience and holds a degree in electronics engineering from the College of Engineering, Pune, India.

Fashionable One – The Fashion Show 2018 Held at 1MG – Lido Mall

Curated by Bengaluru’s well known celebrity designer Ramesh Dembla, Fashionable One at 1MG – Lido Mall will take place on the 14th and 15th of December 2018 at 7pm. Madhurima Tuli, Bollywood and Sandalwood actress will amplify the glamour dose as she walks the ramp as the show stopper. 

Keeping a pulse on the fashion industry, Ramesh Dembla’s show will feature a trademark style that is modern, elegant but not conventional. The glitzy evening will also showcase the winners of the model hunt Ishana Yadav and Ibrahim Khan.

Commenting on the initiative, Suman Lahiri, Chief Operating Officer, 1MG -Lido Malls commented, “This December, temperatures will soar. We are absolutely thrilled and look forward a successful fifth edition. Being the signature annual fashion property, Fashionable One intends to uphold the hi-fashion quotient and appeal to the fashion connoisseurs of the city. We hope to grow bigger and better with every edition”.

Bhanu Praveen, Marketing Manager, 1 MG - Lido Mall added, “We are excited about the upbeat fashion show and hope to take the 5th edition of Fashionable One a notch higher with each passing year”.

Roby Varghese, Centre Manager, 1MG – Lido Mall commented, “It’s time for the community to get fashion forward this festive season with the latest in styles and trends from the multitude of brands across 1MG – Lido Mal”.

Well known faces will walk the ramp and will feature the international and high end brands like Aldo, Hidesign, Marks and Spencer's, Fab India, DaMilano, FBB, Global Desi, AND, Smoor, Mac V, Ayesha, Konfo, Being Human others. Fashionable One is a signature annual fashion property of 1 MG – Lido Mall. The 2 day fashion extravaganza showcased the best of 2018’s styles from various fashion brands. In its 5th edition, in a row, the property has gone bigger and better each year.

‘Spell Bee League Carnival’ to be Held in the City this Weekend

Spell Bee League in association with NRN Aerospace Systems has organized “Spell Bee League Carnival”, a spelling fiesta for children on 16th December 2018 at The Kittur Rani Chennamma Stadium (Jayanagar), Bangalore. The daylong event will see over 1000 children from 1st – 10th standard participate in spelling competitions to win a grand prize of gifts worth 1 Lakh rupees. 32 Children will be selected for the Quarter Finals which will be held in the coming days

The event will also have a dedicated zone for parents where they will have access to a team of experienced mentors who will advise them on topics around parenting and career goals of children. Activities by International & National partner brands will include mind stimulating tasks for the future troopers. The event will also house a separate activity area for children, where a number of fun activities will be organized.

Speaking on the occasion, Madhu HS, Co-founder, Spell Bee League said “Spell Bee League Carnival is beyond just a spelling contest. We have taken this one notch higher with this event. Unique and innovative teaching techniques are gaining popularity across the globe. We have tied up with a few reputed partners who have been global leaders in the teaching domain. We aim to give children access to experiential and recreational activities that are way better than computer games and digital gadgets”

This program will be inaugurated by MLA of Jayanagar, Sowmya Reddy in the presence of local leaders and other dignitaries. The event will also mark the launch of #SpellBeeHive, a unique talent community for children of all age groups.

This event is being organized by Biz Wingz in association with NRN Aerospace Systems, Smart Kidz Club, School Travel App, Kydz Adda, Sanrakshan PTE Ltd Singapore, Faith Foundation Trust, PFA Wildlife Hospital, Hoopsters and Breathe Entertainment. Bengaluru’s leading radio station, Indigo 91.9 fm is the official radio partner for the event

To know more log on to www.spell-bee.com  or call on +91 9916843196

Entry Fees: 1200/-

Where: Kittur Rani Chennama Stadium

Time: 8am – 3pm

TVS Motor Company Unveils 50,000 Unit of the BMW 310cc Series Motorcycle

TVS Motor Company, a reputed manufacturer of two-wheelers and three-wheelers in the world, today, rolled out the 50,000 unit of the BMW 310cc motorcycle.  The motorcycle was rolled out from the Hosur plant of the company in the presence of Dr. Markus Schramm, Head of BMW Motorrad, and Mr. KN Radhakrishnan, Director & CEO, TVS Motor Company.

In April 2013, TVS Motor Company and BMW Motorrad signed a long-term strategic partnership to manufacture sub-500cc motorcycles for the globe. This collaboration has resulted in the launch of three products on the 310cc platform namely BMW G 310 R, BMW 310 GS and TVS Motor Company’s TVS Apache RR 310.

Commenting on this milestone, KN Radhakrishnan, Director & CEO, TVS Motor Company, said, “Today is a significant milestone in our journey with BMW Motorrad. Over the course of this six-year partnership, we have had an opportunity to create a common learning platform for both the companies resulting in the creation of aspirational products for the global market. It is heartening to see BMW’s foray into sub 500cc segment meet with positive response across the globe. We are delighted to be a part of this success story.”

Adding to that, Dr. Markus Schramm, Head of BMW Motorrad said, “Six years back, we took a crucial step with the decision to enter into the sub 500cc category in partnership with TVS Motor Company. In them, we found a perfect partner who have always stood for high quality and technology. We are delighted that we are rolling out the 50,000 unit of our 310 series motorcycles

in less than two years. This reaffirms our decision to offer BMW Motorrad quality-led premium products for the sub 500cc segment.”

The exports for these two BMW Motorrad models, BMW G 310 R and BMW 310 GS, commenced in December 2016 and today, they are being offered in more than 90 countries.

Intersolar India 2018: The Key Event that Helps the Industry Grow Renewable Energy Business

Intersolar India organized its 10th Anniversary event in Bangalore. Bangalore, variously known as the IT, Innovation hub as well as Silicon Valley of India, has been associated with solar since the early nineties and since then has been part of the Indian solar growth story. 

The state of Karnataka also achieved the distinction of being the state with the highest solar installed capacity in India. It is therefore a tribute to the state of Karnataka and the city of Bangalore that Intersolar’s 10th Anniversary is held in Bangalore. The three-day exhibition and conference will open on 11th December. Over 300 exhibitors will participate and highlight their products and innovations in the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre. 

The co-located conference welcomes over 170 expert speakers and 1000 conference delegates in over 35 sessions and workshops. The event is designed to meet the varying needs of the various stakeholders: industry professionals, consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, developers, distributors, contractors, installers, integrators, financiers and investors but also, academicians, students and the large community of end users.

The solar industry in India has been rapidly growing in the past five years. 10 GW of solar was added in 2017 and the total installed capacity now stands at 26 GW, with the ground mount systems accounting for a significant 22.5 GW.  From being an insignificant market, India rose to become the third largest market globally in 2017. India also has stamped its role as a global driver of Solar establishing along with France, the International Solar Alliance. 

The growth in 2018 however slowed down owing particularly to issues like anti-dumping duties, interpretation of tax laws and cap on tariff.  This year, therefore is witnessing a lower capacity addition of 7-8GW. With the 2021 deadline for 100 GW target approaching fast, the capacity addition has to be ramped up. The growth of the rooftop segment with a significant 40 GW target is hampered. There is therefore a need for all stakeholders to work together to stabilize the market dynamics. 

Driven by rising air quality and energy security concern, the importance of EV and energy storage is growing and government is drawing policies to drive these markets. These two segments together provide new growth opportunities for the solar companies. Also floating PV and agro PV are emerging new opportunities. 

The Intersolar India conference will have presentations and discussions by experts on key topics that would include India’s PV demand outlook, national energy storage mission, residential, commercial and industrial rooftops, new market opportunities like agro PV and floating PV, trackers, microgrids and hybrids. The 2018 Intersolar Executive Panel discussion will focus on “India's Renewable Energy Future”. In parallel to the conference, many Intersolar India content partners provide workshops on energy storage, quality assurance and standardization, de-risking investments, achieving excellence in rooftop  installations, PV manufacturing and quality standards, microgrids will be organized in collaboration with reputed institutions like India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA), the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), TERI - The Energy and Resources Institute, Skill Council for Green Jobs (SCGJ), Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), Fraunhofer and the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE).

In another parallel track Kerala state’s renewable energy implementing agency ANERT will introduce their organization and also explain their various solar programs under the title “Rebuilding Kerala with Green Energy”.  Swissnex of the Swiss Consul General will similarly organize two workshops, one on solar rooftop solutions and building energy efficiency and best practices in battery manufacturing.

Among the more than 170 speakers are Vinay Rustagi, MD Bridge to India, Daniel Liu, Strategy Director Jinko Solar, Atul Arya, Head Energy Storage-Panasonic India, Dr. Anuvrat Joshi, Director-Cleantech Solar Dr. Ashok Das, Founder-Sunmoksha, Dr Alejandro Santis, Head Projects- BFH-Energy Storage Research Centre and Dr. Arul Shanmugasundaram, CTO-Tata Power Solar.

An exclusive program for students to promote the next generation of solar professionals and entrepreneurs has been arranged. Students will get an opportunity to learn from successful young entrepreneurs on their journey in building successful solar business and interact with them. Furthermore an intensive PV training program organized by White House Solar, a leading PV training institution in the US, will cover basics of PV, market development, different types of PV systems and their installation with hands-on demonstration over the two-day training.

Another added attraction is the 1st India Africa Youth Energy Symposium under which two panel discussions will be held one on  “Bottlenecks in Energy Law and Policy” and another on Decentralization of Energy Infrastructure and Capacity Building – Role of Industry and Academia“.

The conference and workshops will take place in Gulmohar, Cassia, Hibiscus and Parijatha Hall in the Conference Centre of the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC).

Numerous exhibitors will make a presentation on their innovations and products at the Innovation Stage at Booth 2064 covering a wide range of topics including EV charging, AI and IOT based solutions, innovative materials for roofing and solar thermal systems, energy measurement and management, cleaning and system maintenance, inverters and power electronic systems.

Each of the Intersolar India Conference Tickets enables access to the 10th Anniversary Networking Reception and Solar Power Developer’s night on the first exhibition and conference day. Conference delegates, VIPs and exhibitors will be able to celebrate 10 powerful years of Intersolar India with drinks, finger food and a great atmosphere.

With a well-rounded conference touching upon key current topics and focused workshops that address specific areas of interest, the Intersolar India conference offers a platform and meeting point for enhancing knowledge, share valuable learnings and success stories and finding solutions to challenges helping the solar industry grow.

Vivo Bolsters its Manufacturing in India, Announces Additional Investment of Rs 40 Billion for New Plant

Vivo, the innovative global smartphone brand, is excited to announce the initialization of their second manufacturing facility in India. The company has acquired additional 169-acre of land in the Yamuna Expressway region in Uttar Pradesh with an estimated investment of Rs 4000 crore (not including land cost). Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath welcomed the initiative and congratulated Vivo for the upcoming facility.

The new land has been acquired near the existing 50-acre manufacturing facility and will help expand Vivo’s manufacturing capabilities and support Vivo’s continued growth in India.

Commenting on the announcement, Nipun Marya, Director-Brand Strategy, Vivo India said, “Vivo entered India in 2014 with a commitment to bring product innovation, focus and value to our consumers. India is a key market for us, and today we have reiterated our commitment by entering the next phase of growth in India, all the while aligning ourselves with the ‘Make in India’ initiative. Additionally, we’re proud that the new plant will offer a major benefit to the surrounding area through high-quality job creation and training opportunities.”

All Vivo smartphones sold in the country are manufactured at the Greater Noida facility which is one of Vivo’s four manufacturing facilities globally.

Vivo’s new manufacturing facility will help achieve its vision of providing best-in-class mobile phones with an affordable pricing in addition to the already existing facility at Greater Noida. The existing manufacturing set-up, which saw an investment of Rs 300 crore already functions at a capacity of 2 million units per month with more than 5,000 workforce.

Vivo will also contribute significantly to the socio-economic growth of the manufacturing ecosystem in India by way of creating additional jobs, wage growth and skill development for factory floor workers as it hopes to generate 5000 additional employment in the first phase of expansion. During this phase, Vivo also plans to double the current production capacity to 50 million units per annum.