Middle East

AppWizard
June 11, 2026
Valve has announced the discontinuation of its physical Steam gift card program in retail stores globally due to ongoing issues with scammers exploiting these cards for fraudulent activities. All retail stock is expected to be depleted by the end of 2026. Scammers have been using these cards to siphon funds from victims, often impersonating officials or agencies. Valve has implemented measures to combat these scams but has decided to terminate the retail gift card program. Retailers will sell their remaining inventory but will not restock physical gift cards. Customers can still use existing gift cards on Steam, and digital gift cards will continue to be offered. Consumer protection agencies warn that fraudsters will continue to exploit gift cards from various brands.
Tech Optimizer
June 4, 2026
EDB has released version 6.4 of its Postgres Distributed (PGD) solution, which includes enhancements such as quorum commit, native connection pooling, and support for PostgreSQL large objects. The quorum commit feature ensures a unified transaction outcome across cluster nodes before finalizing a transaction, addressing potential risks from conflicting writes in distributed systems. This update targets organizations in sectors like banking, payments, telecommunications, and infrastructure, aiming to provide the same consistency guarantees previously reliant on proprietary databases. The Connection Manager now includes native connection pooling, reducing the need for external connection poolers and streamlining operations by integrating with PGD's Raft consensus layer. This integration allows for automatic route adjustments during failover and improved monitoring capabilities. Additionally, the update expands replication support to include PostgreSQL large objects, enhancing the applicability of distributed Postgres for managing mixed data sets in sectors like government, healthcare, and financial services. EDB also noted a Gartner forecast that by 2030, over 75% of enterprises in Europe and the Middle East will have repatriated workloads to their home jurisdictions, emphasizing the importance of consistent data management across locations. EDB aims to strengthen Postgres's position in the market by focusing on transaction integrity in distributed environments while minimizing reliance on additional infrastructure components.
Tech Optimizer
June 3, 2026
Endpoints are critical computing devices connected to networks, including personal computers, tablets, smartphones, and smart appliances, and are often targeted in cyberattacks. Robust endpoint security is essential, especially in business environments with sensitive data. Endpoint protection solutions include antivirus software, endpoint detection and response (EDR) systems, and multi-factor authentication. - 81% of businesses have faced malware-related attacks. - 59% of ransomware incidents compromise data stored in public cloud environments. - In 2023, the average cost associated with breach detection and escalation reached USD 1.58 million. - 97% of executives access work accounts via personal devices. - During Q3 2024, malware detections at endpoints surged by 300%. - 13% of employees reported being victims of phishing attacks while working remotely. - 70% of employees using ChatGPT in the workplace do so without informing their employers. - 68% of companies have reported at least one successful endpoint attack that compromised their data or IT infrastructure. - 55% of professionals consider smartphones among the most vulnerable endpoints. - 47% of organizations monitor their networks around the clock. - The global financial impact of cybercrime is projected to exceed .5 trillion annually by 2025. - In 2021, 53% of organizations experienced successful ransomware attacks, marking a 148% increase from 2020. - Paying a ransom can double the total cost of a ransomware incident. - 40% of organizations delay patch rollouts to avoid potential conflicts. - 67% of IT professionals believe that Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies have weakened their organization's security posture. - 69% of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) expected at least one ransomware attack in 2022. - Only 50% of organizations encrypt sensitive data on their devices. - Organizations with a high number of remote workers face the greatest risks regarding endpoint security threats. - The endpoint security market is anticipated to grow from USD 13.37 billion in 2023 to USD 31.2 billion by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.1%. - Approximately 70% of companies plan to increase their investment in endpoint security solutions over the next two years. - The average financial impact of a data breach is estimated at around USD 4.88 million. - In 2023, the highest costs related to breaches were linked to detection and escalation, averaging USD 1.58 million. - As of 2024, the United States has the highest average cost of data breaches globally at USD 9.36 million. - A significant breach affecting 50 to 60 million records in 2024 is expected to cost USD 375 million. - Organizations facing compliance challenges typically incur an average breach cost of USD 5.05 million. - 40% of organizations admit to postponing patch implementations to avoid potential conflicts. - 92% of remote employees report using personal smartphones or tablets for work tasks. - 80% of executives are inclined to send work-related messages from personal devices. - 80-90% of successful ransomware attacks originate from unmanaged devices. - 62% of cybersecurity experts cite data loss and leaks as their primary concerns regarding BYOD policies. - 36% of employees using personal devices for work admit to delaying security updates. - 71% of employees store sensitive work passwords on personal phones. - 67% of organizations work with multiple vendors for management and security across various device types. - Only 42% of surveyed companies have a solution to proactively identify sensitive data on employee devices. - 38% of employees state that their employer lacks BYOD policies, or that existing policies are often disregarded. - There was a 300% increase in malware detections at endpoints during Q3 2024. - In 2024, a data breach involving Twilio compromised 33 million phone numbers linked to Authy accounts. - 90% of successful cyberattacks and up to 70% of data breaches originate from endpoint devices. - 54% of security experts reported that over 20% of their total endpoints were unmanaged. - 67% of Managed Service Providers (MSPs) faced AI-driven threats in the past year. - Among HR professionals who offboarded employees in the last year, 71% reported that at least one employee failed to return company-owned devices. - 65% of employees indicated they often bypass organizational security protocols to enhance productivity. - Over 90% of security incidents related to lost or stolen devices lead to unauthorized data breaches. - 13% of employees admit to being victims of phishing attacks while working remotely. - 63% of companies may have former employees retaining access to organizational data. - 62% of employees acknowledged transferring company intellectual property to personal devices. - 59% of stolen company-owned devices contained sensitive information. - Gartner estimates that shadow IT accounts for 30-40% of IT expenditures in large organizations. - 80% of employees engage in shadow IT activities. - 76% of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) believe shadow IT poses a security risk. - 58% of SMBs have encountered significant shadow IT initiatives without the knowledge of their official IT departments. - 30% of IT leaders cite information security as the primary challenge to adopting BYOD policies. - The prevalence of shadow IT has surged by 59% due to remote work. - 70% of employees using ChatGPT in the workplace do so without employer knowledge. - 32% of remote and hybrid employees use applications or software not sanctioned by IT. - 59% of organizations have experienced data loss due to cloud-based shadow IT. - ChatGPT is the most frequently used unauthorized application among employees. - By 2027, it is projected that 75% of employees will acquire, modify, or create technology beyond IT's visibility. - The trend of paying ransoms has increased; over 47.8% of companies chose to pay in Q3, rising to 59.6% in Q4. - Tanium raised USD 300 million in Series G funding, resulting in a valuation of USD 9 billion. - Cybereason secured USD 275 million in Series F funding. - SentinelOne acquired Attivo Networks in a transaction valued at USD 616 million.
AppWizard
May 29, 2026
A Russian-developed messaging application called Max has been launched in Tanzania, offering integrated communication services such as text messaging, voice and video calls, file sharing, and online conferencing. The application has over 110 million registered users globally, with more than 80 million using it daily. Max is designed for a wide audience, including businesses and individuals, and features tools like group calls, news channels, and screen sharing. It is accessible in various regions, allowing users to register with local mobile numbers. The app utilizes NoLACE technology to improve communication quality in areas with poor connectivity.
Tech Optimizer
May 28, 2026
EnterpriseDB (EDB) has released EDB Postgres Distributed (PGD) 6.4, featuring three key enhancements: Quorum Commit for cross-node consistency, integrated connection pooling via the native Connection Manager, and full replication support for PostgreSQL large objects. Quorum Commit ensures that all nodes in a cluster reach consensus before committing transactions, addressing issues with traditional replication. The integrated Connection Manager simplifies operations by eliminating the need for external pooling solutions and providing cluster-aware routing and automatic failover. The support for large objects allows for the management of diverse data types within a single database environment. PGD 6.4 is available as a stand-alone distribution and will be integrated into EDB Postgres AI in June.
AppWizard
May 5, 2026
A North Korean hacking group has targeted a digital gaming platform popular among the Korean ethnic enclave in China, using a sophisticated strategy to infiltrate Android applications. Researchers from Eset discovered that an app on the platform contained a backdoor known as BirdCall, linked to North Korea. The official website for the gaming platform hosted the same suspicious APK file. A second Android file associated with another game on the same site was also found to contain the BirdCall backdoor. This supply-chain attack was attributed to the threat actor ScarCruft (APT37), active in Asia and extending into Europe and the Middle East since late 2024. The hackers likely compromised the web server to recompile original APKs with the backdoor, which can collect sensitive information such as contacts, SMS messages, call logs, documents, media files, and private keys, and can take screenshots and record audio. The malware disguises its command and control traffic among regular internet traffic, primarily using Zoho WorkDrive for operations.
AppWizard
April 23, 2026
A new Russian-developed messaging application called MAX has been launched in Tanzania, designed to provide effective communication even in areas with limited internet connectivity. The application, which aims to enhance communication between Tanzania and Russian-speaking communities, allows users to send messages, make voice and video calls, share files, and participate in online meetings. MAX currently has over 110 million registered users globally, with about seven million outside Russia and over 80 million active daily users. It offers features such as group calls, information channels, and virtual meeting tools, making it suitable for various sectors including education and business. The application operates efficiently in areas with weak internet connections using technology called NoLACE, which improves voice clarity and restores communication during network interruptions. It also includes an AI assistant named GigaChat for translation and content creation. MAX is optimized for low-cost smartphones and has been introduced in several African countries, with plans for expansion to others including Egypt and South Africa.
AppWizard
March 11, 2026
Russian messaging application Max is now accessible in 40 countries, including Vietnam, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Cuba, Iraq, and Venezuela. Users can register with their phone numbers and utilize the app for calls and messages, regardless of their mobile operator.
Winsage
March 6, 2026
As of March 6, 2026, Microsoft is facing significant challenges, including a quarterly expenditure of .5 billion on data centers and chips, and a decline in cloud margins from 70% to 67%. The adoption rate for its AI assistant, Copilot, is only 3.3%, raising concerns about its future revenue. Additionally, Microsoft’s partnership with OpenAI is under scrutiny due to projected losses of billion for OpenAI this year. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is expected to increase operational costs for Azure due to rising energy prices and potential shipping delays for server components. If growth slows and margins continue to decline, Microsoft's stock could drop to around per share based on historical valuation averages. The Trefis High Quality Portfolio has outperformed major benchmarks with returns exceeding 105% since its inception, emphasizing the benefits of a diversified investment strategy over individual stocks.
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