April 19, 2026
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Fake TikTok Apps Spreading RatOn Android Banking Trojan Across Central Europe

A new strain of Android malware dubbed RatOn has evolved from a simple NFC relay tool into a sophisticated remote access trojan (RAT) with Automated Transfer System (ATS) features. First detected on July 5, 2025, RatOn has since undergone rapid development, with new variants identified as recently as late August.

According to Dutch cybersecurity firm ThreatFabric, RatOn merges overlay attacks, automated money transfers, and NFC relay functionality, making it one of the most powerful mobile banking threats to date. “The account takeover and automated transfer features have shown that the threat actor knows the internals of the targeted applications quite well,” ThreatFabric said in its report.

The malware targets cryptocurrency wallets including MetaMask, Trust, Phantom, and Blockchain.com, while also abusing George Česko, a Czech banking app, to execute fraudulent transfers. Beyond theft, RatOn can mimic ransomware attacks by locking devices and displaying extortion-style overlay pages.

Threat actors are distributing RatOn through fake Google Play Store pages disguised as “TikTok 18+,” tricking Czech and Slovakian-speaking users into downloading malicious dropper apps.

Once installed, the malware requests broad device permissions, installs secondary payloads, and ultimately delivers NFSkate malware to perform NFC relay attacks using a method known as “Ghost Tap.”

The trojan can also display fake ransom messages claiming users’ phones are locked for criminal activity and demanding $200 in cryptocurrency. Security experts believe this ploy is designed to scare victims into quickly opening crypto apps, allowing the malware to capture PIN codes and steal seed phrases.

Commands processed by RatOn include sending fake push notifications, locking devices, launching WhatsApp or Facebook, recording screens, and injecting malicious code into financial apps. ThreatFabric added that the campaign initially focused on Czech users, with Slovakia likely to be targeted next, possibly through local money mule networks.

Hanwha Vision Earns ISO 37001:2025 Anti-Bribery Certification

Hanwha Vision has been awarded the ISO 37001:2025 Anti-Bribery Management System certification, an internationally recognized standard that confirms the company’s strict and independently audited processes to prevent, detect, and address bribery. This achievement underscores the company’s commitment to ethical conduct, transparency, and accountability across all operations, from design and manufacturing to sales and partnerships.

The certification positions Hanwha Vision as a trusted partner for government agencies, critical infrastructure operators, and enterprise customers worldwide. It also ensures compliance with global anti-corruption laws such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the UK Bribery Act, while helping reduce procurement risks for integrators, dealers, and end users.

“The security industry is focused on technology, but long-term success is really based on relationships,” said Kichul (KC) Kim, President & CEO of Hanwha Vision. “This certification assures customers that we hold ourselves to the same high standards of integrity that we build into our products.”

ISO 37001 certification is granted only to organizations that demonstrate comprehensive, independently audited compliance programs to mitigate corruption risks. Hanwha Vision has also secured other ISO certifications, including ISO 9001 for Quality Management, ISO 14001 for Environmental Management, ISO 45001 for Occupational Health and Safety, ISO 37301 for Compliance Management, and ISO 27001 for Information Security.

By achieving ISO 37001, Hanwha Vision reinforces its internal culture of integrity through rigorous employee training, thorough due diligence on third-party partners, clear reporting channels, and continuous process improvement.

GITEX NIGERIA 2025 Showcases Startup Power as Curacel Wins $10,000 Supernova Prize

The inaugural GITEX NIGERIA 2025 concluded in Lagos as West Africa’s largest tech, AI, and startup show cast a spotlight on the influence of emerging local and regional entrepreneurs.
Held under the patronage of H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, GITEX NIGERIA took place across Abuja and Lagos from 1–4 September. Supported by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the event was endorsed by Lagos State Government and organised by KAOUN International, global producer of GITEX events.

Taking place in Nigeria’s commercial and innovation capital, the GITEX NIGERIA Startup Festival showcased the strength of an ecosystem through which talent development pathways and digital infrastructure projects are accelerating Nigeria’s US$1 trillion economy ambition.

Deputy Governor of Lagos State, H.E. Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, hailed its immediate impact at the national level, declaring: “GITEX NIGERIA sends an inspirational message to every Nigerian: that many positive things are transpiring across our country and opportunities are here. We see many young citizens and entrepreneurs, with enormous innovative minds, making a real difference – generating interest, raising capital, and overcoming challenges by bringing their ideas to life. Such outcomes are crucial because they show that, as the world evolves, so too does Nigeria – as a nation of leaders, innovators, and architects of digital future we envisage.”

As the largest regional showcase of its kind and a convergence point for local and international stakeholders embracing digital transformation, the Startup Festival was perfectly timed to support this mandate.

Over 650 startups from 27+ countries and 29 different industries participated with a shared vision of co-creating tech architecture across multiple sectors undergoing continent-wide digitisation. Its programme included Nigeria’s most globally diverse investor programme, innovation hub showcases, and curated meetings between startups, investors, corporates, governments, industry leaders, and prospective partners.

Hon. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, said: “The opportunity and responsibility lies with all of us to build a resilient, innovative, and globally connected ecosystem, one that ensures that Nigeria not only keeps pace with the digital future but also shapes it. To all enterprises, corporates, startups, academia, and partners, we offer a transparent and accelerated path to collaboration, investment, and cooperation with Nigeria.”

Startup participation was bolstered by hundreds of organisations brought by local engagement and international innovation hub partnerships. Within Nigeria, NITDA, Lagos State, FATE Foundation, CcHUB Africa, and Orange Corners were among the partners, while internationally, the UNDP and American Business Council (ABC) contributed.

Mr. Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director General/CEO of NITDA, added: “Across Africa and around the globe, future-oriented partnerships are the lifeblood of thriving startup ecosystems and digital economies. By uniting ambitious organisations from instrumental sectors in the emerging digital economy, we demonstrate how collaboration fuels innovation, accelerates transformation, and empowers Nigerians and Africans to shape their digital future.”

Universally recognised as the world’s leading pitch competition for early-stage companies and emerging entrepreneurs, the Supernova Challenge made its regional debut – culminating in action-packed Thursday final. Over two days, the continent’s boldest disruptors joined Nigeria’s most visionary startups in competing for a US$22,000 total prize pool across six categories.

Abdul-Jabbar Momoh, VP from Nigerian startup Curacel – revolutionising health insurance with AI-driven solutions – emerged as the overall champion, receiving the US$10,000 first prize. Reflecting on the achievement, Momoh said: “Placing first at the GITEX NIGERIA Supernova Challenge gives us more visibility and fuels our expansion across Europe, Middle East and Africa, as well as North America. Most importantly we are going to keep on impacting lives in Africa and around the world by deploying solutions to move health insurance distribution.”

Additional winners included Build Africa, InCash, Hadiya, Acecore, Kara, and HiPrep, representing sectors from agritech and energy to mobility and digital finance.

Konica Minolta and I-Pro agree strategic partnership in Europe

Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe and I-Pro EMEA B.V. have agreed a strategic business partnership focused on the European region, combining their strengths in imaging technology and system integration with the aim of delivering advanced solutions and systems tailored to industry-specific needs.

The partnership aligns with Konica Minolta’s vision to strengthen its Video Solution Services (VSS) offering by integrating world-class AI-powered security technologies that meet the growing demand for smarter, scalable, and secure environments. Through this agreement, Konica Minolta will offer I-Pro’s comprehensive portfolio of video safety and security products, including edge-AI cameras and Active Guard system. Konica Minolta will leverage its extensive sales and service network to distribute and support I-Pro technologies across the region, enabling system integrators and end users to benefit from turnkey security services.

The partnership is expected to drive growth in sectors such as critical infrastructure, education, retail, manufacturing, and smart cities.

Vaclav la Rose, Head of Video Solution Services Europe, Konica Minolta, “This new partnership with I-Pro is a complement to our cooperation with Mobotix. Both product lines will continue to be offered, with each serving distinct customer needs and use cases. The addition of I-Pro enhances Konica Minolta’s ability to deliver broader end-to-end security and beyond security solutions.”

Jose Riolobos, President, I-Pro EMEA B.V., commented, “Since its establishment in 2019, I-Pro has been building market leading partnerships with partners around the world. This partnership strengthens our presence in Europe and enables our edge computing product lineup to help solve a broader range of social and operational challenges.”

Inoue Shintaro, Head of Sales, Imaging and Automation Business Division, Imaging-IoT Business Unit, Konica Minolta, added, “We are confident that our collaboration with I-Pro in the European region will deliver significant business value. Our complementary competencies and high standards will benefit both organisations—and most importantly, our European customers.”

Honeywell Announces $600 Million Capital Raise for Quantinuum to Advance Quantum Computing at Scale

Honeywell today announced an approximately $600 million equity capital raise for Quantinuum, developer of the world’s highest-performing quantum computer, at a pre-money equity valuation of $10 billion.

Quanta Computer, NVentures (NVIDIA’s venture capital arm) and QED Investors have joined existing shareholders JPMorganChase, Mitsui, Amgen, Cambridge Quantum Holdings, Serendipity Capital and Honeywell — all of whom have reinvested in this round. The round also includes participation from new investors MESH and Korea Investment Partners.

This capital raise will support Quantinuum’s advancement of quantum computing at scale, which includes continued progress toward the upcoming launch of Helios, the company’s next generation quantum computing system that is expected to launch this year. It will also support Quantinuum’s path to becoming the first to perform universal fault-tolerant computing.

A full-stack quantum computing provider, Quantinuum is accelerating commercially useful quantum computing with commercially available quantum computers that are the undisputed leaders in performance. Along with some of the most used developer tools and end-applications such as InQuanto, the company’s solutions are driving breakthrough scientific discoveries, economic growth and sustainable development.

Quantinuum continues increasing its commercial momentum and earning global recognition. The company will work with NVIDIA as a founding collaborator on breakthroughs at the NVIDIA Accelerated Quantum Research Center.  Additionally, Quantinuum has entered strategic partnerships aimed at innovative quantum computing solutions that will expand the capabilities of classical artificial intelligence and realize next-generation technologies.

Quantinuum recently announced partnerships and collaborations with RIKEN, SoftBank Corp., Infineon and STFC Hartree Center, as well as expansions into New Mexico, Qatar and Singapore.

The company’s collaborations collectively provide substantial investment funding, accelerate research and product development, scale manufacturing capabilities, secure supply chains and foster the overall growth of the quantum technologies industry.

Vimal Kapur, Chairman and CEO of Honeywell:
“Quantinuum continues to meet and exceed our stated objectives — strategically, technically and commercially. We have complete confidence in Quantinuum’s ability to continue to lead the quantum revolution and create long-term value for its investors and customers.”

Dr. Rajeeb Hazra, President & CEO of Quantinuum:
“We are proud to partner with investors who share deep conviction in our vision for the future of quantum and AI. With the continued support of our customers and supply chain partners, this new funding will further extend our leadership, accelerate our roadmap and strengthen the entire quantum ecosystem.”

Siemens Report Highlights Digitalization as Key to Decarbonizing Food and Beverage Sector

On the path to net zero, the food and beverage industry faces significant challenges, from a growing global population to limited resources. With the sector responsible for nearly 30% of global energy consumption, innovation and collaboration are critical to cutting its carbon footprint.

At Siemens, we believe in the power of technology to achieve decarbonization goals. Our research report Digital Transformation, Sustainable Returns shows that 63% of F&B professionals see strong potential in digital technologies to reduce resource use. Among emerging tools, artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to have the greatest impact over the next three years, followed by digital twin technology, advanced simulations, and automation.

Emirates Bustanica, one of the world’s largest vertical farms in Dubai, illustrates how digitalization transforms food production. Through integrated automation and smart infrastructure, the facility saves 250 million liters of water annually while producing over one million kilograms of pesticide-free food. SIMATIC automation and building management systems optimize lighting, CO₂ levels, and climate control, ensuring efficiency today while preparing for future AI-driven solutions.

In the drinks sector, Colorado-based Marble Distilling Co. used Siemens’ automation controller to increase efficiency by 75%. The distillery tripled production and cut costs by 20% through tighter controls and smarter energy management.

“The opportunities offered by digitalization are endless, and we must accelerate the pace at which we’re digitally transforming to achieve net zero on time,” Siemens stated. With 2030 fast approaching, every step of the F&B value chain—from farming and processing to packaging and transport—must embrace digital solutions to drive lasting change.

European Commission Imposes Another Record Fine on Google Over Digital Advertising

The European Commission has imposed a new record fine of €2.95 billion on Google over what it described as unfair practices in digital advertising, marking the latest chapter in Brussels’ long-running battle with U.S. tech giants. Regulators argue that the company abused its dominance by favoring its own services at the expense of competitors, warning that forced divestitures of parts of Google’s business remain an option if the company fails to comply. EU Competition Commissioner Teresa Ribera stated that Google must present a credible solution to address conflicts of interest, stressing that the EU “will not hesitate to impose strong remedies.”

Google quickly announced plans to appeal, calling the decision excessive and harmful to European businesses that rely on its tools. “This ruling demands changes that will make it harder for thousands of companies across the EU to operate,” said Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google’s Global Head of Regulatory Affairs.

The case has further heightened political tensions between Brussels and Washington. U.S. President Donald Trump denounced the fine as “discriminatory” and threatened retaliatory measures under the 1974 Trade Act, saying he would not tolerate what he described as attacks on “American ingenuity” and hinting at possible tariffs. This penalty, the fourth Google has faced in the past decade from the EU, follows years of investigation and complaints from publishing associations. It comes just days after a U.S. court rejected a request to break up Google, underscoring the sharp contrast between regulatory approaches on the two sides of the Atlantic.

Artificial Intelligence Could Face Strict Oversight, Warns OpenAI CEO

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has warned that the world may be on the verge of a “fraud crisis” fueled by artificial intelligence. Speaking to U.S. media, Altman said AI has already defeated most traditional authentication methods, pointing to banks that still rely on voice recognition as a serious risk. He cautioned that criminals are increasingly able to use AI-generated voices and videos to impersonate people and carry out scams.

The FBI and U.S. officials have previously reported cases of AI voice cloning used to trick parents and even attempts to impersonate senior government leaders. Altman predicted that what begins with phone calls will soon escalate into video interactions indistinguishable from reality. “I am very nervous that we have an impending, significant fraud crisis,” Altman told the audience.

His remarks come as the White House prepares to release its “AI Action Plan,” a strategy for regulating artificial intelligence and ensuring U.S. leadership in the field. OpenAI has been active in Washington, confirming that it will open a new D.C. office early next year with about 30 employees. The office will serve as a hub for policy engagement, training programs, and research on AI’s economic impact.

Despite acknowledging the risks, OpenAI has urged the Trump administration to avoid regulations it says would weaken U.S. competitiveness against foreign AI rivals. On jobs, Altman said predictions about AI’s economic impact are uncertain, though he expects some jobs to vanish while new forms of work emerge. He suggested that in the distant future, many people may no longer hold “real jobs” but instead create roles to feel useful and maintain social value.

OpenAI also released a report by its chief economist comparing AI’s impact to transformative technologies such as electricity and the transistor. The report notes that ChatGPT now has around 500 million global users, with many young Americans turning to the tool for learning and upskilling.

ICT® and KONE Announce Integration of Protege GX with KONE Office Flow

Integrated Control Technology (ICT®), a leading provider of intelligent access control, intrusion detection, building automation, and security solutions, together with KONE, a pioneer in innovative people flow solutions, have announced the integration of ICT’s Protege GX system with KONE Office Flow. This powerful partnership delivers a unified elevator and access control platform designed to enhance operational efficiency, reduce administrative workload, and strengthen security in commercial buildings.

The synchronization of Protege GX with KONE Office Flow ensures user records are seamlessly integrated across both systems, creating a centralized and automated approach to building management. Access details such as elevator cars, floors, and control panels are populated within the Protege GX interface, enabling precise programming of access levels, schedules, expiration dates, and credentials. Key KONE features, including destination control and direct elevator call, are also supported, improving the flow of people in high-traffic environments.

The integration brings several significant benefits. Operations are streamlined by synchronizing user records and data between Protege GX and KONE Office Flow, eliminating the need to manage separate systems. Administrative workload is reduced, as redundancies are removed and staff can save valuable time while minimizing the risk of errors.

Security is enhanced with a single point of control for doors, turnstiles, and elevators, combined with synchronized access event tracking for comprehensive oversight.

End users also benefit from a simplified experience, with a seamless single-credential solution for both door and elevator access that delivers unmatched convenience. Advanced elevator management features add further value: destination control groups passengers traveling to the same floors into the same car, reducing lobby congestion, while direct elevator call automatically dispatches an elevator to a user’s assigned floor, saving time and simplifying movement through the building.

This integration addresses key challenges in modern commercial properties, including managing high traffic, ensuring robust security, and improving tenant satisfaction. The synchronized system reduces operational complexity for building managers while enabling smooth people flow during peak hours.

Sarah Thompson, Chief Product Officer at ICT, commented: “This collaboration with KONE is an exciting step forward in intelligent building management. By integrating Protege GX with KONE Office Flow, we’re delivering a solution that combines streamlined operations, heightened security, and a superior user experience. It’s the future of smarter, safer, and more connected buildings.”

Hytera Europe Launches New Website

Hytera Europe has unveiled its new website at www.hytera.com/eu, designed to deliver a more modern and streamlined online experience. The platform offers improved navigation, refreshed content, and comprehensive information about products and solutions tailored for the European market. The new design follows contemporary trends, with strong product visuals, clear headings, and interactive presentations of key device series.

The homepage highlights current promotions and campaigns, while the intuitive menu ensures quick access to product categories, industry solutions, and company updates.

A particular emphasis has been placed on vertical solutions – from public safety and oil & gas to business enterprises and education – making it easier for users to find information specific to their needs.

The news and events section features the latest updates on global summits, awards, and partnerships, strengthening transparency and communication with the market. The website is intended to serve as a central hub for the latest news, marketing materials, and customer resources, with an open invitation for visitors to share feedback that will help further enhance Hytera’s digital presence. The existing site, www.hytera-europe.com, will be automatically redirected to the new domain from September 15, and users are encouraged to update their bookmarks accordingly.

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