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NCC Warns Users Against ‘Mobile Apps Group’ Over Trojan, Malware Concerns

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Following the constant introduction of malicious apps into Google Play Store, the Nigerian Communications Commission’s Computer Security Incident Response Team (NCC-CSIRT) has advised against the installation of apps from the offending publisher, the ‘Mobile Apps Group’, whose products were discovered to contain Trojans and adware that are harmful to users and their privacy.

NCC-CSIRT’s advisory on the incident disclosed that “The Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team (ngCERT) has continued to observe and monitor the constant introduction of malicious mobile applications into Google Play Store.

“Mobile apps Group has a history of distributing malware-infected apps through the Google Play store, and the current batch of apps has already been downloaded over a million times” it said.

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It listed this group’s malicious apps as the Bluetooth Auto Connect; Bluetooth App Sender; Driver: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB; and Mobile transfer: smart switch.

According to the advisory, “The apps will delay the display of ads for up to three days after installation to avoid detection. However, once this period has passed, the user is bombarded with advertisements and is directed to malicious phishing websites in the Chrome browser. While the device is idle, the malicious app can open Chrome tabs in the background. Some of the sites it opens may appear to be harmless, but they are pay-per-click pages that generate revenue for the developers when clicked on.”

Consequences of installing the malicious apps include the user being bombarded with advertisements, which will degrade the user experience; theft of sensitive user data; clicking on the ads resulting in the stealth download or installation of additional malware, as well as the user privacy and data being jeopardized.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Court Convicts EFCC Chairman, Directs IGP To Execute Order

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These unpleasant consequences are avoidable when users refrain from downloading apps developed by Mobile apps Group and ensure to read app reviews before installing any app. Other proffered solutions are for users that may have installed any of the identified malicious apps to immediately uninstall them and to install up-to-date anti-malware solution to detect and remove malware.

NCC-CSIRT rated the malicious activities of the offending apps as high in probability and potential to do damage.

The CSIRT is the telecom sector’s cyber security incidence centre set up by the NCC to focus on incidents in the telecom sector and as they may affect telecom consumers and citizens at large.

The CSIRT also works collaboratively with ngCERT, established by the Federal Government to reduce the volume of future computer risk incidents by preparing, protecting, and securing Nigerian cyberspace to forestall attacks, and problems or related events

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Generator Fumes Kill Mother, Son In Delta, Daughter Hospitalised

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The Delta State Police command has warned the public about the dangers of generator fumes and urged them to be careful.

This warning comes after an incident in which a mother and son lost their lives while using generator inside their house during rainfall.

According to a statement signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, on X.com on Wednesday, the mother and son died two days ago in Asaba, the state capital while the daughter is currently receiving treatment at a nearby hospital.

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The statement read, “Generator fumes is dangerous. It kills!!!

“A mother and son died in Asaba two days ago while her daughter is currently receiving treatment at the hospital.

“What happened? While the generator was working, it started raining, so they moved the generator somewhere inside the house and continued using it.

“Unfortunately, they slept off, and that was how they died of suspected generator emissions(carbon monoxide), and her daughter was rushed to the hospital.

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“This is not the first time we have recorded this incident in Delta. it’s important we know, learn, and educate others”

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Air Peace, Seven Countries To Revive Bankrupt Caribbean Airline

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Air Peace, a private Nigerian airline, and the governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, and St Vincent and the Grenadines have concluded plans to revive a longtime regional carrier, Leeward Islands Air Transportation Limited, which is currently in comatose.

Last December, the airline’s administrator, Cleveland Seaforth, announced that the final flight of the airline would be in late January and by February 4, employees of the air transport company would be laid off.

According to an AOI report on Wednesday, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browned announced a newly revamped LIAT 2020 in the wake of LIAT bankruptcy.

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Browned added that the airline is expected to start flying soon, with the company’s jets currently undergoing testing.

The inter-Caribbean Airline was founded in 1956. The airline was burdened with debt for almost its entire existence.

Although based in Antigua, at one point, 11 Caribbean islands were shareholders in the company, making for an almost impossible management structure.

This led to a controlled bankruptcy of the airline in 2020 after many years of financial challenges, said to have been occasioned by mismanagement.

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Air peace

Air Peace, a fast-rising Nigeria airline with its recent commencement of direct flight operations to London.

The commencement of the service came a month after it announced plans to begin direct flight operations to London on March 30 during a prelaunch forum organised by the airline in February.

In November, Air Peace’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Allen Onyema, announced that the airline had successfully obtained the Foreign Carrier Operator Permit and Third Country Operator Permit.

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With this development, Air Peace became the first Nigerian airline to operate direct flights to Europe and the United Kingdom.

Contacted, the Chief Operating Officer of the Airline, Oluwatoyin Olajide, confirmed the development but couldn’t give details as she said she was onboard en route to the United States.

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Poly Students Kick Over Scrapping Of HND Pharmacy Tech

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Members of the National Association of Polytechnic Students have kicked against the scrapping of Pharmaceutical Technology from the list of Higher National Diploma programmes in Nigeria.

They faulted the agreement between the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria and the National Board of Technical Education, approved by the Federal Government through a memorandum of understanding to accredit and train only National Diploma Pharmacy Technicians.

NBTE and PCN signed this MOU on April 17, at the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Education in Kaduna, which was chaired by the Minister of State for Education, Tanko Sununu, and other directors in the ministry, after they resolved the 22-year-old issue on pharmaceutical technologists training.

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In a statement released by the Coordinator of the National Association of Polytechnic Students, South West Zone, Monday Obasanya, on Wednesday, the association criticised this action.

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Obasanya expressed concern over the future employment prospects of graduates of this course in the labour market, following its dis-accreditation by relevant bodies. He called for a reversal of this decision.

“The dis-accreditation of the course has not only left thousands of students and graduates in a state of uncertainty but also raised questions about their employability and prospects. We are worried that the graduates of this course, who have invested significant time and resources in their education, may be denied opportunities in the labour market due to the perceived invalidation of their qualifications.

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“We fear that this decision will lead to a waste of human resources, as many of these graduates may be forced to abandon their chosen career paths and seek alternative fields, leading to brain drain and loss of expertise in the healthcare sector. This is unacceptable and has far-reaching implications for the country’s development.

“We demand that the Federal Ministry of Education, NBTE, and PCN take immediate action to address the concerns of the affected students and graduates. We call for a reversal of the dis-accreditation decision and validation of the Pharmaceutical Technology course in polytechnics,” Obasanya said.

READ ALSO: NLC, TUC Give NERC Deadline To Reverse Hike In Electricity Tariff

He added that prospective employers of labour in the health sector should not undermine the qualifications of graduates from this field, and provide available opportunities to them.

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Speaking with our correspondent, a student, Omolola Omon said she was disheartened when she heard the news.

She said, “Segregation has been in existence for a long time, students who want to apply for direct entry are being turned down just because they studied pharmaceutical technology in polytechnic.

“My colleagues are bothered and confused about their fate after graduation. If the medical sector cannot accept them, what is now the essence of going for the program.”

READ ALSO: Find The Man Who Stole $30000 From Me, Get $2000 Reward – Nigerian Man Cries Out

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Sunday Oguntola, a recent graduate of Pharmaceutical Technology said he is displeased with the unjust dis-accreditation by both parties, as he described it as an inconsiderate decision with no weighty reason.

“This is not just unfair but inhumane and we perceive the serious attempt of the government to truly take education out of the reach of the common masses. This issue has also brought concern to the current students on campus that have been offered that course and also students who are graduates of this discipline.

“We want to issue a 48-hour ultimatum to President Bola Tinubu to call to order his Minister of Education, not by any means to render our certificate useless else, we will take to the streets to speak to them in the only language they understand. We would not allow five years of our journey to be wasted,” Oguntola said.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the NBTE, Fatima Abubakar, in a text, promised to get back to our correspondent but no response was gotten at the time of filing this report.

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Please bear with me, I want to get the information from the source. I will get back to you,” Abubakar said.

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