Mega Route

Photo credits: Facebook/BBC  If Facebook’s algorithms were executives, the public would be demanding their heads on a stick, such was the ugly incompetence on display this week. First, the company admitted a “fail” when its advertising algorithm allowed for the targeting of anti-Semitic users. Then on Thursday, Mark Zuckerberg said he was handing over details of more than 3,000 advertisements bought by groups with links to the Kremlin, a move made possible by the advertising algorithms that have made Mr Zuckerberg a multi-billionaire. Gross misconduct, you might say - but of course you can’t sack the algorithm. And besides, it was only doing what it was told. “The algorithms are working exactly as they were designed to work,” says Siva Vaidhyanathan, professor of media studies at the University of Virginia. Which is what makes this controversy so extremely difficult to solve - a crisis that is a direct hit to the core business of the world’s biggest social network.

Hackers who booby-trapped widely used security software also used their malware to infiltrate machines at tech firms, suggests analysis. Evidence that other companies had been compromised came to light as Cisco researchers probed how attackers got at the popular CCleaner programme. Millions of people downloaded a Windows version that hackers had laced with malicious code. Cisco said the attackers were seeking valuable intellectual property. Last week CCleaner creator Piriform revealed that attackers had managed to place a hijacked copy of version 5.33 that works on Windows on some download servers. The booby-trapped code was available for about a month between August and September, Millions of people downloaded the compromised version of CCleaner but damage was limited because whoever created it had not updated it to include elements that could scan machines and steal data. However, Cisco said its analysis suggested that attackers had taken that extra step on machines at tech firms...

  e.STREAM has partnered Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) to provide internet connectivity at its forum. As the official internet provider, the company recently provided internet connectivity at the just concluded 45th Annual General Meeting/Exhibition of MAN, which was held in Lagos. The AGM/Exhibition is an annual gathering of manufacturers in the country where members of the association deliberated on its annual report and other key manufacturing developmental issues. As the official internet provider, members of the association, invited guests and exhibitors were given free internet access to aid their participation at the event and enable them have experience of e.Stream Networks’ service. e.Stream Networks is a leading broadband communications provider with over 11 years of providing best-in-class connectivity solutions and round the clock proactive customer service support for businesses. Leveraging on a variety of up-to-date technologies, e.Stream is committed t...

Zoo, ape, captivity, chimpanzee Photo by Daniel Hansen on Unsplash

The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonaya Onu, on Friday said the Bio-resources Development Centre at Odi in Bayelsa has developed indigenous technology for chemical “fingerprinting of crude oil.” The minister said at the inauguration of the Advanced Bio-resources Laboratory and Livestock Feed Mill that the technology would assist in tracing stolen crude. According to him, the laboratory will also conduct genetic profile of indigenous plants and animal resources with a view to preserving the nation’s rich bio-diversity resources. He charged researchers in the country to focus more on market driven research and development to further close the gap between research institutes and the society. “The Federal Government has seen the disconnect between researchers and the society and indeed industry and we have resolved to change the narratives and the results are already with us. “Earlier this week, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with three companies to commercialise i...

Facebook on Friday reversed course on a plan to issue a new non-voting class of shares, avoiding a public trial in a suit filed by investors in the huge social network. The plan unveiled last year had been designed to allow founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg to maintain voting control as he divests to fund a philanthropic initiative with his wife Priscilla. But he said the separate share structure was no longer needed. “Over the past year and a half, Facebook’s business has performed well and the value of our stock has grown to the point that I can fully fund our philanthropy and retain voting control of Facebook for 20 years or more,” Zuckerberg said on his Facebook page. He said that he and his wife still plan to give away 99 percent of their Facebook shares during their lifetimes, and are even accelerating the process. Zuckerberg expected to sell 35 to 75 million Facebook shares during the coming 18 months to fund philanthropic work in education, science, and advocacy t...