<ul><li><keyword id="2535680" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="LT-Technology" source="Orion">L&amp;T Technology</keyword> Services Limited on Wednesday reported 22 per cent revenue <keyword id="42546" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="growth" source="Orion">growth</keyword>.</li><li>For the fourth quarter of FY23, the pure-play engineering services company recorded Rs 2,096 crore, a growth of 19 per cent YoY.</li></ul>New Delhi, L&amp;T Technology Services Limited on Wednesday reported 22 per cent revenue growth at Rs 8,014 crore for the FY23. The net <keyword id="6362247" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="profit" source="Orion">profit</keyword> for the fiscal year was Rs 1,170 crore, also a 22 per cent jump (on-year).<br /><br />For the fourth quarter of FY23, the pure-play engineering services company recorded Rs 2,096 crore, a growth of 19 per cent YoY, with a net profit of more than Rs 309 crore, a 18 per cent growth.<br /><br />During the quarter, LTTS won a $40 million deal and three $10 million plus total contract value (TCV) deals.<br /><br />"FY23 was a landmark year for us as we crossed a billion dollars in revenue run rate and Rs 1,000 crore in annual profits. Our EBIT margin was the highest ever at 18.5 per cent driven by a strong focus on building a robust and sustainable operating model," said Amit Chadha, CEO and Managing Director, L&amp;T Technology Services Ltd.<br /><br />The combination of steady growth and expanding operating margin has led to an 18 per cent CAGR in profits over the last 5 years, he added.<br /><br />At the end of Q4 FY23, the patents portfolio of L&amp;T Technology Services stood at 1,090, out of which 727 are co-authored with its customers and the rest are filed by LTTS.<br /><br />The company currently has 22,233 employees.<br /><br />LTTS's customer base includes 69 Fortune 500 companies and 57 of the world's top ER&amp;D companies, across industrial products, medical devices, transportation, telecom &amp; hi-tech, and the process industries. <br /><br />"We are optimistic about the future and look for another year of strong growth as we partner with the top ER&amp;D companies globally in developing next generation products", said Chadha.<br /><br /><br />SEE ALSO:<br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/the-best-vpns-to-safeguard-your-online-privacy-and-security-in-india/articleshow/99727397.cms">The best VPNs to safeguard your online privacy and security in India</a><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/formerly-barred-from-pharma-industry-entrepreneur-develops-ai-tool-using-chatgpt-to-cut-down-hospital-runs/articleshow/99662101.cms">Formerly barred from pharma industry, entrepreneur develops AI tool using ChatGPT to cut down hospital runs</a><br />

L&T Technology Services logs 22% growth in revenue, net profit in FY23

<ul><li><keyword id="1688230" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="humane" source="Orion">Humane</keyword> unveiled a wearable device with a projected display and AI features that act as a personal assistant during a TED Talk.</li><li>The device lacks a traditional touchscreen interface and is activated by a tap, with voice and gesture commands supported.</li><li>Humane raised nearly $250 million in funding without any product announcement, which has fueled speculation that it could be a smartphone competitor.</li></ul>During a TED Talk, <a href="https://hu.ma.ne/">Humane</a>, a startup founded by <keyword id="15760858" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ex-apple" source="Orion">ex-Apple</keyword> employees Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno, unveiled their new device, a wearable gadget that boasts a projected display and AI-driven features designed to function as a personal assistant. <br /><br />Chaudhri, who serves as Humane's president and chairman, gave the first live demo of the device. The wearable device and platform were developed from scratch for artificial intelligence and are entirely self-contained, requiring no smartphone or other device to operate, according to Chaudhri.<br /><div type="twitter" handle="BenGeskin" handlename="Ben Geskin" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1637906569370148870/m7Xw5tZ8_normal.jpg" favoritecount="754" retweetcount="184" status="First demo of the @Humane upcoming AI-powered wearable device. A phone call.Thanks @ZarifAli9 for sharing! https://t.co/7qyDScPkOh" createdat="1682056591000" id="1649291001628860419"></div><br />The presentation showed us the device's potential capabilities and unique interface that lacks a traditional touchscreen. Chaudhri demonstrated wearing the device in his breast pocket, where he could activate it with a tap instead of a wake word and then use voice commands, similar to how one interacts with an Amazon Echo smart speaker.<br /><div type="twitter" handle="MichaelMofina" handlename="Michael Mofina" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1356332801218457600/CEHgVrMU_normal.jpg" favoritecount="169" retweetcount="29" status="&quot;Catch me up,&quot; a summary of crucial information you may have missed while you were busy, on @humane's device. https://t.co/AAIfh2Chfm" createdat="1682057389000" id="1649294346296893444"></div><br /><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Humane’s AI-powered wearable projector" comment="subhead" text="Humane’s AI-powered wearable projector"><span data-til="noop">Humane’s AI-powered wearable projector</span></cmsannotation><br />Humane's wearable AI is a small device capable of performing various functions such as taking phone calls, using AI to translate languages, displaying emails and messages, and providing dietary recommendations based on restrictions. <br /><br />During Chaudhri's demonstration, the device instantly translated his voice into French, gave him updates on his emails and schedule, and advised him on which foods to avoid. The most distinctive aspect of the device, as noted by Chaudhri, is its ability to function independently without needing to be paired with another device.<br /><br />In addition to projecting a screen, the device has a camera that can identify objects in its surroundings, as previously teased in an investor pitch deck leak. During the presentation, Chaudhri used the camera to identify a chocolate bar and advise on whether it suited his dietary requirements.<br /><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Can Humane take on smartphones?" comment="subhead" text="Can Humane take on smartphones?"><span data-til="noop">Can Humane take on smartphones?</span></cmsannotation><br />Humane has a lot of buzz because its founders were once instrumental in Apple products. The company has secured almost $250 million in funding without announcing any product or service, which has led to speculation that they have been operating in secrecy to compete with Apple.<br /><br />Following the release of the latest video, the internet is buzzing with reactions, with some claiming that Humane has created a smartphone killer. However, there is currently limited information, which appears to be exaggerated claims.<br /><br />SEE ALSO:<br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/the-best-vpns-to-safeguard-your-online-privacy-and-security-in-india/articleshow/99727397.cms">The best VPNs to safeguard your online privacy and security in India</a><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/formerly-barred-from-pharma-industry-entrepreneur-develops-ai-tool-using-chatgpt-to-cut-down-hospital-runs/articleshow/99662101.cms">Formerly barred from pharma industry, entrepreneur develops AI tool using ChatGPT to cut down hospital runs</a><br />

Smarter than a smartphone? A new wearable challenges the ‘traditional’ device

<ul><li>Runway has launched its first mobile app for iOS, which includes its Gen-1 video-to-video model.</li><li>Currently, there are two options for utilizing Gen-1: via a web browser or the iOS app.</li><li>The Gen-1 model is restricted to processing only up to five seconds of video content.</li></ul>ChatGPT sparked the AI revolution by enabling users to interact with an AI chatbot and receive responses that ranged from basic research to entire novels and beyond. Now, a new technology has emerged that allows for creating AI-generated videos directly from an <keyword id="6354606" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="iphone" source="Orion">iPhone</keyword>.<br /><br /><a href="https://openaimaster.com/runway-launches-gen-1-an-ai-mobile-app-for-video-generation/">Runway</a>, an AI startup known as RunwayML, has introduced an iOS app incorporating its Gen-1 beta, an AI tool that functions as a video-to-video generative AI model. It serves as a video editor that can transform existing content into any desired style. The Gen-1 beta tool can be accessed through a <a href="https://app.runwayml.com/video-tools/teams/rahul52/ai-tools">web browser</a> or within the newly launched iOS app.<br /><br />It's important to note that there are certain limitations to this technology. Firstly, the footage you can work with is restricted to five seconds or less, and certain prompts are not permitted. For instance, generating nudity is prohibited, and copyrighted material cannot be used. Each video takes approximately two to three minutes to generate, which may seem like a little time. The processing occurs in the cloud and will likely become faster over time.<br /><div type="twitter" handle="rowancheung" handlename="Rowan Cheung" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1617700070710992896/pF3T_gMB_normal.jpg" favoritecount="815" retweetcount="74" status="2. Runway launches Gen-1 iPhone appRunway introduced its first mobile app for iOS, allowing users to access their… https://t.co/Vgx71KANfr" createdat="1682489037000" id="1651104808588173312"></div><br />Currently, the app only supports Runway's Gen-1 model, but the company has stated that the purely generative Gen-2 will be included soon.<br /><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="How to use Runway Gen-1" comment="subhead" text="How to use Runway Gen-1"><span data-til="noop">How to use Runway Gen-1</span></cmsannotation><br />Currently, there are two options for utilizing Gen-1: via a web browser or the <a href="https://apps.apple.com/in/app/runwayml/id1665024375">iOS app</a>.<br /><br />To begin using Gen-1 on your iPhone, download the RunwayML app. Once the app has been installed on your device, open it and either create a new Runway account or log in to your existing one.<br /><br />There are paid models available for Runway's AI tools, you can use Gen-1 for free (the website states that the Free Plan allows for up to three projects). Simply shoot new footage from within the app or upload existing videos from your iPhone and use Gen-1 to transform them. On the web browser, the primary difference is that you can only edit existing content, not shoot new footage. <br /><br />Once you're logged in, navigate to the ‘Gen-1: Video to Video’ option under the AI Magic Tools section on your Runway home page. You can upload video files and modify them from there using the Gen-1 AI tool. When you're satisfied with your creation, you can download it.<br /><br />SEE ALSO:<br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/the-best-vpns-to-safeguard-your-online-privacy-and-security-in-india/articleshow/99727397.cms">The best VPNs to safeguard your online privacy and security in India</a><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/formerly-barred-from-pharma-industry-entrepreneur-develops-ai-tool-using-chatgpt-to-cut-down-hospital-runs/articleshow/99662101.cms">Formerly barred from pharma industry, entrepreneur develops AI tool using ChatGPT to cut down hospital runs</a><br />

Runway lets you create animated AI videos on your iPhone—here's how it works

<ul><li><keyword id="45830" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="bill-gates" source="Orion">Bill Gates</keyword> sees <keyword id="7795449" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ai-chatbots" source="Orion">AI chatbots</keyword> as a powerful tool for transforming how children learn, offering private tutoring and leveling the educational playing field.</li><li>Despite current hurdles, Gates is optimistic that AI chatbots will enhance their reading and language comprehension abilities in just two years.</li><li>AI-powered tutoring may be more affordable and accessible than traditional human tutoring, says Bill Gates.</li></ul>In a recent statement, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates expressed his optimistic views on the future of artificial intelligence (AI) in education. He believes that AI chatbots have the potential to assist children in learning how to read and write and that they will become powerful educational tools in just 18 months. According to Gates, these chatbots can provide private tutoring to a wider audience, which can level the playing field for students who were previously unable to access such resources.<br /><br />While he has a point, there are some intricacies that we might not predict. To make that easy to understand, we break down Gates' vision and examine the challenges and opportunities that AI chatbots bring to the table in transforming how children learn.<br /><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="AI chatbots — the future of tutoring?" comment="subhead" text="AI chatbots — the future of tutoring?"><span data-til="noop">AI chatbots — the future of tutoring?</span></cmsannotation><br />Bill Gates shared his enthusiasm for the swift advancement of AI chatbots, including OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Bard, during a keynote speech at the <a href="https://www.gatesnotes.com/ASU-and-GSV?WT.mc_id=20230419100000_ASU-GSV-2023_BG-EM_&amp;WT.tsrc=BGEM">ASU+GSV Summit</a> in San Diego. These chatbots have displayed remarkable proficiency in reading and writing, leading Gates to believe they will soon be able to assist students in enhancing their literacy skills. Initially, he sees AI chatbots as research assistants for reading and offering writing feedback before broadening their scope to encompass other subjects like mathematics.<br /><br />Despite the rapid progress in AI chatbot technology, Bill Gates acknowledged that there are still hurdles to overcome before these tools become effective tutors. For instance, teaching writing skills is complex and involves assessing prose's narrative structure and clarity. Although AI chatbots can now recognize and reproduce human-like language, they need to enhance further their reading and language comprehension abilities to engage students effectively. In addition, there are challenges in the area of mathematics. While AI chatbots are often trained in algebra and calculus, they struggle with performing calculations. Gates believes enhancing AI's reasoning capabilities will be crucial to unlocking its potential in teaching math. <br /><br />Nevertheless, he remains optimistic that within two years, AI chatbots will be able to provide affordable and accessible private tutoring to a broader range of students.<br /><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Affordable AI tuition for all?" comment="subhead" text="Affordable AI tuition for all?"><span data-til="noop">Affordable AI tuition for all?</span></cmsannotation><br />Although AI-powered tutoring may not be free, with chatbot services like ChatGPT Plus charging a subscription fee, Bill Gates argues that it will still be more affordable and accessible than traditional human tutoring. As AI chatbots advance, they have the potential to level the educational playing field by providing personalized tutoring to students who could not otherwise afford it. The future of AI in education is promising, with innovators like Gates projecting significant progress in the near future. As AI chatbots overcome present obstacles and continue to enhance, they can transform how children learn and narrow the educational resource gap for students from all backgrounds.<br /><br />SEE ALSO:<br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/the-best-vpns-to-safeguard-your-online-privacy-and-security-in-india/articleshow/99727397.cms">The best VPNs to safeguard your online privacy and security in India</a><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/formerly-barred-from-pharma-industry-entrepreneur-develops-ai-tool-using-chatgpt-to-cut-down-hospital-runs/articleshow/99662101.cms">Formerly barred from pharma industry, entrepreneur develops AI tool using ChatGPT to cut down hospital runs</a><br />

Bill Gates says AI Chatbots will transform education by making tutoring affordable and accessible

<ul><li>Forefront AI, a New York-based software development company, has launched Forefront Chat, a new tool that provides free access to GPT-4</li><li>Forefront AI offers exciting features like image generation, custom personas, and shareable chats.</li><li>Take a look at the features provided by Forefront AI below.</li></ul>Artificial intelligence has made significant advancements, and tools like OpenAI's ChatGPT empower millions worldwide to enhance their productivity and creativity. Now, anyone can access an AI-powered virtual assistant to write essays, simplify complex ideas, write code, and answer various questions.<br /><br />AI-powered chatbots, including GPT-4, often come with a cost. But there's exciting news! Forefront AI, a software development company based in New York, has introduced Forefront Chat, a new tool that offers free access to GPT-4, providing more people with the opportunity to try out this cutting-edge technology.<br /><br /><div type="twitter" handle="ForefrontAI" handlename="Forefront" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1415398873552543744/BrvPGbfQ_normal.png" favoritecount="400" retweetcount="106" status="Today we’re launching Forefront chat—a better ChatGPT experience—in free alpha. Sign up to get free access to GPT-4… https://t.co/uN87TmakId" createdat="1682089526000" id="1649429139907137540"></div><br />On the Forefront Chat platform, users can also explore image generation, custom personas, and shareable chats, among other features. They can choose from diverse personas that can help them with different tasks. The tool even includes a "Plus" button in the input box, which enables users to switch between GPT-4 and GPT-3.5, giving them flexibility and options in their interactions with the AI-powered virtual assistant.<br /><br /><strong>Check out the key features and benefits highlighted in the latest chat announcement:</strong><br /><ul><li>Free Access to GPT-4: Forefront Chat provides users with free access to the powerful GPT-4 language model, allowing more people to experience its capabilities without any cost.</li></ul><ul><li>Image Generation: Users can explore image generation capabilities on the platform, opening up creative possibilities for visual content generation.</li></ul><ul><li>Custom Personas: Forefront Chat offers a wide range of personas that users can choose from, tailoring their virtual assistant to their specific needs and tasks.</li></ul><ul><li>Shareable Chats: Users can easily share their chat sessions with others, making collaboration and communication more convenient and efficient.</li></ul><ul><li>GPT-4 and GPT-3.5 Options: The tool includes a "Plus" button that allows users to switch between GPT-4 and GPT-3.5, providing flexibility and options in their interactions with the virtual assistant.</li></ul><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Other features include" comment="subhead" text="Other features include"><span data-til="noop">Other features include</span></cmsannotation><br /><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Chats &amp; folders" comment="subhead" text="Chats &amp; folders"><span data-til="noop">Chats &amp; folders</span></cmsannotation><br />Forefront Chat automatically names and organizes your chats into folders based on the subject, ensuring easy organization and management. You'll have a default folder called "My Chats" where your conversations will be stored. Additionally, you can add more folders as needed, immediately or in the future, allowing you to customize your chat organization according to your preferences.<br /><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Personas" comment="subhead" text="Personas"><span data-til="noop">Personas</span></cmsannotation><br />Personas are chatbots that possess unique personalities and remarkable capabilities.<br /><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="#Imagine" comment="subhead" text="#Imagine"><span data-til="noop">#Imagine</span></cmsannotation><br />By using the #Imagine tag, users can effortlessly generate AI-powered images with the help of simple text inputs.<br /><br />Logging in to Forefront is fairly simple. All you need to do is visit <a href="https://chat.forefront.ai/">chat.forefront.ai</a> and create an account using your email ID or existing Google account. I tested the web application on both desktop and mobile browsers, and it performed flawlessly, offering a seamless experience.<br /><br />SEE ALSO:<br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/the-best-vpns-to-safeguard-your-online-privacy-and-security-in-india/articleshow/99727397.cms">The best VPNs to safeguard your online privacy and security in India</a><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/formerly-barred-from-pharma-industry-entrepreneur-develops-ai-tool-using-chatgpt-to-cut-down-hospital-runs/articleshow/99662101.cms">Formerly barred from pharma industry, entrepreneur develops AI tool using ChatGPT to cut down hospital runs</a><br />

Forefront Chat has unlocked access to GPT-4's features for free: Here’s how to use it

<ul><li><strong>The Indian government has issued a directive mandating <keyword id="201519" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="vpn" source="Orion">VPN</keyword> service providers to retain user data.</strong></li><li><strong>India currently has over 270 million <keyword id="13886361" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vpn-users" source="Orion">VPN users</keyword>, a majority of whom use it to connect to their company network.</strong></li><li><strong>VPN service providers may leave India as it’s not possible to comply with the government’s directive.</strong></li></ul>The Indian government <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/it-ministry-orders-vpn-providers-to-store-user-data-for-five-years-tech-news/articleshow/91334830.cms">released new guidelines</a> on April 28 directing companies offering virtual private network (VPN) services in the country to record and store the details of their users.<br /><br />The <a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1820904">directive</a> was issued by the country’s cyber watchdog - the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In). The new guidelines come into effect after 60 days of issue, which is around June end.<br /><br />The directive has come under criticism from various sections of society, including <keyword id="1601135" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vpn-providers" source="Orion">VPN providers</keyword>, consumers and rights activists. The Internet Freedom Foundation <a href="https://internetfreedom.in/cert-in-guidelines-on-cybersecurity-an-explainer/">said</a>, “The directions were released by CERT-In without any public consultation with technology and cyber security experts, which has led to the inclusion of multiple unwarranted provisions.”<br /><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="What is the directive from the Indian government?" comment="subhead" text="What is the directive from the Indian government?"><span data-til="noop">What is the directive from the Indian government?</span></cmsannotation><br />The directive issued by the government mandates VPN providers to maintain the following data as part of the know your customer (KYC) policy for a period of five years –<br /><br /><ul><li>Validated name of subscribers/customers</li><li>Period of hire</li><li>IPs allotted to the user</li><li>Email address, IP address and time stamp used at the time of registration.</li><li>Purpose of hiring services</li><li>Validated address and contact numbers</li><li>Ownership pattern of the subscribers</li></ul>Essentially, this will eliminate one of the major benefits and use cases of VPN – anonymity. According to the directive, CERT-In can at any time ask these service providers to furnish this data. A failure to furnish the data will result in punitive action under the IT Act, 2000 and other applicable laws.<br /><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Impact on users" comment="subhead" text="Impact on users"><span data-til="noop">Impact on users</span></cmsannotation><br />In addition to removing anonymity, this may have a much larger impact on the country. According to a VPN adoption Index maintained by AtlasVPN, India recorded over 270 million VPN users in 2021, which is around 20% of the population. This number has likely increased by now. <br /><br />The increase in VPN users in the country has been due to an increase in people working from home due to the pandemic. There are several uses of VPN, including employees using it to connect to company networks securely while working from home, accessing geo-restricted content or simply staying anonymous.<br /><br />VPN companies are against the directive from the government as recording user data goes against the main principles of VPN as they are designed to protect user privacy.<br /><br />NordVPN, one of the largest VPN service providers in the world, is <a href="https://entrackr.com/2022/05/exclusive-nord-vpn-may-pull-servers-from-india-following-it-ministry-order/?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=exclusive-nord-vpn-may-pull-servers-from-india-following-it-ministry-order">reportedly</a> considering pulling its servers out of India in response to the directive from the government.<br /><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="VPN service providers may have to leave the country" comment="subhead" text="VPN service providers may have to leave the country"><span data-til="noop">VPN service providers may have to leave the country</span></cmsannotation><br />“We are committed to protecting the privacy of our customers therefore, we may remove our servers from India if no other options are left,” Patricija Cerniauskaite, an official from NordVPN told Entrackr. The company reportedly has 28 servers in the country, which cater to both Indian and international users.<br /><br />“PureVPN is a no-log VPN, user anonymity and security is a central priority but if that is compromised by this policy then we will have to consider our position in India,” Uzair Gadit, chief executive officer of PureVPN told Business Insider India in a statement.<br /><br />“PureVPN stores no identifiable information, nor does it record or store user activity so this presents a significant risk for our users. More widely, this will impact the wider VPN industry,” Gadit added.<br /><br />“VPNs are critical for user safety and the preservation of user's right to online privacy and are fundamentally opposed to any efforts to undermine such technologies,” ExpressVPN said in a statement to <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/cons-products/electronics/uncert-in-times-for-vpn-services-providers-in-india/articleshow/91454501.cms">Economic Times</a>.<br /><br />In addition to being opposed to the new guidelines from the government, some VPN providers have claimed that the guidelines do not apply to them as they do not come under the jurisdiction of Indian laws.<br /><br />“We are operating under the jurisdiction of the Netherlands, and there are no laws requiring us to log user activity,” Surfshark said in a statement to ET.<br /><br /><strong>SEE ALSO:<br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/it-ministry-orders-vpn-providers-to-store-user-data-for-five-years-tech-news/articleshow/91334830.cms">Explained: Indian government makes user data collection mandatory for VPNs</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/world/news/boris-johnson-urges-russians-to-download-vpns-to-get-round-putins-censorship-of-mass-killings-in-ukraine/articleshow/90685023.cms">Boris Johnson urges Russians to download VPNs to get round Putin's censorship of mass killings in Ukraine</a><br /><br /></strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/internet-censorship-cost-the-global-economy-5-5-billion-in-2021-report-says/articleshow/88775422.cms"><strong>Internet censorship cost the global economy $5.5 billion in 2021, report says</strong></a><br />

Indian government's VPN guidelines will impact over 270 million users as VPN providers have no option but to leave the country

New Delhi, June 2 (IANS) As a result of the spread of the pandemic, 64 per cent of the organisations in India are expected to increase demand for cloud computing while 56 per cent for cloud software to support the new normal, a new IDC report said on Tuesday.<br /><br />The need to work remotely is bolstering the demand for SaaS-based collaborative apps, to ensure on and off-site presence at all the times and zero-disruption to business. This will also increase the need for remote support services  both human professional services and of the cloud software  especially security/identity.<br /><br />"As industries move away from infrastructure of ownership, pay-per-use models are likely to see an accelerated demand. Public cloud services will be among the few technologies that are positively impacted by the COVID-19," said Rishu Sharma, Principal Analyst, Cloud and Artificial Intelligence, IDC India.<br /><br />The India cloud market is going to witness a visible impact in the probable and pessimistic scenario in terms of heightened adoption with public cloud leading the forefront of all infra-related investments, according to IDC's 'COVID-19 Impact on IT spending Survey May 2020'.<br /><br />According to it, virtual private networks (VPNs), collaboration suites, end-point encryption, and cloud tools will witness an uptake. <br /><br />"Industries like media, education, and IT/ITeS are likely to see an increased uptick primarily because of online entertainment, virtual classrooms, and increased need for collaboration as a result of increased remote working," the findings showed.<br /><br />"We expect an accelerated adoption of cloud, as organizations explore testing of many new initiatives natively on cloud," Sharma added.<br /><br />The report covered the change in cloud budgets and the technology demands to ensure business continuity.<br /><br />According to Sharath Srinivasamurthy, Research Director, Enterprise Solutions &amp; ICT Practices, IDC India, while the impact of COVID-19 will be clearer in the coming quarters, Cloud has been a saviour during the crisis. <br /><br />"Cloud-based VDI and collaboration tools helped enterprises to stay in touch with their employees, clients, and partners. Cloud-based solutions continued to run and enable seamless business operations during the crisis and this has increased the confidence of enterprises in embracing cloud," explained Srinivasamurthy.<br /><br />--IANS<br /><br />na/

Covid-19 to push 64% Indian firms adopt cloud computing: IDC

New Delhi, Mar 27 () There has been an increase in the number of cyberattacks on personal computer networks and routers since professionals were asked to work from home in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak in the country, the national cyber security agency said on Friday.<p>"Cyber criminals are exploiting the COVID-19 outbreak as an opportunity to send phishing emails claiming to have important updates or encouraging donations, impersonating trustworthy organisations," the CERT-In said in its latest advisory to internet users.</p><p>The Computer Emergency Response Team of India (CERT-In) said the phenomenon has been witnessed as many organisations have asked their staff to work from home to help stop the spread of the coronavirus that has claimed thousands of live worldwide and infected millions.</p><p>"Switching to remote working because of the COVID-19 can create cyber security problems for employers and employees.</p><p>"There is an increase in the number of cyberattacks on computers, routers and unprotected home networks used by employees who have switched to remote working due to the spread of COVID-19," it said.</p><p>With most employees working from home, the agency said, enterprise VPN servers have now become paramount to a company's backbone, and their security and availability must be the focus for IT (information technology) teams.</p><p> "It is important that the VPN service is patched and up-to-date because there will be way more scrutiny against these services," it added.</p><p>The CERT-In also suggested some countermeasures and best security practices in this context: Change default passwords of your home Wi-Fi router to prevent hackers from accessing your network; use strong and unique passwords on every account and device and use two-factor authentication (2FA).</p><p>Some other countermeasures include: Not allowing sharing of work computers and other devices. When employees bring work devices home, those devices should not be shared with or used by anyone else in the home, it said.</p><p>"This reduces the risk of unauthorised or inadvertent access to protected company information," the advisory stated.</p><p>It asked users to update VPNs, network infrastructure devices, and devices being used to remote into work environments with the latest software patches and security configurations.</p><p>"Only use software your company would typically use to share files and refrain from using your personal email or 3rd party services unless reliably informed otherwise," it added.</p><p>It is recommended that even remote user activity is covered by the organisation's perimeter security tools, the advisory said.</p><p>"Ensure that remote sessions automatically time out after a specified period of inactivity and that they require re-authentication to gain access," the CERT-In said.</p><p>It also urged IT teams of the organisations to remind employees of the types of information that they need to safeguard.</p><p>"This often includes information such as confidential business information, trade secrets, protected intellectual property and other personal information," the advisory said.</p><p>"Also, 'remember password' functions should always be turned off when employees are logging into company information systems and applications from their personal devices," it said.</p><p>A specific suggestion for IT teams was to "consider Mobile Device Management (MDM) and Mobile Application Management (MAM)."</p><p>"These tools can allow organisations to remotely implement a number of security measures, including data encryption, malware scans, and wiping data on stolen devices," it said.</p>The CERT-In is the country's nodal agency to combat cyberattacks like hacking and phishing and is also mandated to fortify the security of the country's internet domain.  NES  DIVDIV

COVID-19: CERT-In says spurt in cyberattacks on personal comps since 'work from home' protocol began

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>CloudFlare</span></p><p class="caption">Cloudflare founders Michelle Zatlyn and Matthew Prince.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul><li><strong>Cloudflare, a content delivery network known for protecting and then withdrawing its protection from a Nazi blog called The Daily Stormer, has acquired startup Neumob.</strong></li><li><strong>Cloudflare was primarily interested in Neumob's now defunct virtual private network (VPN) product, which it plans to revive.</strong></li><li><strong>The company also plans to relaunch Neumob's core product, which allows developers to speed up their applications, under its own brand.</strong></li></ul><p><br />Aiming to get into the virtual private network (VPN) market, content delivery network provider Cloudflare has acquired Neumob.</p><p>Neumob's primary product is software that helps developers speed up their app so they run faster and require less bandwidth. But the company previously offered a popular VPN product that Cloudflare plans to resurrect and make more stable and secure. </p><p>"We think there's an opportunity to create a VPN that doesn't suck," Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince said. </p><p>Cloudflare, which was last valued at $3.2 billion in 2016 and is currently prepping for its initial public offering (IPO), officially took control of Neumob on Tuesday. The company plans to relaunch Neumob's products under the Cloudflare brand and move Neumob's systems onto its own.</p><p>The companies didn't disclose the terms of the deal.</p><p>VPNs are like dedicated channels on the internet; they allow remote computers to get past firewalls and act as if they are directly connected to distant servers or corporate networks. They can also allow users to mask their locations. A computer in Romania that's connected to a US VPN will typically appear to the websites it visits as if it is based in the United States. </p><p>The Neumob VPN was extremely popular in markets where phone plans can be costly and prohibitive for mobile internet use. However, Neumob was forced to shut down the product earlier this year after an overzealous radio host in Brazil promoted it, Prince said. So many new customers flooded in that the service became unsustainable. </p><p>"Retail bandwidth in Brazil and India is so expensive, it became overwhelming for them to keep it up," he said. </p><p>Cloudflare, which is best known for first protecting the Nazi site the Daily Stormer from a hacker attack and then withdrawing that support, plans to relaunch the VPN service as as a free consumer product in the coming months, Prince said. The revived VPN service will run through Cloudflare's existing global infrastructure, which is designed to withstand heavy traffic. </p><p>The relaunched product will focus on high-security and high-speed data transfers. But it will broadcast users' actual locations, so it won't be useful for streaming Netflix from another country or bypassing national firewalls.</p><p>Prior to the acquisition, Neumob had raised $11.5 million in funding led by Accel. Among the customers of its app accelerator software is HotelTonight.</p>       <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-runners-avoid-knee-pain-2016-11">A running coach explains the 2 most important activities runners should do to avoid knee pain</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

Cloudflare just bought a startup so it could offer a VPN "that doesn't suck"

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>Twitter executive Kathy Chen, brought in to run Greater China just over eight months ago, has quit.<p>It's the latest in a string of top executive departures for the struggling social network.</p><p>A Twitter spokesperson declined to comment.</p><p>Twitter has been blocked in China since 2009, although it is still used through virtual private networks (VPNs). Domestically, the Sina Weibo microblogging platform and Tencent's WeChat messaging app are more widely used. But Chinese organisations - including the state news agency Xinhua - do use Twitter to reach audiences abroad.</p><p>Chen, who had worked with Microsoft and Cisco , was brought in to lure more Chinese advertisers to the platform. At the time, the company was criticised for her hiring by democracy activists because of her links to the People's Liberation Army and the security services, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/20/twitter-row-new-chief-china-kathy-chen">The Guardian reported</a>.</p><p>"Now that the Twitter APAC team is working directly with Chinese advertisers, this is the right time for me to leave the company," she wrote in a tweet announcing her departure.</p><p>Twitter grew its Greater China advertiser base nearly 400 percent over the past two years, she wrote, making it one of the company's fastest growing revenue markets in Asia Pacific. Its Chinese advertisers have included Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi, online shopping giant Alibaba Group, white goods producer Qingdao Haier, and Air China.</p><p>"We remain committed to this market," Chen said, adding the company's Hong Kong office would remain open.</p><p>Twitter has been undergoing a significant shakeup, and not only in Asia, announcing in October that it would cut more than nine percent of its global workforce to keep costs down. Parminder Singh, managing director for India, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, left the company in early November.</p><p>Just before Christmas, the news broke that the social network's chief technology officer, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/twitter-loses-chief-technology-officer-adam-messinger-2016-12">Adam Messinger, and its VP of product, Josh McFarland, are both leaving the company</a>. They're the latest in an exodus of top executives: Adam Bain, Twitter's COO, stepped down in November. And Richard Alfonsi, VP of ad sales, jumped ship at the start of December for Stripe.</p><p>Twitter is struggling. The social network is barely growing, it is losing money, has a reputation for harassment and abuse on its platform, has been through rounds of layoffs, and its stock is far, far below its giddy heights of $70+ (£57) in early 2014.</p><p>The company explored a possible sale earlier in 2016, but it fell through - <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/disney-twitter-acquisition-trolls-abuse-harassment-report-2016-10">with potential buyers Salesforce and Disney reportedly put off in part because of Twitter's harassment problem</a>.</p><div></div>

Twitter's China boss has quit after just 8 months

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><ul><li><strong>Censorship in China has soared under President Xi Jinping, targeting local and international dissidents.</strong></li><li><strong>Thousands of censorship directives are issued every year, and there has been a significant increase in the number of restrictive laws and regulations that target everything from false information to content that endangers the "honor of the State."</strong></li><li><strong>Group chats are a big focus of the Chinese government and group initiators can be held criminally liable for anything members say, indicating Beijing is more less concerned with dissent existing than it is spreading.</strong></li><li><strong>All of China's online rules are incredibly vague, allowing police broad discretion and encouraging netizens to self-censor before they ever post anything.</strong></li></ul><p><br>It was 10.07 p.m. on a cool Vancouver evening when&#xa0;Shawn Zhang's phone rang. It was his mom.</br></p><p>Based in Wuyi, in the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang just south of Shanghai, she had just received a call from the police. They were asking questions about a post her son, a law student in Canada, had put up on Weibo&#xa0;- they said it wasn't good and it would be better if Zhang deleted it.</p><p>Just a day earlier, China's legislature had voted - almost unanimously - to scrap presidential term limits, paving the way for President Xi Jinping to rule indefinitely. After weeks of extensive censorship, where everything <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/censored-words-in-china-xi-jinping-term-limits-2018-2">from Xi's name to the words "immortality" and "lifelong"</a> were banned, Zhang wanted to see if retweeting a picture would draw the ire of censors.</p><p>So that afternoon he set up an anonymous account on Weibo, posted a cartoon of Xi encased in glass and draped in a communist flag, and then retweeted it from his own account.</p><p>But before the post was censored or his account suspended, public-security police called his mum. All told, it took fewer than eight hours and four minutes.</p><p>"I didn't expect this picture would trigger the police's response. It is a parody picture, not a political statement," Zhang told Business Insider.</p><p>It is not the first time Zhang's posts have attracted scrutiny back home.</p><p>Earlier this year, he tweeted a picture of the Tibetan flag with the words "Free Tibet" after hotel chain <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/zara-marriott-qantas-apologized-to-china-listing-taiwan-as-country-2018-1">Marriott controversially listed Tibet, as well as Hong Kong and Taiwan, as countries</a> despite China's claims to those territories. And last year he gave an answer on the question-and-answer website, Quora, about the disputed Doklam territory which borders China, India, and Bhutan, which received 38,000 upvotes.</p><p>Both times, public-security police contacted his parents to try and convince Zhang to remove the posts.</p><p>"It's really disturbing that police called again and again," Zhang said.</p><p>But this time felt different.</p><p>"I also didn't expect police to respond so quickly. It suggests my social media account is probably under their close monitoring. They will read everything I say," Zhang said. "Last time I posted a Tibet flag, police responded because someone reported my posts to the police. But this time, the police's response seems more proactive. I am probably on their watch list."</p><p>Whether he is on a watch-list or not, Zhang is not alone in thinking censorship in China is rapidly changing.</p><h2>The "Great Firewall" has gotten much taller under Xi</h2><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><p>In 2018, more than 600 million people will use social media in China - that's nearly one-quarter of all global users.&#xa0;</p><p>But these people will be faced with more censorship than ever before, according to a&#xa0;new report this month from human-rights organization PEN America, "<a href="https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/PENAmerica_Forbidden-Feeds-3.13-3.pdf">Forbidden Feeds: Government Controls on Social Media in China</a>."</p><p>While the term "Great Firewall" used to describe the large number of international websites blocked from China - Google, Facebook, Twitter&#xa0;- PEN says that censorship on local platforms has soared over the past six years.</p><p>"There has never been a particularly good time for&#xa0;internet freedom in China, or for free expression on&#xa0;social media in China specifically," the PEN report said. "Yet... the space for free expression online has&#xa0;been under increasing and unrelenting pressure&#xa0;by the government under the tenure of President&#xa0;Xi Jinping."</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div><p>In September 2015, censorship-monitoring site China Digital Times received a rare image of a censorship directive - usually editors receive tips verbally to minimize a paper trail, deputy editor Samuel Wade told PEN. This particular directive was numbered 320 and came from the Central Propaganda Department.<br><br>Because this department is just one agency within the government and Communist Party that issues censorship orders, its fair to assume thousands of directives are ordered each year.</br></br></p><p>Advanced censorship technology combined with new laws, regulations, and increased enforcement are increasingly being used to "repress dissident voices and shape online conversation," according to PEN.</p><p>Just this month, a former prosecutor was arrested for <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/china-arrested-a-lawyer-for-criticizing-xi-jingping-term-limit-removal-2018-3">making comments online</a>&#xa0;about the removal of presidential term limits. <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/china-steps-up-internet-censorship-of-criticism-of-xi-jinping/article38269470/">The Globe and Mail</a>&#xa0;also reported that around the same time a teenager, who posted a tool on Weibo allowing users to connect with people whose accounts were deleted, had his computer seized by the police who also took some of his blood to collect his DNA.</p><p>And as Zhang's case shows, China's attempts at censorship are no longer limited by geography or technology. Beijing is also trying to crackdown on overseas dissidents whose families are still in the mainland, despite the fact many posts are on platforms like Twitter that aren't accessible in China.&#xa0;</p><p>"Under Xi, the&#xa0;"Great Firewall" is getting taller," the PEN report said.</p><h2>Fear of censorship has turned into a fear of arrest</h2><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><p>The law, the courts, and the police have all become stricter in the last six years.</p><p>In 2013, the Supreme People's Court increased penalties for posts that are defamatory of contain "false information." If a post is forwarded more than 500 times or clicked on over 5,000 times, the author can go to jail for up to three years.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container float_left"><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div><p>Two years later it became illegal to post fabricated content about natural disasters, emergencies, or any reports of danger - encouraging netizens to closely stick to the government's narrative on major events.</p><p>Then last year, a new law made it illegal to endanger the "<a href="http://www.npc.gov.cn/englishnpc/Law/2007-12/12/content_1383844.htm">honor or interests of the State</a>."</p><p>New regulations also urged social-media companies to begin rating users. Companies are encouraged to have a credit system for users, deducting points for disobeying regulations, and to grant the government access to the data.</p><p>"Before Xi Jinping we feared only that they would delete our posts. In the worst situation, they would delete [your account]," Qiao Mu, an academic told <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/14/qiao-mu-dissenting-academic-leaves-china-for-us">The Guardian</a> in 2015. "But since Xi Jinping came to power this changed. They began to arrest people."</p><h2>Chat groups are popular but their tendency to leak is dangerous</h2><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><p>In 2016, blogger Liu Yanli was charged with defamation and spent eight months in jail for copying a number of short posts critical of Chinese leaders, including Xi, into a private WeChat group.&#xa0;</p><p>The following year Wang Jiangfeng was sentenced to two years prison for using the satirical nickname "<a href="https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/sentencing-04122017111054.html">Steamed Bun Xi</a>," also in a private WeChat group.</p><p>WeChat groups are popular in China, where there can be as many as 500 members in each group. And while there are numerous instances of the government appearing to have <a href="https://twitter.com/YuanfenYang/status/962002259407089664">read private messages</a> through some sort of back door, such large groups are, as PEN describes, "leaky by design" and can easily be infiltrated.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><p>The problem isn't just limited to Chinese apps though. Despite WhatsApp's encrypted technology, Zhang Guanghong was charged last year with insulting the government for sharing an article that was critical of Xi in a group chat. According to&#xa0;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/02/technology/china-technology-censorship-borders-expansion.html">The New York Times,</a> this will be one of the first times conversation history from a non-Chinese app will be used as evidence.</p><p>Threats of prosecution pose risks for people who post content but also group creators. New <a href="http://www.cac.gov.cn/2017-09/07/c_1121624269.htm">regulations</a> introduced in September last year hold group initiators criminally liable for content posted in any group they start.</p><p>The regulations also require the tech companies to monitor and keep records of chats for six months, and report any illegal activity to authorities. The companies have essentially been ordered to spy on their users.</p><p>Interestingly, <a href="https://citizenlab.ca/2016/11/wechat-china-censorship-one-app-two-systems/">group chats have more words censored</a> than one-on-one chats, an indicator that China is focused more on dissent growing than it existing.</p><p>"China is more concerned about monitoring group&#xa0;opinion and preventing political mobilization than&#xa0;with censoring one-on-one discussions," the PEN report said.&#xa0;</p><h2>Laws are intentionally vague and confusing so people will self-censor&#xa0;<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></h2><p>Aside from the new laws and regulations, since 2013 there have been seven "bottom lines" that social-media content shouldn't contravene: China's rules and laws, the socialist system, the country's national interests,&#xa0;the legitimate interests of citizens, public order, morality, and authentic information.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_left"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><p>"The broad and vague nature of these lists provides&#xa0;authorities with unfettered discretion to crack down&#xa0;on anything they deem inappropriate," the PEN report said. "Additionally,&#xa0;it helps instill self-censorship among internet users,&#xa0;who are left with very little sense of what types of&#xa0;social media postings are appropriate."</p><p>Just this week, the values of the socialist system were interpreted to require an <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-media/no-laughing-matter-china-regulator-bans-tv-parodies-amid-content-crackdown-idUSKBN1GZ0J4?il=0">immediate crackdown on any and all parodies and spoofs</a>.</p><p>"To be safe, a person must pull back in every respect, and moreover must become his or her own policeman," China scholar <a href="http://www.chinafile.com/library/nyrb-china-archive/china-anaconda-chandelier">Perry Link wrote back in 2002</a>.</p><p>For Zhang, he's already thinking about what posting online could mean for his family back in China.</p><p>"I was upset at that time because police harassed my family again," Zhang said. "I don't want them to be disturbed. Police calling gave them pressure. I have to think about my parents when I say something online."</p><div></div>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ultra-light-diving-system-scuba-accessible-to-anyone-nomad-brownies-marine-group-blu3-2018-3">This ultra-light diving system makes scuba accessible to anyone - here's how it works</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div></hr>

You Searched For "vpns in india" and got 11 results

L&T Technology Services logs 22% growth in revenue, net profit in FY23

IANS

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Rahul Verma

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Rahul Verma

Bill Gates says AI Chatbots will transform education by making tutoring affordable and accessible

Rahul Verma

Forefront Chat has unlocked access to GPT-4's features for free: Here’s how to use it

Rahul Verma

Indian government's VPN guidelines will impact over 270 million users as VPN providers have no option but to leave the country

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Covid-19 to push 64% Indian firms adopt cloud computing: IDC

IANS

COVID-19: CERT-In says spurt in cyberattacks on personal comps since 'work from home' protocol began

PTI

Cloudflare just bought a startup so it could offer a VPN "that doesn't suck"

Becky Peterson

Twitter's China boss has quit after just 8 months

Rob Price,Reuters

China's 'Great Firewall' is taller than ever under 'president-for-life' Xi Jinping

Tara Francis Chan