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Coronavirus – Africa: COVID-19 update

Staff Writer - April 27, 2020

Over 30,000 #COVID19 cases reported on the African continent - with over 9,000 associated recoveries & 1,300 deaths recorded. View country figures & more...

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Kaspersky (www.Kaspersky.co.za) in collaboration with VDC Research announced that in the first three quarters of 2025 ransomware attacks on manufacturing organisations could have generated over $18 billion in losses. This figure reflects just the direct cost of an idle workforce during downtime, with overall operational and financial impacts far exceeding this amount. Estimations were made across APAC, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, CIS and LATAM based on the share of manufacturing organisations where ransomware attempts were detected and prevented, the total number of manufacturing organisations in each region, average downtime hours after real attacks, average number of employees per organisation and average hourly pay. According to Kaspersky Security Network from January to September 2025, the Middle East (7%) and Latin America (6.5%) led the regional rankings in terms of ransomware detections in manufacturing organisations. APAC (6.3%), Africa (5.8%), CIS (5.2%) and Europe (3.8%) followed. All of these attacks were blocked by Kaspersky solutions. The estimation of potential losses (below) shows the financial impact if these attacks succeeded. When ransomware hits, production lines halt, triggering immediate revenue losses from an idle workforce and longer-term shortfalls from reduced output. The average attack lasts 13 days (based on the Kaspersky Incident Response Report) (https://apo-opa.co/4pA9PUK). As a result, idle labour costs from ransomware in the first three quarters of 2025 could have reached: $11.5 billion in APAC $4.4 billion in Europe $711 million in LATAM $685 million in the Middle East $507 million in CIS $446 million in Africa Actual business losses could have been significantly higher when factoring in supply-chain disruptions, reputational damage, and recovery expenses. “Our research provides an estimation of the financial impact that ransomware may have had on manufacturing worldwide. The growing complexity of manufacturing environments, along with widening expertise gaps and ongoing labour challenges, makes it difficult for most organisations to manage cybersecurity effectively, but failure to do so may result in financial losses – followed by reputational blows as well. Partnering with proven cybersecurity vendors is paramount for effective IT, OT and IIoT protection,” comments Jared Weiner, Research Director, Industrial Automation & Sensors at VDC Research. “No region is exempt from ransomware – whether it’s the Middle East, LATAM, APAC, CIS, Africa or Europe, every manufacturing hub is constantly being targeted. Mid-tier manufacturers that could have been overlooked by threat actors in the past are also among the targets because their security budgets are smaller and their supply chain disruption effects can be larger than most realise. The manufacturing sector and all other organisations need reliable, proven defence systems and continuous user education,” comments Dmitry Galov, Head of Research Center for Russia and CIS at Kaspersky's GReAT. More information about ransomware in different regions is available in Kaspersky’s 2025 State of Ransomware Report (https://apo-opa.co/43LYE2H). Kaspersky encourages organisations to follow these best practices to safeguard from ransomware: Enable ransomware protection for all endpoints. There is a free Kaspersky Anti-Ransomware Tool for Business (https://apo-opa.co/48fN4xZ) that shields computers and servers from ransomware and other types of malware, prevents exploits and is compatible with already installed security solutions. For comprehensive protection of industrial and critical sectors, Kaspersky offers a distinctive ecosystem that seamlessly integrates dedicated OT-grade technologies, expert knowledge and invaluable expertise. At the core of this ecosystem is Kaspersky Industrial CyberSecurity (KICS) (https://apo-opa.co/3K8S27W), a native Extended Detection and Response (XDR) platform designed for critical infrastructure protection. It provides robust network traffic analysis, along with endpoint protection, detection and response capabilities. This comprehensive solution integrates traditional IT security measures with purpose-built industrial security technologies, ensuring that your company is well-equipped to face any threat. Companies from non-industrial sectors can protect themselves by installing anti-APT and EDR solutions that enable capabilities for advanced threat discovery and detection, investigation and timely remediation of incidents. Organisations can also provide their SOC teams with access to the latest threat intelligence (https://apo-opa.co/4oZWhSr) and regularly upskill them with professional training. All of the above is available within Kaspersky Next Expert (https://apo-opa.co/4rpBklE).

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Canon (www.Canon-CNA.com) announces two additions to its professional cinema and AV lineups: the CN30×40 IAS J R1/P1 ultra-telephoto cinema zoom lens (https://apo-opa.co/4egKrku) with a new updated drive unit and the RC‑IP300 multi-camera PTZ controller (https://apo-opa.co/41YXW0L) . Designed for high-end filmmaking and live events, the new zoom will provide filmmakers with even more power and flexibility, while the new controller offers an entry-level route into multi-camera PTZ control. Both products strengthen Canon’s film and broadcast ecosystem with tools that deliver precise control and cinematic image quality. The CN30×40 IAS J R1/P1 brings exceptional reach and optical performance to wildlife filmmakers and live productions. Featuring an ultra-telephoto 30x zoom range of 40-1200mm or 60-1800mm with extender, the lens provides native Super35mm coverage, and the renowned optical quality associated with Canon cinema lenses, enabling detailed 4K and 8K imagery – even from extreme distances. A new drive unit further enhances operability and functionality for professional applications, with features such as focus breathing correction, improved servo control, an info display and USB Type-C terminal for easy setup and maintenance. With a 1.5x extender, the lens increases focal reach while enabling full-frame coverage, offering filmmakers additional creative flexibility. Despite its powerful range, it remains comparatively light for its class and is built with a rugged construction suited to demanding environments such as wildlife hides, stadium gantries and remote production locations. Advanced autofocus and subject-tracking capabilities, combined with Canon’s Focus Guide, help operators maintain precise and accurate focus in fast-moving scenes. Canon is also introducing the RC‑IP300, a compact yet powerful PTZ controller built for modern multi-camera productions. Designed to enable single operators to manage complex camera setups, the controller controls up to 200 cameras, organises them into groups and stores up to 100 presets per camera for instant recall and repeatable shot framing. The controller features a 3.5-inch touchscreen preview, IP video inputs and an intuitive layout of joystick, touchscreen and programmable controls that streamline operation in broadcast studios, lecture halls and corporate production environments. Support for Canon’s PTZ Auto Tracking application and integration with tools such as Stream Deck further enhances workflow efficiency and automation. Together, these launches demonstrate Canon’s continued commitment to evolving production demands, from cinematic long-range storytelling to scalable IP-based multi-camera workflows. By combining advanced optics with intelligent control systems, Canon continues to develop its ever-expanding ecosystem of tools that enable creators and production teams to capture and control content with precision and creative freedom. CN30×40 IAS J R1/P1 (https://apo-opa.co/4egKrku) – key highlights Unrivalled 4K/8K optics with minimal flare and organic colour Powerful 30x focal range 40-1200mm or 60-1800mm with extender Native Super35mm, with 1.5x extender to increase reach and cover full frame sensors Portable and built for the field, light for its class, providing exceptional coverage RF or PL Mount data support with lens metadata capture for Zeiss eXtended dataTM and Cooke/iTM technology Advanced Autofocus with support for Dual Pixel AF II Auto Exposure Ramping Compensation to keep consistent brightness throughout the zoom range New drive unit with focus breathing correction, improved servo, info display and USB-C RC‑IP300 (https://apo-opa.co/41YXW0L) – key highlights Compact and control‑room ready, fitting studios, classrooms, and mobile setups Single‑operator control with intuitive joystick, touchscreen, and preset selections Scale up to 200 cameras with centralised control of multi‑cam setups Up to 100 presets per camera with instant, repeatable shots and moves 3.5" touchscreen preview with on‑board monitoring for quick checks and framing IP video inputs for streamlined networking, fewer cables, and enhanced workflows Supports Canon applications such as Auto Tracking and Auto Loop

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