ICANN Empowers Underrepresented Communities with New gTLD Applicant Support Program – Nigeria Communications Week

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The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the nonprofit organization that coordinates the Domain Name System (DNS), announced today the opening of the Applicant Support Program (ASP) for the New Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLD) Program: Next Round.

The New gTLD Program: Next Round is an initiative that will enable the introduction of new gTLDs (including those longer than three characters and in non-Latin scripts) into the Internet’s domain name space.
It will be the first opportunity since 2012 to secure a gTLD, and the ASP makes it possible for lesser-resourced organizations to benefit from this transformation in their presence online.
Top-level domains are the part of an Internet address that comes after the dot. For example, in the domain name icann.org, the characters ‘org’ identify the TLD and help to classify the purpose of the domain name.
The Internet started with just a handful of TLDs, such as .com, .net., .org and others. As it has evolved, the number of generic TLDs in the DNS has increased to reflect the multidimensionality of its billions of users and to help classify and communicate the purpose of a domain name.
ICANN appreciates that applying to operate a gTLD can be expensive and out of reach for many organizations. The ASP is intended to make the processes and fees involved in applying for a new gTLD more accessible to entities that may want to operate a gTLD but are unable because of financial and other resource constraints. Supported applicants will be eligible to receive access to pro bono service providers, training, and other resources, and a 75-85% reduction in gTLD evaluation fees.
“The New gTLD Program: Next Round will give businesses, communities, and others the opportunity to apply for new top-level domains tailored to their community, culture, language, business, and customers. The program reinforces ICANN’s commitment to encourage innovation, competition, and consumer choice in the domain industry,” said Pierre Dandjinou, Vice President, ICANN, Africa.
“The ASP supports that commitment by paving the way for more entrepreneurs, small businesses, governments, and communities around the world to apply to operate a generic top-level domain of their own choosing.”
To be eligible for the program, applicants must meet financial need and financial viability criteria, and fall into at least one of the following entity categories:
More information on evaluation and eligibility criteria are described in Section 4: Applicant Eligibility and Evaluation Categories, of the ASP Handbook.
ASP applicants will be evaluated on an ongoing basis. The first applicants to apply and qualify for support will the first to take advantage of the available resources. The application window will remain open for 12 months. Applicants are encouraged to apply early.
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Kaspersky is warning of a rising phishing scam involving fraudulent emails pretending to be from Docusign, a globally used e-signature platform.

Cyber attackers are sending these emails with links to fake websites where users are asked to enter a work login and password.
The Docusign phishing attack begins with an email that resembles legitimate communication from the service provider. Unlike other phishing schemes, the malicious actors generally do not bother to forge or mask the sender address given how genuine Docusign emails can originate from any address due to the customisation options available to Docusign customers.
Typically, the victim is notified that they must electronically sign a financial-related document, with the click through link included in the email received. In some instances, the phishers can also include a PDF attachment with a QR code inside.
The victim is prompted to open the attachment and scan this QR code, supposedly to access the document for signing, however in reality this leads to a phishing website intended to gather users’ credentials.
The tactics and quality of execution can vary from email to email. However, the core principle remains the same: phishers rely on the recipient not understanding how e-signing with Docusign actually works. The inattentive victim follows the link (or QR code) to the phishing page and enters their work login credentials, which go straight to the attackers.
Usernames and passwords harvested through successful phishing attacks are often compiled into databases sold on illicit dark web marketplaces and later used to attack organisations.
The whole purpose of Docusign is to make it as easy as possible for companies and individuals to exchange electronically-signed documents. Any additional steps or restrictions — such as creating an account, entering credentials, opening attachments, or using only a smartphone to sign — go against this principle.
Therefore, Docusign asks for none of this and strives to make the signing process as quick and simple as possible.
To protect against this Docusign phishing tactic or other scams that impersonate popular services, Kaspersky recommends the following:
o    Send a PDF attachment with a link to a document to be signed.
o    Give you no choice but to scan a QR code. Docusign works on both mobile devices and computers, so a link is always provided to access the document – not a QR code.
o    Require you to enter work login credentials.
o    Force you to register with or log in to Docusign. After you sign the document, Docusign might suggest creating an account, but it’s entirely optional.
“Phishers are increasingly using names of trusted services like Docusign. We advise all IT users both at work and at home to always verify the sender’s identity and avoid clicking on suspicious links. Companies should ensure their teams know how to identify phishing emails, while multi-factor authentication and email filtering solutions add an extra level of defence,” Roman Dedenok, a cybersecurity expert at Kaspersky, concludes.
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Sophos and Secureworks (NASDAQ: SCWX), two global cybersecurity pioneers, announced the completion of Sophos’ acquisition of Secureworks on Monday.

The all-cash transaction values Secureworks at approximately $859 million, and with the acquisition’s completion, Secureworks’ common stock has ceased trading on Nasdaq. Sophos is backed by Thoma Bravo, a leading software investment firm.
With this acquisition, Sophos becomes the leading pure-play cybersecurity provider of Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services, supporting more than 28,000 organizations of all sizes worldwide. The combination will enable Sophos to deliver an unparalleled security operations platform, featuring hundreds of built-in integrations for adaptive protection, detection, and response to mitigate cyberattacks.
The open and scalable platform helps organizations, especially those with diverse IT estates, safeguard current and future technology investments, providing greater operational efficiencies and return on cybersecurity spend. Sophos X-Ops is also expanding its threat intelligence and security services capabilities with the addition of the Secureworks Counter Threat Unit and security operations and advisory teams.
As a channel-first cybersecurity provider, Sophos remains unwavering in its commitment to deliver cutting-edge security services and technologies that empower its global community of resellers, Managed Service Providers (MSPs), and Managed Security Services Providers (MSSPs).
This includes expanding their reach, enhancing operational scalability, and providing stronger defenses to countless organizations that need the ability to effectively defend against today’s constant and complex cyberattacks.
“The market is embracing MDR as a clear means to deliver positive cybersecurity outcomes, and this has meant rapid growth in the category,” said Joe Levy, CEO of Sophos. “Sophos is differentiated by our very mature competencies in ransomware detection, malware analysis, and threat actor tradecraft.
“These defenses are further augmented by Sophos’ native artificial intelligence (AI), first innovated by our globally peer-recognized AI team nearly a decade ago, and embedded in our MDR, endpoint, network, email, and cloud security to more effectively neutralize and stop threats. With the integration of Secureworks, our expanded services and product portfolio will provide even stronger end-to-end security solutions that will include identity threat detection and response (ITDR), next-gen SIEM, and managed risk, all in a single open platform.”
“We will also be able to further advance our AI, threat intelligence, and attack research through more diverse and deeper global telemetry that is analyst-tuned for the real world. At every level, we are very excited about this next accelerated chapter for Sophos.”
In the near term, Sophos and Secureworks are operating business as usual, working with their respective channel partners, MSPs, and MSSPs worldwide to distribute their existing security services and technology. Both companies’ sales and customer experience groups will operate to support existing customers, assist with renewals, and develop current and new business opportunities.
Sophos protects more than 600,000 customers worldwide with its portfolio of MDR, endpoint, network, email, and cloud security solutions that integrate and adapt to provide real-time defense through the Sophos Central platform.
Under the terms of the agreement, Sophos acquired Secureworks in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $859 million. Secureworks shareholders, including Dell Technologies (NYSE: DELL), will receive $8.50 per share in cash, representing a 28% premium to the unaffected 90-day volume-weighted average price (VWAP).
Kirkland & Ellis LLP acted as legal counsel to Sophos, while Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Barclays, BofA Securities, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., and UBS Investment Bank acted as financial advisors and provided debt financing for the transaction. Piper Sandler & Company and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC acted as financial advisors to Secureworks, and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP acted as legal counsel.
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African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a $160 million senior corporate loan to support AXIAN Telecom to expand digital access and finan­cial inclusion in nine African countries.

The loan will accelerate the modernisation and expansion of AXIAN Telecom‘s network infrastructure, with a focus on 4G and 5G deployment; while also driving digital innovation in its operations, enabling them to expand to more countries.
AXIAN Telecom, headquar­tered in Mauritius, serves 42.9 million mobile subscribers, 11.4 million data users, and 15.2 million mobile financial service users, positioning itself as a leader in Africa’s digital trans­formation.
A key focus of the funding is to address gender disparities in access to financial services. Over $10 million will be dedicat­ed to empowering 22,000 women entrepreneurs in Madagascar through AXIAN’s Mvola plat­form.
Additionally, a $2.5 mil­lion grant will enhance finan­cial literacy and credit access for 34,000 women businesses across Madagascar, Tanzania, and Senegal, enabling them to grow and transition into the formal economy.
Highlighting the initiative’s importance, Solomon Quaynor, VP for Private Sector, Infrastruc­ture and Industrialisation African Development Bank’ said: “This investment reflects the African Development Bank’s commit­ment to driving Africa’s digital transformation and fostering inclusive growth. By support­ing AXIAN Telecom’s growth plan, we are bridging the digital divide, creating opportunities for millions across the con­tinent, and fostering innova­tion.”
Quaynor described the Afri­can Development Bank’s sup­port as part of a partnership to accelerate progress, advance financial inclusion—particular­ly for women—and drive sus­tainable development, adding, “Together, we are building the infrastructure and ecosystems that will enable Africa to thrive in the digital age.”
Has­san Jaber, CEO, AXIAN Telecom said: “We are hon­oured to partner with an organ­isation that shares our vision of advancing Africa’s digital econ­omy. The funding from the Afri­can Development Bank not only underscores the immense dig­ital potential of the continent but also highlights the critical role of collaboration in driving sustainable development.”
 
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