Addressing the exponential growth in web-based malware, phishing and social engineering attacks, Check Point Software Technologies recently announced SandBlast Agent for Browsers with Zero Phishing technology. As the newest member of its industry-leading SandBlast family of solutions, SandBlast Agent for Browsers is designed to protect users from these evolving threats by seamlessly incorporating key components of the security model into the browser. It provides real-time protection, all while reducing the resources required to prevent today’s most advanced attacks.

To optimise business results and innovation, users now expect unconstrained internet access and immediate delivery of downloaded content and email.  At the same time, enterprises must contend with the changing threat landscape, as they strive to prevent the theft of sensitive customer information and their own intellectual property, while maintaining the efficiency of their critical business systems.

Files downloaded from the web represent a leading entry point for malware today, and data shows this threat is growing. Web-based malware and social engineering attacks targeting organisations are increasing in volume and sophistication, with cyber attackers using the latest evasion techniques and persuasive scams to infect their victims. A preview of an upcoming SANS survey, Exploits at the Endpoint: SANS 2016 Threat Landscape Study, reveals:

• 41% of the respondents experienced their most impactful security events through attacks that used drive-by downloads of malicious programs.
• 80 percent of organisations have been impacted by phishing attacks over the past 12 months, with 68 percent witnessing an increase in this type of attack.

Coupled with the fact that 63 percent of data breaches involved some form of credential theft through either weak, default or stolen passwords, according to Verizon’s 2016 Data Breach Investigations Report, it becomes clear preventing the full-range of web-based attacks from reaching end users is critical to maintaining business security.

Whenever we think about photo editing the very first name that crosses our mind is the Photoshop application by Adobe Inc. The truth is that the word Photoshop is not only a noun anymore; it has become a verb. So, when we have to say ‘let’s edit the photo’ we usually instead say ‘let’s Photoshop the photo.’ No one can deny that Adobe Photoshop is one of most incredible photo editing tools in the market. It comes with a slew of amazing tools and features that are not there in many other apps. But this application does cost a lot of money and everyone cannot afford to buy the license. This is why people are looking for cheaper or free, yet effective alternatives. Here are the top 5 photo editing apps.

• Snapseed

While talking about the photo editing apps, there is no way we can forget to mention Snapseed. This photo editing tools is truly unique and offers some really awesome features. Well, after all, it is owned by Google. People say that it is one of the finest photo editing apps offered for the Android users. It comes with the special support for the raw images. In fact, this feature is very delightful. Then there are easy enhancement tools and effective sliders to play with. The filters offered by this app are also very amazing. What’s most incredible is that this app is totally free. You don’t even have to make any in-app purchase. All the features are there for no cost at all. If you wish to run this app on your windows, then you must visit Snapseed for PC complete tutorial guide.

• Pixlr

This is another effective photo editing tool which has become very popular over the years. The app is very fast and offers easy basic photo editing and enhancement. It also has many features that have become quite popular among users. These filters are more famously called ‘overlays.’ Pixlr is free but there are some in-app purchases.

• PicsArt Photo Studio

PicsArt is also a very effective photo editing tool there is in the market. It has been extremely popular among the smartphone users. In fact, as of now it has been downloaded more than 250 million times. There are many features to enhance your photos, but it is its amazing filters that make it more popular. This is also a completely free app and there are no in-app purchases as well. What’s even great is that the developers of this app provide regular update with enhanced features and functionalities.

• Bonfire Photo Editor Pro

For those who are searching for a bit advanced and cool image editing tool that has tons of features then they must try the new Bonfire Photo Editor Pro. Although it does include all the basic features of any image editing tool it also offers advanced options. This is why it is called pro.

• Acorn for Mac

Acorn is the photo editing tool that is available only to the Mac users. It can be considered as the most reasonably priced photo editing application. It has the advanced features and much incredible functionality that are available only for $29.99

Contributor: Deepak Raghav is a distinguished research consultant and writer. He is having vast experience in writing and Digital marketing and now operates his own blog  on the regular basis. You can connect with him on Google+.

The Language Express, Inc developers of the Award winning programme, “The Social Express” today announced its partnership with Prognari, an Africa-focused education value-add organization that seeks to develop social, emotional intelligence capabilities and life skills in children and young adults. This strategic partnership supports both companies’ objective of equipping the 21st century African child with the skills required to be successful in school and life.

The Social Express is an animated Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) software designed to teach children and young adults how to think about and manage social interaction situations. It helps them develop meaningful social relationships and ultimately succeed in life.

In addition to equipping children with SEL abilities, Prognari is working with The Language Express to reduce the incidence of bullying in schools through the Cool School  programme. Cool School is an interactive and animated anti-bullying programme designed for elementary school learners; Cool School’s six week curriculum has been designed to teach young students about bullying through interactive videos and offline activities. The program also addresses bystander behavior and how it can contribute to and increase bullying within the school environment.

Nigerian banks are likely to face more challenges as the nation’s benchmark interest rate continues to rise, global credit rating agency, Fitch Ratings, has said.

The Central bank of Nigeria’s Monetary Policy Committee had on Tuesday increased the interest rate from 12 per cent to 14 per cent in a move to curb inflation and strengthen the naira. The move has been widely criticised by economists.

The CBN’s Monetary Policy Rate (benchmark interest rate), which hovered around six per cent from 2001 to 2011, has risen steeply.

In a statement on Friday, Fitch said, “Rising rates are likely to put additional pressure on banks’ asset quality. Almost all lending is extended at floating rates and banks should be able to reprice their loans quite quickly but borrowers will face more difficulties in servicing their debts.

“Impaired loans are already high in the Nigerian banking sector, where average non-performing loan ratios reached 6.2 per cent at end-March 2016, partly reflecting the impact of currency depreciation on businesses as well as higher oil-related problem loans at some banks.”

Fitch expects loan growth (excluding foreign-exchange translation effects) to slow during the second half of 2016 and into 2017.

Banks have already tightened underwriting standards as economic conditions in the country worsen.

The nation’s Gross Domestic Product contracted by 0.4 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2016 and Fitch forecasts the GDP growth to fall to 1.5 per cent in 2016.