Eurobites: ETNO, GSMA fear telco taxation creep

The process of "digital transformation" and the advent of widespread remote working in Africa has made the continent more alluring to those lovable purveyors of malware, new research from cybersecurity company Kaspersky reveals. During the first half of 2021, malware attacks rose by 5% in the region, with South Africa – at 32 million attacks – bearing the brunt. Nigeria – ironically, perhaps, given that it is often perceived as one of the major sources of cyber-nuisance – saw the largest percentage increase in attacks, up 23%.

Well, it looks like it's all over for Google. It's had a good run, but now we'll have to go back to Ask Jeeves to find the phone number of our nearest plumber. Because Russia, you see, has imposed a fine of 6 million roubles (US$80,881) on the search giant for, as Reuters reports, failing to delete content that Russia deems illegal. All things must pass, as a Beatle once said.

Cuckoo, "the UK's most loved national broadband provider" it says here, has announced a number of high-level appointments. Sarah Ahern joins as head of strategy and operations (from delivery app company Just Eat), Daniel Mali (previously at Monzo) is named as operations lead, and the appropriately monikered Ben Bentley (previously at Schroders Personal Wealth) becomes finance lead.

— Paul Rainford, Assistant Editor, Europe, Light Reading