MAM
AOL plans steps to combat Phishing, identity theft
MUMBAI: Internet service provider America Online in the US has announced a range of aggressive new steps to help protect AOL members from phishing attacks. Phishing means using fraudulent e-mail and fake web sites to gather sensitive personal information from users.
New partnerships with leading anti-phishing companies MarkMonitor and Cyveillance, and an expanded agreement with existing partner Cyota, now offer AOL members multiple layers of invisible protection against phishing attacks. Through those defenses, AOL announced it is now blocking roughly eight million phishing attempts against its members each day.
Among the strategies that AOL is now employing as a result of the new and expanded partnerships with those companies are:
– Early warning systems that check newly-registered domains to see if they mimic legitimate site names, indicating they may be used for phishing.
– Web crawling systems that constantly explore the Web looking for suspicious sites that imitate the text or appearance of real sites.
– URL analysis that checks more than a million suspicious URLs referred by AOL members each day to determine if they are phishing sites.
– Take down efforts that work with system administrators and web hosting providers worldwide to remove known phishing sites from the Web.
This effort comes on top of AOL’s existing efforts to protect members from phishing attacks by blocking millions of e-mails each day that contain links to known phishing sites before they reach a member’s mailbox, as well as blocking member access to known phishing sites through the AOL client.
AOL senior VP and chief trust officer Tatiana Platt says, “The only difference between a phisher and a mugger is that a phisher uses a keyboard and not a gun. Phishing and identity theft crimes cost consumers billions of dollars each year, and we will do everything in our power to protect our members from the online criminals who would prey on them. We are proud to be teaming up with the world’s best cyber security firms to add these extra layers of protection for our members.”
To help identify potential phishing sites, AOL uses member feedback through the millions of e-mails referred via the “Report Spam” button, as well as input from a range of other internal and external sources. When a phishing site is identified, AOL works to block incoming e-mails containing the URL to that site, as well as limiting access to the site through the AOL software. In addition to fraudulent web sites that attempt to spoof pages of the AOL service, AOL also works to protect members from scam sites that imitate other legitimate companies such as banks, credit card issuers, online auctions, and online payment facilitators.
Brands
KKR sixes to power EV charger rollout under VIDA campaign
Cricket meets clean mobility as big hits spark India’s charging growth
NEW DELHI: VIDA, the electric mobility arm of Hero MotoCorp, has teamed up with Kolkata Knight Riders to launch a campaign that turns cricketing flair into real-world impact.
Titled ‘6 for 6’, the initiative promises to install a 6kW fast EV charger for every six hit by KKR during the ongoing Indian Premier League season. The idea is simple but powerful, as each big hit on the field contributes directly to expanding India’s fast-charging infrastructure.
The campaign builds on VIDA’s growing network, which already spans over 5,300 fast-charging points across more than 430 cities. With EV adoption gaining pace, the brand is using cricket’s mass appeal to accelerate both awareness and infrastructure growth.
Explaining the thinking behind the move, Hero MotoCorp emerging mobility business unit chief business officer Kausalya Nandakumar said, “Cricket has an incredible ability to unite and inspire millions across the country. With the ‘6 for 6’ campaign, we are turning every big hit on the field into a step towards a cleaner and a more accessible mobility future.”
She added that VIDA’s expanding fast-charging network and removable battery technology are designed to make EV ownership more convenient and practical for everyday users.
From the franchise’s side, the campaign is also about giving on-field moments a larger purpose. Kolkata Knight Riders chief executive officer Venky Mysore said, “The ‘6 for 6’ campaign exemplifies the potential of sport as a platform for meaningful, real-world impact. By linking every six to the expansion of EV charging infrastructure, this partnership transforms fan excitement into tangible progress.”
As part of the rollout, VIDA has introduced co-branded charging stations in KKR’s signature colours, with a flagship installation unveiled alongside team players. The chargers are designed for quick top-ups, powering VIDA scooters from zero to 80 percent in about an hour, while also being positioned along key highways to support longer journeys.
The initiative also taps into VIDA’s removable battery system, which allows users to charge using standard household plug points, adding flexibility to the charging ecosystem.
By blending the thrill of cricket with the urgency of clean mobility, VIDA and KKR have found a neat way to make every six count twice, once on the scoreboard and again on India’s road to an electric future.
