Applications
ICICI Bank introduces ‘SmartLock’ on iMobile Pay
Mumbai: ICICI Bank has announced that it has launched ‘SmartLock’, a unique safety measure to enable its customers to lock/unlock multiple banking services instantly, without seeking the help from a customer care executive through phone or e-mail.
Available on iMobile Pay, it empowers customers to lock/unlock access to internet banking, UPI (including payments from other UPI apps linked to the Bank account), credit and debit cards, simply by clicking a button, thereby taking safety of their account in their own hands. ‘SmartLock’, the first-of-its-kind measure in the Indian banking sector, also allows customers to lock/unlock the entire iMobile Pay.
Customers can use this feature to deactivate a particular banking service during a period of time. They can also use it in case of a possible fraudulent transaction. It is worth noting that the ‘SmartLock’ feature allows scheduled standing instructions (SI) and e-mandates to go through, even when a banking service is locked by the customer.
Speaking on the initiative, ICICI Bank head – digital channels and partnerships Sidharatha Mishra said, “Safety of our customers’ accounts is of utmost importance to us. The launch of ‘SmartLock’ is yet another effort of the Bank to strengthen the safety and security of the customer’s accounts and safeguard their interest. This Do-It-Yourself (DIY) feature provides customers the convenience of enhanced security for banking services in their own hands, in one place. The introduction of ‘SmartLock’ is a part of various ‘safe banking’ initiatives of the Bank.”
Below are the steps to use the ‘SmartLock’ feature:
. Login to iMobile Pay
. Click on ‘SmartLock’ feature on the bottom right corner of the home screen
. Click on the key banking services that you wish to lock/unlock
. Swipe to confirm
For more information on ‘iMobile Pay’ and to download the app, visit the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
To start using ‘iMobile Pay’, customers of any bank can link their bank account with the app, generate a UPI ID and begin transacting.
Applications
With 57 per cent single new users, Ashley Madison rebrands as discreet dating platform
Platform says majority of new members now identify as single
INDIA: Ashley Madison is shedding the “married-dating” label that defined it for two decades, repositioning itself as a platform for discreet dating in what it calls the post-social media age.
The rebrand, unveiled in India on 27 February, 2026, marks a structural shift in business model and identity. Once synonymous with married dating, the company now describes itself as the “premier destination for discreet dating” under a new tagline: Where Desire Meets Discretion.
The pivot is data-driven. Internal figures show that 57 per cent of global sign-ups between 1 January and 31 December, 2025 identified as single: a notable departure from the platform’s married core. The company argues that its community has already evolved beyond its original positioning.
“In an age where our lives have been constantly put on public display, privacy has become the new luxury,” said Ashley Madison chief strategy officer Paul Keable. He framed the platform’s offering as “ethical discretion” for singles, separated, divorced and non-monogamous users seeking private connections.
The shift also taps into wider digital fatigue. A global survey conducted by YouGov for Ashley Madison, covering 13,071 adults across Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US, found mounting discomfort with hyper-public online lives.
Among dating app users, 30 per cent cited constant swiping and messaging as a source of fatigue, while 24 per cent pointed to pressure to curate public-facing profiles and early personal disclosure. Some 27 per cent said fears of screenshots or information being shared contributed to exhaustion; an equal share cited unwanted attention.
The retreat from oversharing appears broader. According to the survey, 46 per cent of adults actively try to keep most aspects of their life private online. Only 8 per cent feel comfortable sharing most aspects publicly, while 35 per cent say they are becoming more selective about what they disclose.
Ashley Madison is betting that this cultural recalibration towards controlled visibility can be monetised. By doubling down on privacy infrastructure and reframing itself around discretion rather than infidelity, the company is attempting to convert reputational baggage into a premium proposition.
