India – Feb. 6, 2025 — Appdome, the leader in protecting mobile businesses, today announced a platform upgrade that includes 24 new dynamic defense plugins targeting hundreds of Banking Trojans, Trojan Spyware, and Remote Access Trojan malware across Android and iOS apps. The new plugins for Appdome’s patented AI-Native XTM Platform are designed to use in-app behavioral analysis to combat the prolific rise in trojan malware targeting mobile banking, fintech, trading, mCommerce, and other Android and iOS apps. Like all Appdome defenses, each of the 24 new dynamic defense plugins targeting trojan attacks is available by choice using the Appdome platform without the need to integrate code, perform manual coding, implement SDKs, or deploy servers.

“The surge of trojan malware and fraud is top of mind in the mobile economy,” said Tom Tovar, co-creator and CEO of Appdome. “We study more than 5 billion data points every week to understand how polymorphic trojan malware behaves and design defenses that are purpose-built for the job of defeating each type of trojan threat.”

The rise of Mobile Banking Trojans, Trojan Spyware, and Remote Access Trojans (RATs) has become a significant threat to the mobile economy. Attackers are developing increasingly sophisticated trojan malware to exploit users of Android and iOS applications. These attacks are no longer limited by geographic boundaries. In addition, AI-powered attack generation and mutations have arrived in full force. Banking Trojans like Xenomorph and SharkBot target mobile banking apps, overlaying fake login screens to steal credentials and bypass multi-factor authentication. Meanwhile, Trojan spyware such as Pegasus has demonstrated how nation-state-grade surveillance tools can infiltrate mobile devices, exfiltrate sensitive data and track users. RATs, like BRATA, take the threat further by granting attackers full control over infected devices, allowing them to siphon funds, intercept communications, and even perform factory resets of devices to erase attack residue. As AI-driven automation, on-device fraud (ODF) tactics, and sophisticated evasion techniques proliferate, mobile commerce, fintech, and mobile banking platforms are at increasing risk of exploitation and compromise.

“Banking Trojans, Trojan Spyware, and Remote Access Trojans present multiple threats to a mobile business and user,” said Richard Stiennon, Chief Research Analyst at IT-Harvest. “Appdome’s model of using defense plugins gives mobile brands and businesses the power to choose which threat to detect and how to defend against that threat.”

The Appdome platform generates dynamic defense plugins to protect mobile applications based on business needs. Once added to a mobile application, these plugins analyze mobile application behavior, user interactions, and network and system operations at runtime, enabling proactive detection and prevention of attacks. Where SDKs deliver static defense checks or route traffic to attestation servers, Appdome’s dynamic defense plugins do the work inside Android & iOS applications to provide an inherently self-adaptive, self-intelligent detection scheme capable of detecting even the most sophisticated and polymorphic Trojan malware. These dynamic defense plugins can also inform, instruct and take instruction from the mobile application or mobile backend, providing seamless defense to any class of attack.

February 6th, Mumbai: Climbing unimaginable peaks is a test of endurance, courage, and sheer determination, pushing adventurers to their limits as they navigate breathtaking yet untamed landscapes. With the rich legacy of 137 years of powerful and inspiring storytelling, National Geographic’s thrilling documentary ‘The Devil’s Climb’ is all set to premiere on February 9th at 10 PM on the National Geographic Channel. From Plimsoll Productions, The Devil’s Climb follows world-class rock climbers Alex Honnold and Tommy Caldwell on an epic expedition to tackle one of the most daunting challenges of their careers: summiting the infamous Devil’s Thumb, a sinister tower and legendary 9,000-foot peak in the Alaskan wilderness surrounded by old-growth rainforest and known as one of the most dangerous mountains in North America.

Alex and Tommy are two of the greatest rock climbers of all time — and best friends. Together, they set off on an emotional and physical journey, traveling 2,600 miles by bicycle, sailboat, and on foot through the American West, Canada, and Alaska to a daring climb of the Devil’s Thumb. Tommy makes a heroic comeback to climbing from a career-threatening Achilles injury, while Alex expresses his commitment to Tommy’s return to climbing as he joins the greatest adventures of his life. The 74-minute film sheds light on the rich shared history of adventurous speed climbing and a record-setting partnership between the two friends.

Directed by fellow climber Renan Ozturk, the film will take viewers on a breathtaking extraordinary adventure as Alex and Tommy attempt to accomplish the first-ever single-day traverse of all five peaks of the Devil’s Thumb massif, pushing their bodies and bond to the absolute limit.

6th February 2025, Ahmedabad: Textile major, Vishal Fabrics Limited (VFL), has appointed Suketu Shah as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Suketu will lead the next phase of growth agenda at VFL. Erstwhile CEO Mr. Vinay Thadani has now been elevated to lead a broader management role within the Chiripal Group. Vinay is the Director & CEO of GREW Solar, the renewable energy arm of the Chiripal group.

Suketu Shah, a highly accomplished professional and gold medallist from MS University in Vadodara, holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree along with a Diploma in Textile Chemistry (DTC), showcasing a strong academic foundation that complements his extensive experience.

His experience spans more than 40 years in the textile industry including key roles at renowned organizations such as LNJ Denim, part of the RSWM Group, Mafatlal Industries Limited, Aarvee Denims & Exports Ltd., APAC Inti Corpora in Bawen, Indonesia, and Raymond UCO Denim Pvt. Ltd. He has also contributed to the growth of Modern Denim Ltd. and Arvind Limited, where his strategic acumen was pivotal in driving significant advancements within these firms.

Commenting on his new role, Suketu Shah said, “I am truly honored to be part of Vishal Fabrics Limited, a company renowned for top quality denim fabric. I am excited about embarking on our journey to chart out the next phase of growth in Vishal Fabrics. We are dedicated to enhancing stakeholder value through sustainable business practices”

Brijmohan D. Chiripal, Managing Director, Vishal Fabrics Limited (VFL) said “We are delighted to welcome Suketu to the Chiripal family. VFL is at an inflection point and Suketu’s strong business acumen coupled with his vast knowledge of the sector will help us to navigate the growth journey. We look forward to greater success ahead.”

Thiruvananthapuram, 6th February 2025: Smart Freight Centre India (SFC) hosted a workshop on Zero Emission Trucks (ZET), in Thiruvananthapuram today as part of its nationwide program aimed at driving the adoption of ZETs in India’s medium and heavy-duty truck (MHDT) sector. The workshop, supported by EV Accelerator Cell of Kerala State Electricity Board Limited (KSEBL), convened key stakeholders from across the ecosystem to discuss challenges, opportunities, and actionable strategies for accelerating ZET adoption.

This workshop was a part of a pan India campaign under Niti Aayog’s e-FAST initiative aimed at enhancing the regional ecosystem readiness with curated knowledge share and deliberations on Zero Emission Trucks, covering topics across technological and operational aspects, global ecosystem developments, Government of India e-truck initiatives, city level ZET adoption opportunities, operational risks and deployment SOPs. SFC collaborated with GIZ as a knowledge partner to deliver this workshop and activate the sustainable logistics ecosystem in Kerala.

The workshop included a dynamic roundtable discussion, moderated by Shirish Mahendru, Transport, Infrastructure Advisor, GIZ, featuring key leaders such as Rakesh Kumar Meena (Director, DPIIT, Logistics, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt. of India), Manoharan J. (Head, E Mobility Cell and Technical Manager, ANERT), Johnson Daniel (Energy Technologist, Energy Management Centre, Kerala), Asha V (Chief Engineer, Renewable Energy & Energy Savings, KSEBL), Kulbhushan Kumar (Partner e-mobility and energy efficiency, Grant Thornton). Together, they deliberated on strategies to overcome barriers to ZET adoption and explored opportunities for collaboration aimed at driving long-term environmental and economic benefits.

Sri. Biju Prabhakar, Chairman & Managing Director CMD – KSEBL, in his keynote address, said, “Thiruvananthapuram’s commitment to developing a comprehensive plan for reducing carbon emissions stands as a remarkable example of its environmentally conscious initiatives. Kerala, second only to Maharashtra in EV adoption, is expanding its charging infrastructure. KSEB is also rolling out a statewide unified app-free ecosystem for charging. By leveraging innovative solutions, we have embraced technology and remain dedicated to integrating it into our trucking systems to minimize carbon emissions within the logistics sector. Achieving this ambitious goal requires collaborative support in the form of policies, resources, and economic measures, which can help establish a replicable model for the rest of the nation. I also applaud initiatives like the ZET Enablement Workshop by SFC, as they foster an ecosystem where stakeholders can share insights and address challenges collectively, paving the way for a more sustainable and efficient freight industry in India.”

The workshop highlighted that India’s booming economy, with a GDP nearing $4.11 trillion, offers significant opportunities for decarbonizing the freight sector. Road transport, responsible for 70% of domestic freight, contributes 213 Mt of CO2 annually, with heavy goods vehicles accounting for 83% of these emissions. The PM E-Drive scheme, through ZETs, presents a transformative pathway to reduce diesel dependence. Projections for 2050 highlight ZET adoption’s potential to eliminate 838 billion litres of diesel use, save ₹116 lakh crore in oil expenditures, and cut greenhouse gas emissions by 46%. The discussions also highlighted that zero emission trucks can reduce CO2 emissions by 46% by 2050. This underscores the need for collaborative efforts across industry and policy frameworks to unlock these substantial benefits.

OEMs like Ashok Leyland and Montra shared valuable insights on accelerating the adoption of zero-emission vehicles. They highlighted opportunities in the sector, and their latest EV product ranges, emphasizing advancements in technology, efficiency, and sustainability.

Shri Rakesh Kumar Meena, Director, DPIIT (Logistics), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt. of India, shared his thoughts during the workshop in Thiruvananthapuram, stating, “I extend my sincere gratitude to Smart Freight Centre and GIZ for this initiative. DPIIT has developed a Freight Greenhouse Gas (GHG) calculator, an online tool that helps users estimate the environmental impact of freight transportation. I am delighted that states in India are taking multiple steps to promote low-emission vehicles. The adoption of Zero Emission Trucks (ZETs) is a vital step towards cleaner transportation and aligns with India’s sustainability vision under the PM E-Drive initiative.”

The ZET Enablement Workshop Series brings together city authorities, OEMs, policymakers, LSPs, and shippers to shape sustainable logistics solutions. Previous consultations in cities like Indore, Chennai, and Delhi have addressed operational risks and SOPs to facilitate ZET adoption.

Delhi, 6th February 2025: Basil Alliance, a new-age AlcoBev company, has raised undisclosed amount from Inflection Point Ventures (IPV). As a very early-stage startup, this seed round will help Basil Alliance strengthen its presence in the Indian market and drive its next phase of growth and expansion.

Founded by Vibhuti Dixit, Basil Alliance is driven by deep expertise in the AlcoBev industry. Vibhuti spent 15 years in Australia, where he gained significant experience in wine exports to Southeast Asia and Europe. His return to India marked the beginning of Basil Alliance, leveraging global industry insights to create a premium portfolio of liquor brands.

Ankur Mittal, Co-Founder, Inflection Point Ventures, says, India’s alcohol industry is witnessing a robust growth driven by evolving consumer preferences and growing appreciation for diverse alcoholic beverages. Understanding the consumers taste and market needs, Basil Alliance is committed to delivering high-quality and innovative alcoholic beverages specifically tailored to the Indian palate. We, at IPV, will continue to provide our strategic insights to help the brand achieve a significant scale and market penetration.”

Vibhuti Dixit, Founder, Basil Alliance, says, “India’s AlcoBev industry is no longer just about quenching thirst; it’s about experience, innovation, and a taste of the future. From craft distilleries to premium imports, the spirit of the times is intoxicating. At Basil, we are revolutionizing the AlcoBev industry by bringing premium, innovative and quality international products to the Indian consumers. In a short span of 3 years, Basil has created a diverse portfolio of imported wines, RTDs, gins etc. and forged strong relationships with suppliers and retailers. Partnering with IPV has been a transformative experience for us at Basil. Their belief in our vision to revolutionize the AlcoBev industry with technology-driven solutions fuels our ambition to make it a unicorn.”

With a strong distribution network, Basil Alliance has expanded its presence across seven states, fully owning all its AlcoBev brands. The company is scaling its presence strategically to capture a larger share of the Indian AlcoBev market. The brand’s portfolio includes leading wine brands like Glenside D’Vine and Jacobson, which have gained traction in Delhi NCR, along with Sky Shots, a ready-to-drink product that has seen increasing demand.

The Indian market for imported liquor is valued at $1.3 billion, growing at 25% per annum. India is also the world’s second-largest liquor market, as per Pernod Ricard, highlighting immense potential for brands like Basil Alliance.