Brendyn Lotz

Writer and Journalist at Htxt.Africa

South African tech journo at Hypertext covering a wide range of topics.

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Articles

Local NPO launches series to showcase how grifters operate

1 week ago | htxt.co.za | Brendyn Lotz

The Campaign On Digital Ethics has launched a series that aims to showcase how dangerous online grifters can be for ordinary people. The NPO has launched a new series called Grifty Gang which will be released through June and July. The series tackles wellness gurus, cryptocurrency “investments”, rage-bait and tech-bros. A grifter is a person who peddles misinformation and outright lies for financial gain.
YouTube Shorts is getting a helpful new feature

1 week ago | htxt.co.za | Brendyn Lotz

YouTube is rolling out access to Google Lens in Shorts as part of a beta test. Users will be able to pause a video and get more information about parts of the video or the whole video if they wish. While you may be able to glean information about public figures, you won’t be able to search for ordinary people from Shorts. The war between short video platforms is going to come down to features that enhance the user experience.
2025 Youth Forward Programme applications still open for a few more days

1 week ago | htxt.co.za | Brendyn Lotz

The 2025 Youth Forward Programme from Standard Bank Business and Commercial Banking together with the GIBS Entrepreneurship Development Academy is fielding applications. The programme aims to empower 50/50 Black, youth-owned businesses through training and support. Applications close on 3rd June so submit yours soon. Standard Bank Business and Commercial Banking together with the GIBS Entrepreneurship Development Academy are currently fielding applications for the 2025 Youth Forward Programme.
Own an ASUS router? You may have to do a factory reset

1 week ago | htxt.co.za | Brendyn Lotz

Cybersecurity firm GreyNoise has uncovered an operation in which ASUS routers are silently being compromised. Adversaries are installing persistent backdoors in ASUS routers, with as many as 9 000 routers already compromised. Owners are urged to assess their gateways to determine if they have compromised and take action to resolve that issue with haste.
Is OnlyFans too toxic to sell?

1 week ago | htxt.co.za | Brendyn Lotz

OnlyFans owner Leonid Radvinsky is looking to sell the platform for a figure as high as $8 billion. Reports suggest the platform is in discussions with an investor group but there is no concrete word on a sale just yet. Unfortunately OnlyFans is laced with problems, chief among which is exploitative content that relies heavily on it being reported to authorities. Over the last week reports have emerged suggesting that Leonid Radvinsky is shopping around for a buyer for OnlyFans.
Beware of malware targeting fintech, trading and betting businesses

1 week ago | htxt.co.za | Brendyn Lotz

Kaspersky has discovered a new breed of malware its calling GriffithRAT. The malware is targeting fintech, trading and betting businesses in the UAE, Egypt, Turkiye and, South Africa. The malware captures data from a target PC and is said to be used by cyber-mercenaries targeting businesses for third-parties. Businesses in the fintech, online trading and betting sectors must take note of a new type of malware doing the rounds named GriffithRAT.
Western Cape Mobility talks up new digital learners licence testing system

1 week ago | htxt.co.za | Brendyn Lotz

The Western Cape Government launched a Computerised Learner’s Licence Testing system on Monday The system will enable digital testing Beaufort West Driving Licence Testing Centre and will be rolled out to other testing centres in the province. Digital testing is more secure, standardised and faster. The Western Cape Government launched its Computerised Learner’s Licence Testing system on Monday at the Beaufort West Driving Licence Testing Centre.
SoftwareOne ordered to pay back profits on massive, pointless Microsoft sale to DoD

1 week ago | htxt.co.za | Brendyn Lotz

The Department of Defence purchased Microsoft licences from SoftwareOne in 2018 without following a competitive process. The DoD spent R257 million on these licences which it never used. SoftwareOne has been ordered to pay back the profits it made from the sale. A Special Investigating Unit (SIU) investigation has found irregularities in the awarding of a contract to SoftwareOne by the Department of Defence (DoD) in 2018.
Now you've done it

1 week ago | htxt.co.za | Brendyn Lotz

ICASA has received reports that SpaceX may be operating its Starlink service in South Africa without proper authorisation. Some folks have taken it upon themselves to utilise the satellite internet service locally in spite of the regulations and Starlink doesn’t explicitly prevent locals from ordering the service. If ICASA finds that Starlink is operating illegally, it will explore its options including alerting the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Assassin's Creed Shadows picks Dead by Daylight as first crossover for unknown reasons

1 week ago | htxt.co.za | Brendyn Lotz

Ubisoft’s first crossover event for Assassin’s Creed Shadows is with serial killer themed survival game Dead by Daylight. The crossover comes in the form of a free mission for players alongside cosmetic items available for purchase with real money. There is seemingly no explicit crossover with Assassin’s Creed happening in Dead by Daylight. The folks at Ubisoft have picked one of the most bizarre games to collaborate with for its first Assassin’s Creed Shadows crossover – Dead by Daylight.