Due to COVID-19 pandemic, work-from-home using internet has become a growing way of connecting with associates and clients. This year, internet use has nearly doubled, due to work-from-home and lockdowns. But internet is a risky environment, especially when connecting your mobile devices to a public network. You are at an airport and connect to its public Wi-Fi network. But you are unaware that there is a hacker lurking around the corner, monitoring the internet traffic and ready to hack into your personal account. It is estimated that there are over 450 million public Wi-Fi hotspots globally, offering a rich hunting ground for cyber criminals.
Cyber specialists tell us that currently there are more than 375 malicious threats PER MINUTE and growing. Mobile malware threats grew by a whopping 70% in Q1-2020 over Q3-2019! Cyber criminals have generated 113,000+ malicious URL’s related to COVID-19, targeting healthcare, education and banking in particular. Cybercriminals steal personal and company information by hacking into our susceptible computers and mobile devices. Cyber-attacks are especially devastating for small businesses - industry data shows that a staggering 60% of small companies, which have been hacked by cyber criminals, go out of business within 6 months after the attack.
While business operations, from conceiving an idea to its final delivery to the user, are going digital at breakneck speed, the entire operational areas remain vulnerable to cyber malfunctioning in one form or other. This impact the operations very hard short-term as well as long-term. Cyber security threats can be due to inherent flaws within the system. But the possibility of deliberate cyber-attacks and hacking from one source or the other is abundant. As competition and market battles hot up, this remains a real danger.
The risk covers a large area. One of the biggest threats is the compromising of vital data. This includes important technical details, hard-earned market information, customer information etc. Loss of data can bring the operation to a halt at great financial impact. As hinted, the problem can be due to malfunctioning of the software or external interference to steal the data.
Either way, the cost of recovery is immense, not to talk about the time lost in the process. Hidden or not, these expenses will have a big role in fixing the final profit and loss accounts.
Adding to this is the loss of credibility of the business. The output will be negatively impacted and the company will have to do great degree of explanations to the customer. It is an equal task to recover lost data and to recover lost credibility. Consumers have other options and look elsewhere. But the company cannot afford that luxury.
While the margin for deliberate external intrusion possibilities remains large, many of these security breaches are caused by human error. One needs to realise that however deep an entity goes digital, there is always that unavoidable human touch that makes it run. AND, to err is human!
This underlines the need for proper intense training. There are studies that say employee ignorance is one of the leading contributors. Workers may know the essential basics of an application, but that does not make him or her a cyber security expert. While the IT departments execute a new cloud computing initiative or new application software, they have to ensure that those handle it on a daily basis are equipped to manage a crisis.
Types of cyber threats
Cyber threats are ever-evolving and cybercriminals use different types of malware to get what they want. Malware is an abbreviated form of “malicious software.” This is software that is specifically designed to gain access to or damage a digital device, usually without the knowledge of the owner.
Crypto jacking: Malware that gives cybercriminals access to “mine” cryptocurrency on your computer, at the expense of your resources.
Form jacking: Malware in which cybercriminals inject malicious code into online forms to steal payment card details on legitimate websites.
Ransomware: It is a malicious software that uses encryption to hold data for ransom, the purpose of which is to extort money from the victims with promises of restoring encrypted data. Like other computer viruses, it usually finds its way onto a device by exploiting a security hole in vulnerable software or by tricking somebody into installing it.
Phishing: These are fake emails that can look surprisingly legitimate. If you get tricked into clicking a link or providing information, thieves can get your passwords and account numbers.
Zoom Bombing: Intruders hack into online meetings.
Remote Access Trojans (RAT): Malware that gives a cybercriminal a “back door” to remotely access a compromised computer.
Spyware: It is unwanted software that infiltrates your device, stealing your Internet usage data and sensitive information. Spyware gathers your personal information and relays it to advertisers, data firms, or external users.
Dark web: It is an underground online community where criminals can go to buy and sell your personal information.
Defense
All digital devices need to be protected using a highly-rated, proven anti-virus program. These programs provide a shield for your operating system in the form of a real-time scanner. When your antivirus program detects an infected file or program, it can delete it on the spot or move it to a special "quarantine" folder. When your antivirus quarantines a file, it prevents it from interacting with the rest of the computer.
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) creates a private network within a broader network, adding security by using encryption and tunneling mechanisms. There are some free VPN products available, but these may trade your information to help offset their costs, or impose other limitations, such as how much VPN data available per month. A paid subscription service may enable you to deploy a powerful, yet easy-to-use VPN that protects your Wi-Fi connections, bandwidth and privacy with guarantees against any losses. These VPN’s work with all digital devices - PCs, Macs, smartphones and tablets.
It goes without saying that users of all digital devices that use Wi-Fi connectivity must become more mindful of cybersecurity needs, and companies must invest in security programs and ongoing employee training.
Goodyear Achieves Key Sustainability Milestone With 12.3 MW Solar Project
- By TT News
- February 13, 2026
Goodyear has reached a significant milestone in its global sustainability strategy with the completion of a major solar installation at its Kunshan facility. The 12.3 MW on-site project, which was finished in May 2025 and became grid-connected the following month, supplied 10 percent of the plant's power needs for the remainder of the year. Looking ahead, it is projected to account for more than 12 percent of annual electricity consumption. The system is designed to generate roughly 11,500 MWh of power each year, resulting in an estimated reduction of 7,500 metric tonnes of carbon emissions annually over its 25-year lifespan.
This advancement reinforces the company’s commitment to securing 100 percent renewable electricity for its manufacturing operations by 2030 and achieving total renewable energy use by 2040. Within the Asia Pacific region, cumulative solar investments now contribute more than 40 MW of on-site renewable capacity. Beyond the numbers, the project exemplifies a broader dedication to operational excellence and environmental stewardship, showcasing how innovation can drive meaningful progress towards a cleaner energy landscape.
NEXEN TIRE Opens Winter Tyre Testing Centre In Finland
- By TT News
- February 13, 2026
NEXEN TIRE has inaugurated the Purple Snow Ivalo Center, a new facility in Ivalo, Finland, specifically designed for the development and testing of winter and all-weather tyres. The launch event brought together the company’s Chief Technology Officer, Jong Myung Kim, and members of the European automotive media, who were able to witness the centre’s advanced capabilities firsthand. This included test-driving winter tyres and touring both the indoor and outdoor testing areas managed by UTAC, Europe’s premier automotive testing organisation, within whose expansive proving ground the new centre is situated near the Arctic Circle.
The establishment of this dedicated facility marks a significant step in the tyre manufacturer’s strategy to enhance its winter tyre research and development. It complements internal efforts such as a specialised laboratory focused on winter road surface characteristics. The newly secured proving ground, under a long-term lease, features a variety of snow handling tracks, including a large flat circuit and courses with different gradients and curves. This real-world testing environment is particularly crucial as several major European countries, including Germany, Italy and Sweden, now mandate the use of winter tyres bearing the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol. With Europe representing over 40 percent of the company’s revenue, strengthening competitiveness in this market is paramount.
A key advantage of the Ivalo location is its capability to test studded tyres, which are essential for the icy conditions found in Northern Europe, allowing for a more strategic response to regional demand. Beyond immediate testing, the centre serves as a vital link between virtual simulation and physical validation. Following the introduction of a high-dynamic driving simulator, the first in the Korean automotive industry, the company can now instantly verify its performance predictions with on-snow driving tests. This integration is expected to accelerate the advancement of AI-driven virtual development technologies and create new opportunities for original equipment projects, thereby strengthening the foundation for producing high-performance tyres.
This new testing infrastructure is one component of a broader market approach. Complementing the facility’s opening, NEXEN TIRE has been actively expanding its product portfolio. Recent additions include the WINGUARD Sport 3, launched in Europe last year, and the ongoing expansion of the N’BLUE 4Season 2 lineup, an all-weather tyre engineered to satisfy winter tyre requirements.
John Bosco (Hyeon Suk) Kim, CEO, NEXEN TIRE said, “This testing centre brings together a uniquely favourable northern European location with a long winter season and the operational expertise of a leading testing specialist. It will serve as a key hub for advancing our research and development capabilities for winter and all-weather tyres. Based on this foundation, we will continue to enhance our testing and research capabilities in line with the requirements of the European and global markets and further strengthen our competitive position.”
Apollo Tyres to Invest INR 58 Bln As India Capacity Tightens And Europe Restructures
- By Sharad Matade
- February 13, 2026
Apollo Tyres will invest INR 58 billion over three years to expand passenger car and truck tyre capacity at its Andhra Pradesh plant, as utilisation in India moves into the high 80s and truck and bus radial lines approach full capacity.
The board has approved the capital expenditure for financial years 2027 to 2029, with about INR 20 billion scheduled for FY2027. Total consolidated capex in FY2027 is expected to be about INR 30 billion, including roughly INR 7 billion of maintenance and operational spending and ongoing expansion in Hungary.
Neeraj Kanwar, Managing Director And Vice-Chairman, said the company was “running at close to 100 percent utilisation” in truck and bus radial tyres and was seeing shortages in truck, passenger car and farm segments.
For the quarter ended December 2025, consolidated revenue rose nearly 12 percent year on year to INR 77.4 billion, the highest quarterly revenue on both a standalone and consolidated basis, the company said. EBITDA stood at INR 11.9 billion, with a margin of 15.3 percent, compared with 14.9 percent in the previous quarter and 13.7 percent a year earlier.
In India, revenue was INR 51.4 billion, up more than 13 percent, with mid-teens volume growth in OEM and replacement channels and exports growth just short of 20 percent. The company said utilisation across India operations was in the high 80s for both passenger car radial and truck and bus radial tyres.
In Europe, revenue was €180 million, broadly flat year on year, reflecting a subdued market. The European passenger car replacement market declined 4 percent in the quarter. EBITDA in Europe was €32 million, with a margin of 17.9 percent, compared with 17.7 percent a year earlier and 12.7 percent in the preceding quarter.
In Europe, the group will close its Enschede plant in the Netherlands by the end of June 2026. Production is being transitioned to Hungary and India. Management expects the benefits of the restructuring to begin flowing through from the second half of FY2027, although it declined to provide margin guidance.
The India expansion will lift passenger car tyre capacity by 10,500 tyres per day from an existing base of about 58,000 tyres per day, an increase of 17–18 percent. Truck and bus radial capacity of more than 15,000 tyres per day will rise by 3,600 tyres per day, or more than 20 percent. Some capacity will come on stream in FY2028, with the full benefit expected by FY2030.
Gaurav Kumar, Chief Financial Officer, said the expansion equates to roughly INR 170 million per metric tonne of added capacity, compared with INR 115-120 million per tonne in the previous Andhra investment in FY2021. The increase reflects “inflationary pressures” and the adoption of “state-of-the-art” technology to cater to global OEMs in India, Europe and the US.
He added that the decision marked a shift from incremental debottlenecking to larger civil construction. “We reached a stage where we could not further increase the capacity by line balancing and hence, any further increase in capacity needed civil,” Kumar said.
The company expects to take on some additional debt during the capex cycle. Consolidated net debt fell to INR 13 billion at the end of December 2025, from INR 26 billion at the end of September, driven by lower short-term borrowings and stronger operational cash flow. Net debt to EBITDA declined to 0.4 times from 0.8 times.
Kumar said net debt to EBITDA would remain below the long-term ceiling of 2.0 times “even at the peak levels” of capex.
Return on capital employed is running at 13.5 percent, below the 15 percent target previously outlined by the group. Management said it would revisit capital allocation and return metrics as it formulates a new five-year plan to March 2031.
On raw materials, the company expects costs to remain steady in the fourth quarter. In the December quarter, natural rubber was about INR 195 per kg, synthetic rubber INR 170 per kg, carbon black INR 115 per kg and steel cord about INR 155 per kg.
Apollo does not hedge rubber or crude oil. “We came to the conclusion to stay away from rubber or crude oil hedging,” Kumar said. Foreign currency borrowings are fully hedged, while operational exposure in India is hedged between 75 percent and 100 per cent.
Kuraray Co., Ltd. reported a sharp fall in net profit for 2025 after recording impairment losses in its isoprene and elastomer businesses, even as operating cash flow remained positive and the group outlined a recovery in 2026.
The Japanese chemicals group posted net sales of USD 5.27 billion for the year to December 31 2025, down 2.2 percent from USD 5.39 billion year earlier. Operating income declined 30.8 percent to USD 383.7 million, while ordinary income fell 36.8 percent to USD 335.0 million.
Net income attributable to owners of the parent dropped 76.5 percent to USD 48.9 million, reflecting extraordinary losses that included USD 193.5 million in impairment charges related to the isoprene chemical business and thermoplastic styrene elastomers.
Total assets rose to USD 8.49 billion at year end from USD 8.44 billion , while net assets fell to USD 4.92 billion, resulting in an equity ratio of 57.0 percent. Interest-bearing debt increased, contributing to a rise in total liabilities.
Net cash provided by operating activities amounted to USD 642.3 million, compared with USD 901 million in the previous year. Investing activities used USD 641 million, largely for capital expenditure, and financing activities used USD 106.5 million, including USD 196.1 million in share buybacks and USD 113.7 million in dividends. Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period stood at USD 705.5 million.
By segment, vinyl acetate sales declined 2.5 percent to USD 2.64 billion while the isoprene business recorded sales growth of 5.3 percent to USD 523.8 million but remained loss-making. Functional materials sales were broadly flat, while operating income fell. Fibres and textiles saw lower sales but improved profitability. Trading sales edged higher.
For 2026, Kuraray forecasts net sales of USD 5.54 billion and operating income of USD 456.0 million. Net income attributable to owners of the parent is expected to recover to USD 260.6 million.
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