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BEE Hits 10K Subscribers for BEE Pro, Company Poised to Accelerate Growth in H2

BEE

BEE, a business unit of Growens and premier digital content design platform, has announced it recently reached a milestone of 10K paid subscribers for its BEE Pro product. BEE Pro is the fastest, no-code email and landing page design suite on the market, appealing to freelancers, teams and agencies that need to design digital content faster and more independently. BEE is poised to grow substantially over the next three years, focusing on expansion within its user base and acquisitions. According to Adobe, there will be 4.7 billion people designing digital content by 2023. As the volume of digital content increases, marketers and content creators look for new ways to produce it quickly and efficiently. BEE Pro exists precisely to satisfy that growing demand, giving everyone the tools they need to design beautiful, mobile-ready, high-converting campaigns without compromising brand identity or team bandwidth. “This growth is a direct result of our product-led model. Since day one, people have been able to click on ‘Start designing’ on beefree.io and create emails and landing pages in two clicks. As they experience the value of the free product, many opt to stay, and that’s how we passed 10,000 paying customers last month.” said Massimo Arrigoni, CEO of BEE and a big believer in product-led growth for many years. “We’re certainly not stopping here: we continue to invest into the product, with smart features like Mobile Design Mode - which allows people to design directly in mobile view - better collaboration features like commenting and real-time co-editing, and higher productivity features, like being able to go from email to landing page (and vice versa) in just a few clicks. People love BEE Pro (NPS is a very high 56 so far this year), and the addressable market of those that need no-code, fast, easy design tools is huge: so we truly believe that we’re just getting started.” BEE as a tool can help facilitate collaboration on newsletters, transactional emails, product launch pages, custom home pages for newsletters, and more. Individuals in all types of work environments can design everything in one place helping to keep projects easily organized and ready to be used anywhere. To learn more about BEE Pro please visit our website at beefree.io. About BEE: BEE provides no-code design tools that empower everyone to quickly create content that resonates. BEEâs visual builders are used to design emails, landing pages, one-page sites and more. They deliver fantastic design flexibility and a great user experience, combining granular control on design elements with handy features like editing content directly in mobile view. BEE is building on its vision to help democratize content design, with millions of monthly users in over 20 languages and from over 150 countries. BEEâs design tools are available online at beefree.io and embedded in 600+ SaaS applications. Contact Details Angelina Kaliszak angelina@kitehillpr.com Company Website https://beefree.io/

August 18, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Sage Communications Recognized as a PRNEWS Elite Top 100 Agency

Sage Communications

Sage Communications, a leading technology and public sector marketing and public relations agency in the Washington, D.C. metro region, announced today it was named to PRNEWS ’ 2022 Agency Elite Top 100 List. The national catalogue celebrates the top communications firms that represent their clients through innovation, strategy and creativity, while driving the best results, reputation, media coverage and thought leadership. “This recognition is a true testament to the hours of hard work our team members put in on a daily basis and the awe-inspiring stories our clients have to tell,” said Julie Murphy, senior vice president of public relations. “We take great pride in the work we do for our incredible clients in technology, government, education and beyond, and are grateful to be recognized among the industry’s best.” The top 100 list ranges from small boutique agencies to some of the largest global firms in the world. Honorees were chosen based on successful case studies, client testimonials and noteworthy capabilities that stand out in the PR and communications arena. Founded in 2003, Sage is known for its tactical support to clients across cybersecurity, technology, government and more. The company’s work in public relations and social media, combined with marketing, lead generation and events, has served the D.C. area for almost 20 years, and continues to grow. View the 2022 PRNEWS Agency Elite Top 100 list by visiting https://bit.ly/3m8dsne. To learn more about how Sage can help tell your organization’s story, visit www.aboutsage.com. About Sage Communications Located in the Greater Washington, D.C. area, Sage Communications is a full-service marketing communications and public relations agency providing strategic marketing services to technology, government, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, non-profits and consumer-oriented organizations. The company provides a unique fusion of traditional and digital services that include public relations, advertising, marketing, branding, social media, interactive services, and event management to Fortune 500 companies, start-ups, non-profits, government agencies, associations and coalitions to deliver custom, high-impact communications programs. Sage supports several organizations and activities including the Leadership of Greater Washington, DC Jazz Festival, Access Youth, and The Children’s Inn at NIH. For more information, please visit our website at www.aboutsage.com or visit us on Twitter and LinkedIn. Contact Details Sage Communications Mike Atkinson +1 703-891-5686 matkinson@aboutsage.com Company Website https://www.AboutSage.com

August 18, 2021 08:35 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Airbnb.org Program Offers Free, Temporary Housing to Disaster Victims

YourUpdateTV

Communities across the US are in the midst of hurricane and wildfire season. When disasters like this strike, many people find themselves in need of temporary housing and space to figure out what’s next. Airbnb.org’s emergency response program helps connect people to temporary places to stay in times of need. Recently, Kristen Berlacher, the Head of Airbnb.org Programs, teamed with YourUpdateTV on a satellite media tour to discuss this initiative and share tips on how to be better prepared for disasters and how to help impacted communities. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/OD7JPciKRbE The inspiration for Airbnb.org began in 2012 with a single host named Shell who opened up her home to people impacted by Hurricane Sandy. This sparked a movement and marked the beginning of a program that allows hosts on Airbnb to provide stays for people in times of need. Since 2012, the program has responded to hundreds of disasters and helped find temporary housing for evacuees and relief workers around the world. Airbnb helped people in times of crisis through the Open Homes initiative. Airbnb.org, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is the next chapter. The program has evolved to focus on emergency response and to help provide stays to evacuees, relief workers, refugees and asylum seekers, and most recently, frontline workers fighting the spread of COVID-19. How it Works: Airbnb.org will allow hosts on Airbnb to provide free and discounted stays to people impacted by emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters. These stays, which provide alternative accommodation and shelter options, are especially helpful to government and nonprofit partners in a year where the COVID-19 pandemic has made housing vulnerable people in traditional congregate shelters extremely challenging. Hosts who support Airbnb.org by offering free stays or making recurring donations will receive a special badge on their profile to recognize their generosity and commitment to communities in need. Anyone who finds joy in helping others, who believes in kindness and is interested in helping by opening their homes or donating to this cause, can learn more at airbnb.org/join About KRISTEN BERLACHER: As Head of Airbnb.org Programs, Kristen leads a global team that supports Airbnb.org’s efforts to help people impacted by natural disasters, refugees and frontline responders fighting the spread of COVID- 19. With a background in tech-enabled social impact, philanthropy and nonprofit management, Kristen, as an employee of Airbnb, oversees strategic partnerships, government relations, response operations and community engagement for Airbnb.org with the goal of leveraging Airbnb’s unique assets to provide innovative housing solutions and livelihood opportunities for vulnerable populations around the globe. Prior to Airbnb, Kristen led Hyatt Hotel Corporation’s global philanthropy programs focused on economic empowerment, disaster response and employee volunteerism. Before Hyatt, Kristen served as Deputy Director for Working in the Schools, a nonprofit focused on literacy programming for vulnerable youth. Kristen holds a BA in Leadership Studies from the University of Richmond, VA About Airbnb.org: Airbnb.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitating temporary stays for people in times of crisis around the world. Airbnb.org operates independently and leverages Airbnb, Inc.’s technology, services, and other resources at no charge to carry out Airbnb.org’s charitable purpose. The inspiration for Airbnb.org began in 2012 with a single host named Shell who opened up her home to people impacted by Hurricane Sandy. This sparked a movement and marked the beginning of a programme that allows Hosts on Airbnb to provide stays for people in times of need. Since then, the programme has evolved to focus on emergency response and to help provide stays to evacuees, relief workers, refugees, asylum seekers, and most recently, frontline workers fighting the spread of COVID-19. Since then, Hosts have offered to open up their homes and helped provide accommodations to 75,000 people in times of need. Airbnb.org is a separate and independent entity from Airbnb, Inc. Airbnb, Inc. does not charge service fees for Airbnb.org supported stays on its platform. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

August 17, 2021 05:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Inc. Magazine Unveils Its Annual List of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies—the Inc. 5000

Edison Interactive

Inc. magazine today revealed that Edison Interactive is No. 144 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent small businesses. Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000. “Edison Interactive is honored to be recognized by Inc. 5000 on their list of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies, ranking 144 in the country and fourth in Colorado,” said Jeremy Ostermiller, CEO & Co-founder. “As we continue to expand the company’s portfolio with new partnerships and connected device solutions, we are incredibly grateful and exhilarated by the outstanding work and dedication of our employees and the results they drive. The support of our shareholders and partners means the world to us as we continue our growth in today’s digital-first world.” Not only have the companies on the 2021 Inc. 5000 been very competitive within their markets, but this year’s list also proved especially resilient and flexible given 2020’s unprecedented challenges. Among the 5,000, the average median three-year growth rate soared to 543 percent, and median revenue reached $11.1 million. Together, those companies added more than 610,000 jobs over the past three years. Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000. The top 500 companies are also being featured in the September issue of Inc., available on newsstands August 20. “The 2021 Inc. 5000 list feels like one of the most important rosters of companies ever compiled,” says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. “Building one of the fastest-growing companies in America in any year is a remarkable achievement. Building one in the crisis we’ve lived through is just plain amazing. This kind of accomplishment comes with hard work, smart pivots, great leadership, and the help of a whole lot of people.” About Edison Interactive Edison Interactive is a leading provider of enterprise software for connected devices. Focused on digitally transforming the customer experience, EI is known for its vast network of premium displays, digital signage and infotainment solutions in a variety of industries including transportation, recreation and hospitality. The company’s end-to-end solution combines premium content, functional feature sets and monetization tools that enable brands to connect with their customers in more meaningful ways. Millions of consumers across the globe engage with the Edison platform on a monthly basis. The company was founded in 2016 and headquartered in Denver, Colo. For more information, visit www.edisoninteractive.com. More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000 Methodology Companies on the 2021 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2017 to 2020. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2017. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2020. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2017 is $100,000; the minimum for 2020 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Growth rates used to determine company rankings were calculated to three decimal places. There was one tie on this year’s Inc. 5000. Companies on the Inc. 500 are featured in Inc. ’s September issue. They represent the top tier of the Inc. 5000, which can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000. About Inc. Media The world’s most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com. For more information on the Inc. 5000 Conference, visit http://conference.inc.com/. About Edison Interactive Edison Interactive is a leading provider of enterprise software for connected devices. Focused on digitally transforming the customer experience, EI is known for its vast network of premium displays, digital signage and infotainment solutions in a variety of industries including transportation, recreation and hospitality. The company’s end-to-end solution combines premium content, functional feature sets and monetization tools that enable brands to connect with their customers in more meaningful ways. Millions of consumers across the globe engage with the Edison platform on a monthly basis. The company was founded in 2016 and headquartered in Denver, Colo. Visit www.edisoninteractive.com for more information. Contact Details Edison Interactive Frankie Cervantes +1 720-837-7421 frankie@edisoninteractive.com Company Website http://www.edisoninteractive.com

August 17, 2021 01:03 PM Mountain Daylight Time

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ADPList raises $1.3 million to help professionals and students get instant access to mentorship

ADPList

Global mentorship platform ADPList today announced US$1.3 million in funding from Surge, a rapid scale-up program by Sequoia Capital India for startups in India and Southeast Asia. ADPList is a platform for people to find, book and meet mentors around the world, providing anyone with access to some of the best minds - starting with the design and product management community. At present, there is no shared platform that makes cross-border mentoring easy, or offers a global network of mentors with different skill sets and at different levels. In the current creator economy, where people are keen to share, support and teach others, ADPList’s instant, one-click access to a global network has made it one of the industry’s most prominent platforms. What initially began as a means for designers to provide peer support, share career opportunities and offer mentorship to others impacted by the pandemic, has since organically grown to over 20,500 mentees, 2,500 mentors, and over 5,000 booked sessions per month. “We started ADPList during the height of the pandemic, and the success of the platform has since shown us that there is a global network of people ready to connect and provide support for others in their communities. The evolution of ADPList today continues to build on the belief that every mentors’ voice can transform people’s career anxiety to agency, and our platform provides them with an entirely new, accessible and engaging way to do so,” said Felix Lee, co-founder of ADPList. “From the first moment I started mentoring with ADPList, I knew it was more than an act of ‘passing on knowledge’. After clocking 6000+ minutes across ten time zones with 100+ mentees from more than 15 different counties, I can tell you one thing for sure: Every session is a unique exchange of our lives, our stories and our dreams. There is no better feeling when Amazing Design People find each other!” said Michael Tam, Global Design Director at IBM iX. On ADPList, mentors can indicate their availability on a shared calendar for mentees to select and schedule virtual sessions. Video calls are conducted within the platform along with feedback and ratings after each session. Beyond one-on-one mentoring, the platform also offers small group mentoring, townhall-style talks and other formats. ADPList started in 2020 as a list of names, sprouted by the founders’ desire to help the many designers who found themselves out of a job as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. One tab in the open-source spreadsheet focused on mentoring, which received the most clicks. This eventually inspired the founder to build this into a platform, and that’s how Amazing Design People List - ADPList - was born. ADPList mentors work at companies like Spotify, Apple, Twitter, LinkedIn, Nike, Netflix, Twitch, Coinbase and many more. The company was incorporated in 2021 in Singapore by Felix Lee and James Baduor. Felix is a product designer turned tech entrepreneur. He was the Design Lead at Gotrade and Co-Founder at Packdat, which was acquired in 2018. He completed his studies at Singapore Polytechnic but decided not to go on to university, and instead pursue his entrepreneurial pursuits. Based in Ghana, James is passionate about community and design education, and taught himself Webflow and other NoCode tools. He has helped numerous students build design careers and worked with startups to validate their MVPs and launch their products. He is one of Webflow’s top creators in the world, with the number one most viewed project on the platform. The funding is supported by prominent angel investors Crystal Widjaja (ex-Gojek executive), JJ Chai (CEO of Rainforest), Quek Siu Rui (Co-Founder & CEO, Carousell), Ting Feng Toh (Co-Founder of GetGo), and Zopim Founders (Royston Tay, Wen Xiang Wu, and Yang Bin Kwok). ADPList is part of Surge’s fifth cohort of 23 companies that have developed new digital solutions to help companies and individuals live, work and learn better in a rapidly evolving Southeast Asian landscape. About ADPList Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Singapore, ADPList is a platform for people to find, book and meet mentors around the world, providing anyone with access to some of the best minds in the design and product management community. The company is on a mission to democratise mentorship and make it accessible for everyone through a community platform where people can find, book, and meet mentors around the world. Contact Details ADPList Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://adplist.org/

August 17, 2021 09:35 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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News Direct Joins OTC Markets Group’s Premium Provider Directory

News Direct

News Direct, the state-of-the-art news and content distribution service designed to meet the demands of modern media outreach, today announced it has joined the OTC Markets Group Premium Provider Directory in the News Dissemination section. Through inclusion in the Premium Provider Directory, News Direct’s news and content distribution services will be easily accessible to the thousands of companies that trade on the OTCQX®, OTCQB® and Pink® markets. News Direct is reinvigorating the newswire industry by utilizing rapidly advancing software technology to help companies succeed in today's challenging and ever-changing media environment. Notable features that are now more available to OTC companies include News Direct’s collaborative content studio including their proprietary SimpliFi ™️ capability that dramatically streamlines the earnings distribution workflow, 24/7 live customer support, standalone multimedia distribution and the most advanced security protocols in the industry. These services, combined with unsurpassed global reach, provide OTC companies with a more efficient distribution workflow that helps amplify their content beyond the traditional channels in today’s competitive business landscape. “We recognize that fast growing companies need an update to the news dissemination process if they’re to standout in highly competitive industries so we’re excited to offer access to streamlined solutions that enhance speed, control, security, and efficiency in the press release drafting and distribution process” said Gregg Castano, Founder and CEO of News Direct. “The way PR and IR professionals create, disclose and distribute company news has gone unchanged for decades and we’re happy to offer a modernized way to simplify workflow and increase effectiveness in drafting content and reaching relevant media outlets at scale”. News Direct designed a self-directed platform to empower communications professionals to work more efficiently, with greater control and flexibility. To secure sensitive information, the company mitigates third-party risk with two-factor authentication, cloud isolation technology, and secure sharing capabilities. Once media content is published, companies can assess goal-oriented analytic reports powered by AI software. Unlike other global newswires, News Direct media distribution comes at a flat-rate asset fee, regardless of word count or geographic distribution. To learn more about News Direct, please visit https://newsdirect.com. About News Direct News Direct provides news and content distribution for PR, IR, Corporate Communications and Marketing professionals. Our automated platform delivers a completely-reimagined, intuitive workflow, industry-leading security, transparent, flat-rate pricing and actionable analytics. Further, News Direct has deployed an array of innovation including advanced automation, isolation cloud technology and custom software for the most dynamic, efficient and flexible platform available today. To learn more visit newsdirect.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube. Contact Details Kevin Pryor +1 212-334-9753 newsdirect@n6a.com Company Website http://www.newsdirect.com

August 17, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

David Lane, Co-Founder & President of LevLane Advertising, Sells His Ownership Stake in Agency to Co-Founder, Bruce Lev

LevLane

LevLane, the full-service, award-winning advertising agency, has announced that Co-Founder, Bruce Lev, has purchased the shares of his partner, David Lane, to become the sole owner, CEO and Chief Creative Officer. Lane will continue to be on staff with the agency as a consultant and will continue to maintain his relationships with the clients he now helps serve, as well as look for new opportunities for the agency. “This certainly is an emotional moment for the both of us,” said Lev. “David’s leadership, hard work and friendship have been central to what has helped us endure for 38 years. And though titles and ownership may change, what will never change is our commitment to each other, our commitment to our clients, and our commitment to great work. It was our philosophy when we started, and it will remain that way moving forward.” LevLane was founded by Lev and Lane almost 40 years ago and has grown into the nationally recognized agency it is today. LevLane, which has more than 75 full-time employees, has experienced steady expansion through the decades. “38 years ago, Bruce and I were determined to build an agency that produced the best work for our clients, and attracted the strongest talent around,” said Lane. “Seeing where we are today – with clients who inspire us and a staff that consistently outperforms expectations – it makes me so proud, and I’m excited to continue to be part of that in my new role as Agency Consultant.” Lev sees the transfer in ownership as a great opportunity to continue to take the agency to the next level. “The agency leadership has been shifting for the last five years,” said Lev. “It’s a natural progression that will ensure that our current client base, talent and growth will stay energized. It has been and will continue to be, a very exciting time in the evolution of the agency.” About LevLane LevLane is an award-winning, full-service, independent advertising agency in Philadelphia, PA that has been building brands that people love for nearly 40 years. Contact Details LevLane Liz Weir +1 610-401-4825 lweir@levlane.com Company Website https://www.levlane.com

August 17, 2021 07:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Channel Factory Targets APAC Growth with Key Hire

Channel Factory

Channel Factory, the global brand suitability and YouTube measurement programme partner has appointed Alex Littlejohn as Managing Director to manage its existing operations and to spearhead it’s growth in the APAC region. Alex will be responsible for growing the Channel Factory’s existing operations in Singapore, and will be tasked with launching the business into the broader APAC Region with local offices across SEA and Australia slated for launch in Q4 2021. Alex has extensive experience in scaling AdTech Businesses having held the position of President International for Adconion Media Group for 8 years where he was responsible for growing the team from a standing start to over 250 employees across 8 European and 4 APAC Markets. Following Adconion’s acquisition by Singtel (SGX), Alex held the position of Senior Vice President APAC for Amobee where he managed the post merger integration of 3 Business Units and was responsible for the groups Regional Finance, Marketing, HR, Product, Sales and Operations Teams. He has been recognised in the 40 most influential people under 40 years in the media and marketing twice, on two continents and has been awarded multiple times in multiple markets for his contributions to the industry. “I am excited to be joining Channel Factory at such a pivotal time for the business. Our Mission is to build a better Video ecosystem that connects creators, brands, and consumers, and as one of only 7 accredited YouTube Measurement Partners globally am excited to further develop the existing Channel Factory operations in the region”, said Alex Littlejohn. “Alex clearly brings years of incredibly valuable experience to Channel Factory and we could not be more excited to welcome him to the team,” said Tony Chen, Founder & CEO of Channel Factory. “His impressive record and successful wins speak for themselves and we have full confidence in him to lead our business growth across the APAC region in each local market as we increase our global footprint and push the ad industry to be more conscious while we approach a new decade of recovery and regeneration.” About Channel Factory Channel Factory is a global technology and data platform that maximizes both performance efficiency and contextual suitability, turning YouTube’s 5 billion videos and 500 hours per minute of new content into brand-suitable, efficient advertising opportunities. Channel Factory’s mission is to create a suitable video ecosystem that connects creators, brands, and consumers - by enabling advertisers access to the most relevant videos, channels, and creators. Through their proprietary platform that harnesses the power of the deepest YouTube dataset in the industry, Channel Factory has enabled advanced brand suitability, customized content targeting, and maximum performance for the world’s biggest brands. Channel Factory’s algorithm ensures not only that advertisers run against content that aligns with their brand but also delivers outcomes by optimizing campaigns using active and historical campaign performance data.Channel Factory has offices across the USA and is present in over 30 countries worldwide including the United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Spain, Ukraine, Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Contact Details Kite Hill PR Kerriann Becker +1 631-235-7796 kerriann@kitehillpr.com

August 11, 2021 09:22 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Malvertising Takes Aim at a New Target:IoT Devices Connected to Smart Home Networks

GeoEdge

Global cybersecurity company GeoEdge revealed it has uncovered a global-scale malvertising attack which is the first ad-based cybercrime aimed specifically at home-network based IoT devices. Working in cooperation with the company’s AdTech partners InMobi and Verve Group, GeoEdge’s security researchers identified both the attack vector as well its origins from bad actors in Slovenia and Ukraine. GeoEdge’s security research team has been investigating the malvertising attack on smart home IoT devices since mid-June 2021. The widely distributed attack vector is the first to use online advertising to silently install apps on home-WiFi-connected IoT devices, and only requires that hackers possess a basic understanding of device API documentation, some JavaScript knowledge and rudimentary online advertising skills. Market research firm IoT Analytics forecasts more than 30 billion IoT device connections worldwide by 2025, making home and industrial IoT an extremely attractive and vulnerable frontier for malvertisers. “GeoEdge’s patented behavioral code analysis technology and advanced malware detection capabilities detected these online ads covertly injecting malware into smart-home IoT devices,” said GeoEdge CEO Amnon Siev. “With the collaboration between InMobi and Verve, we exposed the origin, infrastructure and global scale of these attacks. This joint mission is built on trust and a deep understanding of the threat landscape which has enabled us to create a new standard for user protection.” “Malvertising,” or malicious advertising, spreads malware through the injection of malicious code into online display ads via online advertising networks, exposing user networks and connected devices to the potential risk of infection. Advertising networks are generally unaware they are serving malicious content and in the cases discovered by GeoEdge, users targeted with the attack aren't even required to click on the infected ad or navigate to a malicious page to initiate the attack on home network devices. “Digital advertising continues to capture a larger share of marketing budgets for companies large and small and as with that growth comes potential risks. It is critical that we have the checks and balances to identify and contain potential malicious threats before they can infect users’ devices,” added said Kunal Nagpal, SVP and GM, Publisher Platform and Exchange at InMobi. “Our collaboration with GeoEdge enhances user protection across the advertising ecosystem through advanced real-time detection, ensures the delivery of safe ads to our global partners and helps us maintain quality and user trust.” The impacts of the broad IoT attack revealed in GeoEdge’s research include the ability to manipulate IoT devices, download apps without users’ consent, and risks theft of personal information and monetary instruments as well as tampering with home systems such as smart locks and surveillance cameras. To block such attacks, GeoEdge notes that antivirus apps and even firewalls are not sufficient, making it necessary to continuously block infected ads in real-time to prevent them from being rendered and presented to users. “As we work to maintain a clean and transparent ecosystem, the ad security landscape constantly evolves, introducing new cybersecurity risks which require innovative solutions,” said Pieter de Zwart, VP of Engineering at GeoEdge partner Verve Group. “We are committed to ensuring a safe advertising experience and partnering with key industry players enables us fulfill that mission.” About GeoEdge GeoEdge is the premier provider of ad verification and transparency solutions for the online and mobile advertising ecosystem. The companyâs mission is to protect the integrity of the digital advertising ecosystem and to preserve a quality experience for users. It ensures high ad quality and verifies that sites and apps offer a clean, safe, and engaging user experience. GeoEdge guards against non-compliance, malware, inappropriate content, data leakage, operational, and performance issues.â Leading publishers, ad platforms, exchanges, and networks rely on GeoEdgeâs automated ad verification solutions to âmonitor and protect their ad inventory â without sacrificing revenue. The company was founded in 2010 by a team with more than two decades of hands-on technical and online media experience. To learn more, visit http://www.geoedge.com About InMobi InMobi drives real connections between brands and consumers by leveraging its technology platforms and exclusive access to mobile intelligence. Its Marketing Cloud creates new paths for brands to understand, identify, engage and acquire connected consumers. As a leading technology company, InMobi has been recognized on both the 2018 and 2019 CNBC Disruptor 50 lists and as one of Fast Companyâs 2018 Worldâs Most Innovative Companies. For more information, visit inmobi.com. About Verve Group Verve Groupâs omnichannel ad platform connects advertisers, agencies, brands, and publishers to people in real time. With a privacy-first approach, Verve Group offers advertising innovation at scale with full-stack programmatic solutions in brand-safe environments. The global group is a trusted partner of 5,000+ advertisers and brands with direct connections to 4,000+ publishers and apps globally. Verve Group is part of Media and Games Invest (MGI) and has an international presence with over 200 employees in 20+ offices worldwide, spanning the Americas, EMEA, and APAC. Learn more at www.verve.com. Contact Details Rainier Communications (for GeoEdge) Steve Schuster +1 508-868-5892 steve@rainierco.com GeoEdge Michal Nissenson +972 54-395-7779 michal.nissenson@geoedge.com WIT Strategy for Verve Group Mark Naples mnaples@witstrategy.com InMobi Nick Lashinsky PR@inmobi.com

August 09, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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