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Uber Technology

Uber picks up $148m fine over hacking cover up

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By John Glenday | Reporter

September 27, 2018 | 3 min read

Ride hailing app Uber has been hit with a $148m fine after US regulators discovered that it had failed to notify its own drivers that their personal information had been stolen during a security breach.

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Uber picks up $148m fine over hacking cover up

It is thought that up to 600,000 drivers fell victim to the 2016 hack but remained oblivious for a year after Uber withheld from notifying those affected. Instead, bosses elected hide evidence of the breach and pay a $100k ransom to those responsible to have the data destroyed.

Speaking to Associated Press, Lisa Madigan, the Illinois attorney general, said: “This is one of the most egregious cases we’ve ever seen in terms of notification; a yearlong delay is just inexcusable. And we’re not going to put up with companies, Uber or any other company, completely ignoring our laws that require notification of data breaches.”

Uber first learned it had fallen prey to criminal hackers in November 2016, but only acknowledged that it and hundreds of thousands of drivers had fallen victim in November of the following year. As a result of the hack, Uber lost control of personal data including licensing data for 600,000 drivers, as well as the names, email addresses and telephone numbers of 57m passengers worldwide.

As well as being hit by the huge fine, Uber has also been forced to tighten its security procedures to comply with local consumer protection laws; immediately notify authorities of any subsequent breaches.

Uber’s chief legal officer Tony West insists it is now a changed business from that which operated just two years ago, having ushered in a series of management changes to bring about ‘transparency, integrity and accountability’.

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