Uber Paid Hackers To Cover Up Data Theft Scam

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Uber paid hackers to delete stolen personal data of 57 million users in an attempt to cover up the scandal

Uber’s data theft scam came under light as the app-based cab service provider has sacked its chief security officer and another executive for the misdeed. As it has been revealed, the personal data of 57 million users across the world was stolen by the company. The affected users include both the riders and drivers and to cover up this theft, Uber paid hackers to delete the data.

It has been revealed the company paid a massive $100,000 to the hackers. Also, the company kept the scam under wrap for more than a year. Personal data like name, telephone number, email addresses of approx 50 million riders and 7 million drivers around the world were stolen. License numbers of around 600,000 Uber drivers were stolen in the scam.

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However, Uber says no social security numbers, credit card information or trip location details or other data were stolen. It can be easily sad a large number of Uber users in India too are affected by the scam, but exact number is not available as of now. The app based ride hailing service provider is already facing flak from around the world and this new scam will certainly affect its brand image.

Uber claims, the information stolen from the users were never used. But, it denied to disclose the identities of the attackers. The company also says that it is changing the way it does business currently. This scam was revealed, while US authorities were investing some other allegations against the company.

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Online data theft has been a major problem in the cyber world in recent times. Uber’s data theft scam comes as the latest addition to the list, as other big names like Yahoo, MySpace, Equifax Inc. were the victims of hacking as well. In India too, a massive number of personal informations of citizens have been leaked from government websites.