Previous All Posts Next

Uber Data Breach Exposed 57 Million Users

Posted: November 27, 2017 to News.

Tags: Compliance, Data Breach, Cloud Security

You may have heard by now that Uber, the ride-sharing company, was hacked last year. It was a data breach that involved the personal information of 57 million users and drivers including names, phone numbers, and email addresses. To make matters worse, Uber didn't tell anybody about the data breach. The company has taken a number of hits over the last few years, from sexual harassment allegations to shady business dealings. Failing to disclose their massive data breach to regulators hasn't done much to help their image. The hackers took a fairly obvious route to getting the data. They discovered the access to Uber's GitHub account, where they found the login credentials to Uber's Amazon cloud server. GitHub is a website where developers store code, and it's not uncommon for all kinds of usernames and passwords to be stored there. It is, sadly, a pretty common and easily preventable mistake. Once Uber discovered that hackers had 57 million records, they decided to make a $100,000 payment for the hackers to destroy the data instead of alerting authorities, despite being required to do so in most states, including California, where Uber has its headquarters. In addition to facing fines from the FTC, agencies in other countries are looking into taking action against the company.

Related Resources

Learn more about how Petronella Technology Group can help:

Need help implementing these strategies? Our cybersecurity experts can assess your environment and build a tailored plan.
Get Free Assessment

About the Author

Craig Petronella, CEO and Founder of Petronella Technology Group
CEO, Founder & AI Architect, Petronella Technology Group

Craig Petronella founded Petronella Technology Group in 2002 and has spent more than 30 years working at the intersection of cybersecurity, AI, compliance, and digital forensics. He holds the CMMC Registered Practitioner credential (RP-1372) issued by the Cyber AB, is an NC Licensed Digital Forensics Examiner (License #604180-DFE), and completed MIT Professional Education programs in AI, Blockchain, and Cybersecurity. Craig also holds CompTIA Security+, CCNA, and Hyperledger certifications.

He is an Amazon #1 Best-Selling Author of 15+ books on cybersecurity and compliance, host of the Encrypted Ambition podcast (95+ episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon), and a cybersecurity keynote speaker with 200+ engagements at conferences, law firms, and corporate boardrooms. Craig serves as Contributing Editor for Cybersecurity at NC Triangle Attorney at Law Magazine and is a guest lecturer at NCCU School of Law. He has served as a digital forensics expert witness in federal and state court cases involving cybercrime, cryptocurrency fraud, SIM-swap attacks, and data breaches.

Under his leadership, Petronella Technology Group has served 2,500+ clients, maintained a zero-breach record among compliant clients, earned a BBB A+ rating every year since 2003, and been featured as a cybersecurity authority on CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, and WRAL. The company leverages SOC 2 Type II certified platforms and specializes in AI implementation, managed cybersecurity, CMMC/HIPAA/SOC 2 compliance, and digital forensics for businesses across the United States.

CMMC-RP NC Licensed DFE MIT Certified CompTIA Security+ Expert Witness 15+ Books
Related Service
Need Cybersecurity or Compliance Help?

Schedule a free consultation with our cybersecurity experts to discuss your security needs.

Schedule Free Consultation
Previous All Posts Next
Free cybersecurity consultation available Schedule Now