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New reports from CNN reveal Uber's collusion with hackers to re-access the personal information of those using their service.

Details About the Hacking of Uber

In 2016, hackers were able to obtain the personal information of 57 million Uber customers. This includes names, phone numbers, email addresses, and more. Normally, in a situation like this, Uber would notify the public and law enforcement, however, they chose a different course.

Rather than disclose the aforementioned information, Uber paid the hackers $100,000 to delete the illegally obtained information of their customers. As a result of this decision, Uber is facing a plethora of legal woes. Furthermore, the hackers' monetary gain serves as an incentive for them to continue their malpractice.

Northeastern University's professor of law and computer science Andrea Matwyshyn gave the following remarks:

"The problem with viewing this as some sort of simple risk management decision is that it underestimates the basis for an attacker's business model. It doesn't address the underlying problem in your own organization -- your security practices need revision and you're failing to adequately protect your assets including your own proprietary information, and your customers' data."

The Consequences of Uber Paying off Hackers

As a result of Uber abandoning proper protocol and paying off the hackers, they are now faced with legal ramifications. Both state and federal agencies are launching investigations into the matter. Potential lawsuits and legal fees are very likely.

Many people have also noted that Uber's legal trouble fares very well for Lyft, a transportation service that Uber is in heavy competition with.