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Uber Blames Lapsus$ Hacking Collective For Data Breach
The hack targeted a Slack channel using a password purchased from the dark web, though the company claims no client data was compromised.
Lapsus$ is a collective of hackers famous for ransomware attacks and data theft from huge companies such as Microsoft, Vodafone and Nvidia. Now, the group has successfully targeted ride-sharing giant Uber.
Uber’s systems were breached sometime last week, with employees discovering the hack on Thursday, 15th September. The infiltrator announced their actions on the company’s internal Slack account with a message that read: “I announce I am a hacker and Uber has suffered a data breach.”
Uber claims the hacker is associated with the Lapsus$ group. If that’s true, it means they could also be responsible for a massive data breach of Rockstar Games and its upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6) release, as the attacker announced that they were, in fact, the same person.
As far as Uber is concerned, no customer data was compromised during the hack, with the breach targeting invoice management tools and content from Slack channels.
In a new update about the fiasco, Uber believes the attack happened after the hacker purchased a corporate password on the dark web from a personal device that was infected with malware. Even though 2-factor authentication was activated, the contractor inexplicably allowed a login approval request, which granted entry to the account.
Since the data breach, the company has forced all users to change their login credentials and is adamant that any public-facing financial data or personal information remains secure.
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“First and foremost, we’ve not seen that the attacker accessed the production (i.e. public-facing) systems that power our apps; any user accounts; or the databases we use to store sensitive user information, like credit card numbers, user bank account info, or trip history. We also encrypt credit card information and personal health data, offering a further layer of protection,” says Uber in an official statement.
To add to the embarrassment, Uber admits that the hacker accessed the company’s dashboard portal at HackerOne, where researchers report security bugs and vulnerabilities. In addition to law enforcement, Uber is now working alongside leading digital forensics teams to get to the bottom of the breach.
News
AltoVolo Opens Orders For Limited Edition Sigma eVTOLs
Early buyers can now reserve build slots for AltoVolo’s 500-mile hybrid aircraft through a new online configurator.
AltoVolo has started taking pre-orders for its first electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, the Sigma, moving the startup closer to commercial rollout. Customers can now secure a build slot with a £860 deposit and customize every detail online — from paintwork to seatbelt stitching. It’s the first configurator of its kind for a civilian eVTOL, mirroring how luxury car brands let clients tailor performance models before production.
The Sigma runs on a hybrid-electric tilting jet system built for long range and low noise. It can travel up to 500 miles at a 220-mph cruise, and is over 80% quieter than a helicopter. The three-seater weighs just 980kg and can maintain stable flight even if one jet fails. Safety systems include triple-redundant controls, thrust-vectoring stability and a ballistic parachute.
“We will be delivering an ultra-refined hybrid electric aircraft,” said founder and CEO Will Wood. “We believe there are thousands of customers for this type of cutting-edge technology”.
The first 100 units will come with exclusive materials and finishes. AltoVolo is also setting up a global service and maintenance network, with early planning for overhaul schedules already underway. The company’s focus on ownership experience echoes its ambition to anchor itself alongside established aviation brands rather than pure tech ventures.
To help new owners train, the company has built a full-scale simulator that replicates the Sigma cockpit in carbon fiber and leather. Pilots can log time toward a license using the system, aligned with the new US MOSAIC rules that ease certification for powered-lift aircraft. Certification work in Europe and the UK continues in parallel, signaling growing international alignment around light sport and eVTOL regulation.
Also Read: Snapchat Opens Qatar Office To Deepen Gulf Presence
Noise inside the cabin has become another design focus. Engineers are refining internal vibration levels and developing a responsive soundscape that shifts with each jet’s power load — part feedback, part theatre.
Urban air mobility projects across the Gulf and elsewhere are pushing regulators and manufacturers to meet in the middle. Dubai, Riyadh and Doha have each outlined plans for air taxi corridors this decade. AltoVolo’s hybrid Sigma, sitting between electric promise and aviation realism, looks built for that middle ground.
