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Yahoo’s Data Breaches Unlikely to Derail Verizon Deal

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  • Yahoo’s Data Breaches Unlikely to Derail Verizon Deal

The second major hack of Yahoo! Inc. user accounts is unlikely to derail Verizon Communications Inc.’s $4.83 billion acquisition of the tech giant, with investors and the public becoming inured to near-daily disclosures of cyberattacks.

Hundreds of U.S. companies fall prey to hackers every year and, in many cases, the data breaches neither hurt bottom lines nor scare away customers for too long. After initial anxieties ease, everyone generally moves on. Experts say the same holds true for Yahoo and Verizon.

“I tend to not feel like these hacks are that big of a deal in the broader scheme of things,” said Michael Mahoney, senior managing director at Falcon Point Capital, which invests in wireless companies. “Obviously they can be damaging. But it doesn’t take too long before people forget about it.”

In the U.S. especially, data breaches continue to mount. Within the past few years, hackers have infiltrated Sony Corp., Target Corp., Home Depot Inc., JPMorgan Chase & Co., auction site EBay Inc. and health insurer Anthem Inc. Almost 1,000 data breaches, including Yahoo’s, occurred in the U.S. just this year, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center. And in all, more than 35 million critical personal records, including social security and passport numbers and medical and banking data, were exposed in 2016.

But Yahoo’s is one of the largest-scale data breaches reported to date. The Sunnyvale, California-based company said that cyber-thieves in 2013 siphoned information from more than 1 billion Yahoo accounts, including users’ e-mail addresses, scrambled account passwords and dates of birth, data that allow criminals to go after more sensitive personal information elsewhere online. It was the second disclosure of a major data breach since Verizon agreed to buy Yahoo. In September, the tech company revealed that more than 500 million users’ data had been hacked in a separate, state-sponsored attack in 2014.

“There are many breaches with many entities that have these types of breaches occurring,” said Eva Casey Velasquez, chief executive officer of the Identity Theft Resource Center.

Since Target’s data breach in 2013, public sentiment has shifted, Velasquez said. “People know what a data breach is. But because it did become so ubiquitous in our conversation, there’s a little bit of apathy.”

And not all breaches are created equal, said Emily Mossburg, a principal at cyber-risk services practice at Deloitte & Touche LLP. Stolen names and account information don’t necessarily have a “broader impact.”

Manageable Costs

Costs of data breaches have been substantial but not devastating. Target and Home Depot estimated that their data breaches resulted in about $200 million each in expenses not covered by insurance. Those are minimal amounts for big companies their size.

And depending on the type of hack and the data stolen, Yahoo’s legal liability may be negligible. Benjamin Dean, president of Iconoclast Tech, a data-security consultant, said Yahoo is unlikely to incur large losses as a result of recent class-action lawsuits.

“The track record for successful class actions relating to stolen non-payment card data isn’t good,” Dean said. “Those bringing the class action typically have to show material damage due to the data lost in a breach — and this has proven difficult to show or prove.”

Still, Yahoo’s costs may be higher simply because of the magnitude of the breach, and may even lead to a loss of users or advertisers. Larry Ponemon, founder of the Ponemon Institute, a think-tank focused on data security, believes Yahoo’s costs — plus opportunities lost — could be $2 to $3 per customer record, and shave $1 billion from the price Verizon pays.

“The timing couldn’t be worse for Yahoo,” he said.

Price Cut

Verizon may be able to negotiate Yahoo’s purchase price down by 5 percent to 10 percent, said Mahoney of Falcon Point, who doesn’t hold shares of either company. Yahoo’s shares are down 5.5 percent since the close Dec. 14, when the company announced the second breach.

Verizon has been buying internet and media companies to drive growth beyond its maturing wireless business by selling advertising. The company purchased Yahoo in part for traffic to its websites like Yahoo Finance, and that traffic is unlikely to decline because of the breach.

According to Alexa Internet, which tracks web viewing, Yahoo fell to the No. 6 most-popular property globally in early December, before the magnitude of the latest breach was revealed, and has held its rank since then. If Yahoo’s numbers remain steady, Verizon should still buy the company, according to Roger Entner, an analyst at Recon Analytics LLC.

“Yahoo has a brand that’s pretty good in the marketplace,” added Mahoney, of Falcon Point Capital. Verizon “will certainly” use the breach as leverage to try to reduce the deal’s price, “but I doubt that it changes the strategic rationale for why they want to buy Yahoo,” he said.

Yahoo said it’s confident in the company’s value and continues to work toward integration with Verizon. Jim Gerace, a spokesman for Verizon, said the company will continue to evaluate the situation before making any final decisions.

Is the CEO/Founder of Investors King Limited. A proven foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Businessinsider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and many more. He has over two decades of experience in global financial markets.

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Minister Bosun Tijani Leads Global Effort to Safeguard Undersea Cables Amidst Disruptions

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Minister Bosun Tijani of Nigeria’s Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy has initiated a global collaboration.

The minister took to social media to announce plans aimed at enhancing the protection of undersea cables, emphasizing the critical role these cables play in the digital economy.

Tijani’s proactive stance comes in the wake of undersea cable cuts that have impacted countries across West Africa, including Ghana, Togo, and Senegal.

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Tijani underscored the need to review international laws and forge partnerships with regional and global bodies to safeguard this essential infrastructure.

Acknowledging the disruption faced by affected nations, Tijani assured stakeholders that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is actively engaged in resolving the issues.

His initiative marks a significant step toward ensuring the resilience and reliability of undersea cables, which serve as lifelines in today’s interconnected world.

In light of the disruptions, various sectors, including banking, telecommunications, and financial services, have encountered operational challenges.

Sarafadeen Fasasi, President of the Association Of Mobile Money and Bank Agents In Nigeria, highlighted the significant impact on financial transactions and reconciliation processes, causing headaches for businesses and customers alike.

While the cause of the cable cuts remains under investigation, efforts to restore services are underway.

However, authorities in Ghana estimate that full service restoration may take up to five weeks.

Meanwhile, stakeholders are hopeful that Minister Tijani’s global collaboration will expedite solutions to safeguard undersea cables and mitigate future disruptions, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity essential for economic, academic, and social activities.

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Telecommunications

MTN Nigeria Grapples with Network Disruptions from Overseas Cable Damage

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MTN Nigeria is currently contending with network disruptions stemming from damage to an overseas undersea cable, causing widespread inconvenience for its customers.

The telecommunication giant confirmed the issue in a statement, acknowledging the connectivity disruptions experienced by its subscribers.

Reports indicate that the glitch has affected both voice and data services, resulting in communication disruptions for millions of subscribers across the country.

Subscribers have expressed frustration on social media platforms over the prolonged network outage, with complaints ranging from failed call attempts to concerns about the failure to receive bank alerts.

MTN Nigeria assured its customers that it is actively working to resolve the issue and restore services as quickly as possible.

The telecom operator emphasized the critical importance of consistent internet and communication services, pledging to swiftly address the disruptions.

Efforts are underway to reroute traffic through alternative network paths and expedite the repair process for the damaged cables in collaboration with consortium partners.

Despite the challenges, MTN Nigeria remains committed to minimizing service interruptions and maintaining connectivity for its customers.

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Fintech

Moniepoint Inc Vows to Drive Financial Inclusion Amidst National Development Agenda

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Given the critical importance of financial inclusion to national development and building a sustainable economy, Group CEO Moniepoint Inc, Tosin Eniolorunda has reaffirmed his organization’s resolve in increasing financial inclusion and driving the adoption of technology by the underserved consumers in the country.

The Moniepoint boss was speaking on the sidelines of the 16th edition of Leadership Newspapers Conference and Awards where Moniepoint Inc received an award as the Fintech Company of the Year. The event, which took place at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja also coincides with the 20th anniversary of founding of the Leadership Group. The selection of the award recipients followed a critical review of their various contributions to the growth and development of Nigeria, as laid down by the founding chairman of the LEADERSHIP Newspaper Group, the late Sam Nda-Isaiah.

The prestigious Fintech company of the year award recognizes Moniepoint’s innovative efforts to increase access to financial services for underserved and unbanked populations across Nigeria. Through its nationwide network of point-of-sale terminals and digital payments platform, Moniepoint has empowered millions of Nigerians, including petty traders and roadside businesses, to participate in the digital economy.

“We are immensely proud to receive this recognition from Leadership,” said Tosin Eniolorunda. “From the start, our mission has been to democratize financial services and create equal opportunities for every Nigerian to thrive. Powering dreams and ensuring that the large majority of our people irrespective of where they live experience financial happiness is our reason for being. This award validates our commitment to driving genuine financial inclusion in tandem with the government’s mandate and we are spurred to do more in terms of leveraging innovative solutions and technology to create more value for Nigerians.”

In her welcome remarks, Chairman, Leadership Newspapers, Zainab Nda-Isaiah signposted the role of the awards in recognizing individuals and organizations who are taking bold strides towards creating a more peaceful, stable, and prosperous nation. While paying homage to the legacy of the legendary and visionary Founder and her late husband, Sam Nda-Isaiah, she noted that awards spotlighted those considered deserving and exemplary in their various categories.

“We may not be where we would like to be, but these men and women are making strides in the direction that we hope will lead us to a nation of peace, stability, and the possibility of prosperity for all who dare to seize it”, Nda-Isaiah said.

Keynote presenter, Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, who was speaking to the theme, “An Economy In Distress: Which Way Forward?”, made a case for fixing the fundamentals and advised that the current economic crisis must not be allowed to go to waste.

“There is no better time to fix these challenges than now. The CBN’s policy actions are well intended and will serve to stabilize the macroeconomic environment. We must fully understand the causes that have led us to where we are and ensure that they are fixed by deploying real strategies.” He canvassed for property rights, innovation and access to capital as core pillars for a successful and productive economic growth.

Prominent personalities at the event include, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi who represented awardee for Person of the Year, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, who received the Politician of the Year award; Governors Fr Hyacinth Iornem Alia of Benue State; Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina State; Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State; Managing Director/CEO of First City Monument Bank Plc, Mrs. Yemisi Edun who received Banker of the Year Award and Salisu Auwalu, a keke rider from Kano who returned a  bag containing 15m naira  left in his tricycle,  received an award as outstanding Young Person of the year.

It will be recalled that in 2023, Moniepoint MFB received the prestigious Rising Star Family Business Award Pwc/Businessday Family Business Summit; the Most Outstanding Microfinance Bank in Consumer Engagement at the Brandcom Awards, while Moniepoint Inc was listed for the second year running amongst the 100 most promising private fintech companies by CB Insights and the reputable Financial Times named it Africa’s second fastest-growing company. Moniepoint Inc also received critical acclaim as the “Most Outstanding Fintech Company in Financial Inclusion at the Brandcom Awards. Group CEO, Moniepoint Inc, Tosin Eniolorunda was named the 2024 Legit Business Leaders Awards in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Nigeria’s economy.

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