- By Tom Gerken
- Technology press reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Uber’s previous primary gatekeeper has actually prevented prison and been sentenced to 3 years’ probation for covering a cyber-attack from authorities.
Joseph Sullivan was condemned of paying hackers $100,000 (£79,000) after they got to 57 million records of Uber consumers, consisting of names and contact number.
He should likewise pay a fine of $50,000, and serve 200 hours of social work.
Prosecutors initially requested a 15-month jail sentence.
Sullivan was likewise condemned of blocking an examination from the Federal Trade Commission.
“If there are more, individuals ought to anticipate to hang out in custody, despite anything, and I hope everyone here identifies that,” he said.
The hack
Sullivan started his function as Uber’s primary gatekeeper in 2015.
Staff working for Sullivan verified information, consisting of records of 57 million Uber users and 600,000 driving licence numbers, had actually been taken.
According to the DOJ, Sullivan scheduled the hackers to be paid $100,000 in exchange for them signing non-disclosure arrangements to not reveal the hack to anybody.
The hackers were paid in December 2016, camouflaged as a “bug bounty” – a benefit utilized to pay cyber-security scientists who reveal vulnerabilities so they can be repaired.
The hackers consequently dealt with conspiracy charges in 2019 and pleaded guilty.
