Image by Bruce Kun, from Unsplash
Uber’s New Route Share Imitates Buses With Fixed Routes and Stops
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
Uber has launched Route Share as a new ride option which provides fixed-route car rides at half the price of UberX.
In a rush? Here are the quick facts:
- Route Share costs half the price of UberX rides.
- Cars stop every 20 minutes, like a mini bus system.
- Service runs in 7 U.S. cities during weekday commute hours.
The service functions like a small bus system because cars follow set routes while stopping every twenty minutes for passengers to meet the vehicle. The service restricts each ride to a maximum of two additional passengers.
The Verge reports that Route Share operates in seven U.S. cities including New York City and San Francisco and Chicago and Dallas and it runs only during weekday commuting times from 6–10 AM and 4–8 PM.
“We are complementary to public transit,” said Sachin Kansal, Uber’s Chief Product Officer. “We think of this as a journey towards lower and lower car ownership,” as reported by The Verge.
For example, a Route Share journey between the Upper West Side of Manhattan and the Lower East Side costs $19 while an UberX ride would cost $38, according to The Verge. Users can reserve their rides either by planning ahead seven days in advance or by booking at the last minute ten minutes before pickup.
Uber has introduced two new features to help customers save money. The price lock feature enables customers to book up to ten rides at $2.99 per month for a fixed rate. TechCrunch reports that users can purchase prepaid ride passes which provide 15% discounts when they pay for 5 to 20 rides in advance.
Kansal said Uber’s focus is to ease everyday costs: “People are feeling more and more uncertain […] that is definitely generating some anxiety,” as reported by The Verge.
However this claim might raise some suspicions considering how the timing of this comes as Uber tightens control over its workforce and leans further into autonomous vehicles. Additionally, it was reported that Uber’s robotaxis outperformed human drivers in cities like Austin.
This might suggest that Route Share isn’t just rider-focused, but instead it may be Uber’s way of optimizing routes for future self-driving fleets.
Uber plans to expand these features across the U.S. and Brazil and sees a future where Route Share could even use autonomous vehicles. “It’s a very well-defined route… so the pickups and drop-offs are predictable,” Kansal added.
Image by Appshunter.io, from Unsplash
Coinbase Says Workers Were Bribed in Massive Data Theft Attempt
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
Coinbase says hackers bribed overseas workers to steal user data and demand $20M. It’s now offering a bounty instead of paying up.
In a rush? Here are the quick facts:
- Hackers bribed overseas Coinbase staff to steal customer data.
- Coinbase refused to pay the $20 million ransom demand.
- Less than 1% of monthly users were affected.
Coinbase, the largest U.S. cryptocurrency exchange, said hackers bribed customer support agents outside the U.S. to steal sensitive customer data, and then demanded $20 million in Bitcoin to keep the breach quiet.
The company revealed through its Thursday announcement that the breach affected fewer than 1% of its active users each month. The stolen data included names, addresses, phone numbers, partial Social Security numbers, bank details, and government ID images. However, login credentials and access to wallets were not compromised, Coinbase said.
Bloomberg reported that the hackers planned to use the stolen data to impersonate Coinbase and trick users into handing over their crypto. The cyber criminals bribed and recruited some of Coinbase’s support agents and contractors outside the U.S. Those workers have been fired.
Bloomberg reported that Coinbase announced it will not give in to the ransom demand while simultaneously reaching out to law enforcement agencies. The company provides a $20 million reward to anyone who helps track down and prosecute the attackers.
Bloomberg reported that remediation costs and reimbursements could reach between $180 million and $400 million but the actual amount may shift based on ongoing investigations. The company has made a promise to reimburse all users who experienced financial losses because of the breach.
CEO Brian Armstrong revealed through video that Coinbase had detected unusual support agent behavior throughout the preceding months leading up to the attack.
Forbes notes that the breach occurred during a period when crypto security has become a major point of concern. Research indicates that the crypto industry lost more than $2.2 billion to cyberattacks throughout 2024.
