Uber

Uber announces group rides, teen accounts at Go-Get Event

The GO-acquire event, which is Uber’s annual product presentation, took place on May 17th, and it was during this event that the company announced new technologies that make it easier for consumers to go anywhere and acquire anything.

During the event, Uber’s Chief Executive Officer Dara Khosrowshahi unveiled a variety of new features for users, including the following:

Parental and adolescent perspectives are included.

A function that enables riders to create a family profile and connect numerous Uber accounts to one another so that they can share rides together. Riders will be able to pay for rides and delivery using a centralised account, and they will also receive real-time information regarding their position and orders.

Uber also introduced accounts just for teenagers. This function was developed for parents and caretakers of adolescents aged 13 to 17, and it assists parents and caretakers in transporting adolescents who are under their supervision. Verify My Ride, RideCheck, and Audio Recording are some of the safety features that were integrated into the feature throughout development.

It also incorporates real-time trip tracking, which enables parents to monitor their teen’s journey in real time and determine both who is driving and exactly where their child is going.

Read also: Uber sells 50.03% of its stake in Careem

The partnership with Nuna

Uber has formed a partnership with the manufacturer of car seats known as Nuna in order to provide rides with the company’s high-quality and fashionable car seats. This partnership enables parents and carers to request and reserve a ride with Nuna’s RAVA car seat, which can easily carry children weighing anywhere from 5 to 65 pounds.

For consumers in the United States, the toll-free number 1-833-USE-UBER (1-833-873-8237) allows them to chat with an agent in either English or Spanish, make an immediate ride request, or make a reservation for a ride in the future.

Group Grocery Orders When riders place group grocery orders with Uber Eats, they are able to invite other riders to add their own goods to a shared shopping cart, establish deadlines for when other riders must add their must-haves, and even automatically split the payment among all of the participants.

Uber Drivers can now operate from Dashboard Screens

Rides in groups

Riders of Uber will soon be able to invite people to add their addresses to a group journey, and the app will soon automatically update the stops to pick each person up according to the route that provides the greatest amount of time savings.

Video gift messaging

You can now record a one-of-a-kind video greeting to accompany your gift on Uber Eats. This feature was added to make gift-giving on the platform more personal and memorable. Beginning with gift cards, you will soon be able to add this unique and personal touch to anything you give through Uber Eats. Whether it’s a bouquet of flowers, a box of chocolates, or even your go-to tikka masala, video gift messaging is the perfect finishing touch for your Uber present.

The core of Uber

Uber Central is a function of Uber for Business that enables businesses such as hotels and car dealerships to give additional services to their customers by booking trips for them to various locations. These locations include airports and museums.

Felicia Akindurodoye
Felicia Akindurodoye is an experienced writer and researcher, whose watchword is originality.

May 25, 2023
Uber Drivers can now operate from Dashboard Screens

Drivers may now operate Uber from the dashboard screen owing to the app’s updated compatibility with Apple’s CarPlay for iPhone. Uber’s incorporation of Apple CarPlay technology allowed this to occur.

It has been reported that a ridesharing service recently emailed its drivers to announce that the new feature is being rolled out to drivers across the United States and would hopefully be available to all users by the end of the month. Andy Ventas, a YouTube user, demonstrated this technique while driving a Hyundai vehicle. However, he didn’t provide any additional instruction.

The most recent update to the Uber Driver app eliminates the need for drivers to switch between screens or apps on their smartphones in order to view and accept trips, as well as browse and add rides to the queue.

Read also: Uber Introduces Advertising Business To Increase Revenue

Apple’s CarPlay feature is standard on most recent types of autos, and it turns the car’s head unit into a touchscreen that is compatible with an iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad. This is a regular inclusion. With the integration of the Uber driver app into Apple CarPlay, drivers no longer have to switch between their phone and the screen to check for and accept rides, use navigation, or add passengers to their waiting list. By doing so, a great deal of driver stress is avoided. This eliminates the need for drivers to switch between programs.

Currently, drivers have a hard time seeing the various components of Uber’s navigation system, such as the heat maps of high-demand areas, other routes, and the sides of roadways. Because the screen is more legible at greater sizes, this will be the case.

A little On the Carplay System

Apple’s iPhone can communicate with your vehicle’s infotainment system (sometimes called a car’s “dashboard screen”) thanks to a piece of software called CarPlay. With CarPlay, frequently used apps that would be necessary or especially useful while driving are displayed on your car’s infotainment display, increasing convenience and decreasing distraction. Therefore, CarPlay reduces the necessity of physically holding your iPhone while driving.

With CarPlay, you may access and use select iPhone apps through your vehicle’s infotainment system. This also facilitates the apps’ compatibility with your car’s hardware. In this way, we hope you’ll use your iPhone less frequently when behind the wheel. CarPlay enables you to make and receive calls, send and receive texts, use GPS navigation, play music or entertainment, and even view your calendar. When you connect CarPlay, it will take precedence over your car’s factory infotainment system.

Uber Commences Electric Car Services

These days, it’s common to find a car brand new enough to have Bluetooth. The car’s internal speakers and microphone process the call’s audio. There is no difference in call processing when CarPlay is linked. However, the layout of the phone app on your iPhone is very similar to the one on your car’s infotainment display. The infotainment display may display information from your iPhone, including your contacts, favourites, recent calls, and voicemails.

Satellite-based navigation systems like GPS are yet another illustration. CarPlay may show popular navigation apps on your car’s infotainment screen regardless of whether your car has its own built-in navigation system or not. That way, you can use whichever software you like more than the GPS system in your car to reach where you need to go. Here’s how CarPlay can enhance your vehicle’s existing functions or add new ones.

Daisi Victory

February 18, 2023
African women are becoming financially independent through digital platforms

During the global lockdown of 2020, digital platforms became more popular, giving professionals who were previously shut out of the job market new ways to make money. These mobile-friendly platforms give people who want to start their own businesses access to a large and growing group of people who use the internet and social media.

There are already 5.3 billion internet users worldwide, with usage rising between 2021 and 2022 in places like South Africa and Nigeria.

As it stands, the internet is developing new means of employment and financial gain online. Digital platforms have given many young employees new employment and a path into the booming digital economy.

For instance, young African women can now work as professional drivers on ride-hailing services like Uber and Bolt. There are hardly many female drivers, especially in African markets. However, the digital economy is accessible to people of all genders, and major multinational companies are betting on it.

Young women in Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana like the digital flexibility these platforms give them both within and outside of working hours, according to a new survey by Caribou Digital. These tools also help female business owners run profitable online businesses while also taking care of their personal responsibilities.

African women are given the opportunity to own and manage rental properties because of online marketplaces like Airbnb. The largest e-commerce platform in Africa, Jumia, has given female entrepreneurs access to advanced business tools and help loans, introducing them to social commerce.

Read also: Women Must Maximise Technology Use And Take Leadership Roles -Joe Odumakin

African young women and platform livelihoods

One example of a woman using social media and digital platforms to create money is Sharon Tarit. Tarit created an Airbnb company after the epidemic forced her company to close its doors. She obtains rooms from landlords, furnishes them, and then leases them as furnished apartments.

Eldoret and Mombasa, two seaside cities in southeast Kenya that are popular with tourists, are home to properties owned by Tarit. In an interview with BBC Business Daily, Tarit said that she leases out homes to locals, tourists, and business travellers who stay for as little as two days or as long as one month.

“This rental business has generated a lot of revenue for me.” I started off renting one house and now manage seven rentals. “I’m making more money now than I was when I sold children’s clothes in a physical shop,” Tarit said.

Safety issues and gender stereotypes on digital platforms

Ayobami Lawal, a 34-year-old Nigerian woman, works as a cab driver for Uber and Bolt in Lagos, the busiest metropolitan area in all of Africa.

Lawal’s employment provides much-needed daily revenue, but it is not without difficulties. People who don’t think Lawal can handle the challenges of driving in Lagos use gender stereotypes against her. Beyond social prejudice, female Uber and Bolt drivers must also cope with safety issues.

Physical and sexual assault are more likely to happen to female drivers. These ladies sometimes have to take matters into their own hands in order to be safe. Because nighttime trip fees are typically higher, some of them avoid driving at night, which results in them earning less than their male counterparts.

These drivers must choose between their money and safety. Even though ride-hailing apps often advertise safety toolkits for drivers, drivers have complained that the functions rarely work the way they’re supposed to.

Grace Natabaalo, the report’s lead researcher, told the BBC that many of the women she interviewed had experienced inappropriate behaviour and sexual harassment.

“While governments encourage young women to take up this work, they need to recognize the other side—tthat there are dangers, and they should be taken seriously by the police and government departments,” she said.

Women in South Africa’s tech industry earn less pay than men – Women in Tech

Digital platforms and gig work’s challenges

Entrepreneurial women who have been excluded from the digital economy for years are now becoming winners because of platformization. There aren’t many barriers to entry, but they could be a lot lower if more governments took advantage of the opportunities these platforms offer and help fund projects led by women.

Ajira Digital is a government-run program in Kenya that teaches young people how to find gig work online and how to get the hard and soft skills they need to succeed in the digital age.

Redesigning the gig economy’s infrastructure is necessary. There are also problems with sexual harassment and the way traditional work is divided between men and women.

Everyone benefits from a gender-inclusive digital revolution, including the platform, the women, and the state. Digital platforms grab users, markets, and talent. The women can increase their fortune and take care of their families as well as themselves.

In their interview with the BBC, the gig workers said they were interested in paying taxes to help the economy.

Felicia Akindurodoye
Felicia Akindurodoye is an experienced writer and researcher, whose watchword is originality.

December 12, 2022
Uber Introduces Advertising Business To Increase Revenue

Uber has launched its own advertising company To attract more customers; with its new business section, the ride-sharing company wants to speed up the growth of its income.

A top executive at Uber has suggested that advertising could be used to lower the prices of the company’s rides without cutting the drivers’ pay. By displaying advertisements within its applications, on top of cars, and on the backs of seats, Uber hopes to create a business that is worth $1 billion within the next two years and will launch its worldwide advertising unit with that goal in mind.

The division was established earlier this year to expand Uber’s existing advertising business, which primarily consists of advertisements displayed within the Uber Eats app and car-top billboards in a select number of markets. The division is being led by Mark Grether, a former advertising executive at Amazon.

According to statements made by Uber’s Chief Executive Officer, Dara Khosrowshahi, the firm is working toward reaching an annualized gross ad booking revenue of $1 billion by the year 2024. Khosrowshahi said at a conference for investors a month ago that the current advertising business had a gross booking run rate of $350 million per year during the second quarter of this year.

Read also: Uber Commences Electric Car Services

Uber’s ad platform currently operates in multiple countries

Uber has said that its advertising platform is already working in dozens of countries and that the company plans to expand its global reach over the next year.

Displaying promos to consumers within the Uber app when they book or finish a journey is one of the new advertising formats that has been tested in select areas. Companies will also be able to put ads on the Uber Eats app’s home page or send emails to Uber’s 122 million monthly active users all over the world.

The corporation will use tablets that are fastened to the backs of vehicle seats to display trip information as well as advertisements in Los Angeles and San Francisco as part of a plan that is now in the testing phase. According to Uber, passengers would have “full control” over any advertisements that included sound.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Grether said, “Through our advertising division, we can help leading brands grow their relationships with consumers by connecting them at a time when a customer is especially paying attention.”

Uber’s competitors also took the same steps

Competitors DoorDash and Lyft have made similar moves as the gig economy companies transition to advertising as a new high-margin revenue source. Marketers are looking for new areas to reach consumers in the wake of recent privacy improvements implemented by Apple. Businesses with a lot of first-party data about their customers’ actions and plans will benefit from the reforms, limiting the data that can be used to make targeted ads.

When it came to money generated by search ads, Andrew Lipsman from the advertising research organization Insider Intelligence stated that Uber was in third place after DoorDash and Instacart. He went on to say that adding more advertising to the journey could end up being counterproductive.

SA Uber Launches Audio Recording Feature for Safety

It is unwise to display advertisements on tablets in the passenger area. Autoplaying video ads are something that almost all customers hate, and it’s one of the main reasons why people switched from taxis to Uber in the first place.

The car-top advertising scheme that Uber began offering in 2019 in a few select cities pays drivers “rent” depending on the total amount of time they spend driving with the advertisements displayed on top of their vehicles. Uber did not tell drivers more about how much they might get paid if they let ads be shown in their cars.

In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Uber’s head of mobility, Andrew Macdonald, said that advertising could be used to lower the cost of rides without cutting into drivers’ profits.

“If drivers earn more dollars because they’re also monetizing their assets—their cars—then we can keep rider prices lower,” said Macdonald. “If drivers earn more dollars because they’re also monetizing their assets, then their cars.” “This is one of the few things that we can do that will allow drivers to earn more per hour without requiring us to charge customers even a single additional dime.”

Staff Writer

November 2, 2022
Uber Commences Electric Car Services

World-known ride-hailing and freight transportation service company Uber Technologies has announced its venture into electric vehicles in preparation against the growing concerns for Co2 emissions around the world. Uber electric vehicles started offering services in selected areas of India’s Delhi – NCR region. The company also announced its intentions to further expand the electric vehicle services to more areas in the coming months.

This move is in compliance with the Indian government’s directive, which instructs ride-hailing companies to electrify a significant number of their caravans over the next few years. This directive came in 2019, when the Indian government made it mandatory for Uber and its competitor, Ola, to convert 5% of their caravans to electric by 2022 and make it 40% by April 2026.

Uber has been globally accepted, especially in Africa, and the business prosperity has been remarkable. Before the end of 2022 first quarter, Uber recorded over one billion trips in Africa. Uber made its debut arrival in Africa, with South Africa as its first market in 2013. Currently, Uber is present in Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Ivory Coast.

The electric vehicles are currently only available for pre-scheduled trips. Customers can access this service through the Reserve feature on the app, allowing them to choose a pick-up time for the ride up to 30 days in advance. Customers are also allowed to cancel their scheduled trips 60 minutes before their trip for no charge, according to the description on the app.

Read also: Ford’s Promise of Electric Vehicles

Essence Of Uber Electric Vehicles

Uber electric vehicles are called Uber Green. There is a $1 surcharge for passengers; half goes to drivers, and half goes to Uber’s green initiatives. Drivers on Uber Green help cities move more people with rides in electric cars, including hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and 100% battery electric vehicles.

Besides the environmental benefits, Uber points out that drivers with an EV can earn more per hour as a result of higher fares, gas savings and an extra $1-per-trip incentive for each trip they complete (up to $4K annually).

Any eco-friendly, low-emission vehicle that runs on hybrid or 100% electric technology is eligible for Uber Green. Cars currently used for Uber Green are Toyota Prius, Honda Accord Hybrid, all Tesla models, Toyota Camry and Rav4 Hybrid, and Hyundai IONIQ electric.

According to research, Uber Green is not more expensive. On average, it costs the same price as UberX, which is a normal fuel car. However, UberX can connect you with any car, so if your goal is choosing low-emission rides, then that is not a suitable option.

In a released statement, an Uber spokesperson said, “As the leading mobility app in India, we are committed to supporting the Indian government’s emission goals. Expect to see more electric vehicles, be they two, three or four-wheeled, across Indian cities in the coming months.”

The company did not share how many EV cabs were operational on its platform in India, but declared that it is working with multiple car manufacturers, OEMs and charging infra providers to build the EV business in a sustainable manner gradually. The average cost of charging an EV at a commercial charger, from almost empty to almost full, is between $10 and $30.

Uber is also on a journey to a zero-car emissions future in London by 2025. With new and increasing regulations and driving costs for petrol and diesel vehicles, the company is committed to helping drivers make the switch to electric vehicles.

Nigeria Will Begin Manufacturing Electric Cars In 2023

Electric Vehicles In India

Currently, there are 12 electric cars on sale in India. Of these, the Tata Tiago EV is the cheapest EV, while the Mercedes-Benz EQS is India’s most expensive electric car.

Electric cars are a step ahead of petrol cars when it comes to fuel efficiency. Given that electricity costs less than petrol, the running cost of an EV is low. The fuel economy of a petrol car depends on the engine capacity and several other factors.

The running cost of an electric vehicle is much lower than an equivalent petrol or diesel vehicle. Electric vehicles use electricity to charge their batteries instead of using fossil fuels like petrol or diesel.

Currently, residents in India can rent a 2021 or 2022 Tesla from Hertz to drive; Teslas qualify for the Zero Emissions incentive.

Most manufacturers have a five to eight-year warranty on their batteries. However, the current prediction is that an electric car battery will last from 10 to 20 years before they need to be replaced.

Staff Writer

October 27, 2022
Uber and Bolt Drivers Stage Protests in Kenya

A go-slow protest has been organized by Uber and Bolt drivers in Kenya to put pressure on both ride-hailing companies to reduce the commission that is paid on the drivers’ fees. In comparison, Bolt’s commission rate is 20%, while Uber’s is 25% for each ride.

Taxi drivers have long complained about their inadequate pay and wanted a cut in commission, which has led to these demonstrations, which are not new. The Kenya Digital Taxi Association was founded by taxi drivers who work for ride-hailing platforms to address the recurring challenges they have concerning their income and welfare while the companies employ them.

They have taken part in industrial action on multiple occasions in the past, with some of them alleging that they are fed up with being treated like “Uber slaves.” As was the case during earlier demonstrations, some drivers have refused to accept trip requests made via the apps, particularly in locations such as Eastlands, Kasarani, the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD), Waiyaki Way, and the region around Kilimani. Some drivers may accept rides but will finish the trips without using the app, which is referred to as “driving offline.”

Read also: Uber Announces Fare Hike in Lagos

The strike was a result of the increased commission rates from Uber and Bolt

The demonstrators are demanding that Uber and Bolt cut their commission rates, which have not changed despite increased operating costs on the part of the drivers. As an example, the protesters are highlighting the rising cost of fuel. The chairman of the Organization of Online Taxi Drivers and Digital Taxi Association of Kenya, Zachariah Mwangi, stated that “We are still operating at the same price when fuel prices were at Ksh97 ($0.80).” The cost of a gallon of gasoline in Nairobi is now Ksh179.3, or $1.49, while a gallon of diesel now costs Ksh165.82, or $1.37. Both of these prices are much higher than they were a year ago.

Since 2016, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has been developing legislation to satisfy their apparent requirements. On June 20th, the NTSA released regulations that set a national cap for the commission paid by drivers to digital taxi companies of 18% per trip. These restrictions were effective immediately. There are already local ride-hailing services that charge fees in this range, with Safaricom’s Little’s being the highest at 15%. Others, such as Bolt and Uber, were obliged to comply with the rules and cut their commissions by September 22—three months after the warning was issued. They have not done so.

Around fourteen days before the event, Uber filed a legal lawsuit challenging the new regulations. The petition was based on the argument that Kenya is a free market and ride-hailing businesses have the freedom to negotiate business partnerships without interference from outside parties. Uber asserted several things, one of which was that the introduction of 18% as the cap on the maximum commission has the potential to stifle innovation and lessen the viability of its market investment. Uber also said that putting an 18% cap on the maximum commission could make it harder for the company to invest in the market.

SA Uber Launches Audio Recording Feature for Safety

Uber responded, while Bolt hasn’t

Uber Kenya has stated that it is aware of some drivers’ go-slow and will continue to engage them on their issues. Bolt, on the other hand, has not yet given a public response to the continuous demonstrations that have been taking place. It has also stated that it is aware of a small group of drivers for online ride-hailing services who want to go offline and stop using the app to complete rides. “We respect drivers as valuable partners who have a voice and a choice, and we want drivers to feel as though they can talk to us about anything at any time,” “We respect drivers as valuable partners who have a voice and a choice.”

Uber recently withdrew its business activities from Tanzania, another East African nation, for the same set of concerns that it claimed in its petition against the new regulations in Kenya.

Before the Land Transport Regulatory Authority (LATRA) ordered all ride-hailing firms in Tanzania to drop their service price from a commission of 25% to 15%, the ride-hailing platform had been operating in Tanzania for a total of six years throughout that period. Bolt Tanzania also didn’t like the changes that LASTRA wanted, but when the organization wouldn’t back down, Bolt Tanzania stopped doing business in the country for everyone but corporate clients.

Staff Writer

October 17, 2022
Uber Announces Fare Hike in Lagos

Uber, a ride-hailing company, announced to drivers on Monday, October 3, 2022, that it was raising the prices for the UberX and UberX Share in Lagos.

According to the email, the price adjustment is due to “changing economic conditions, increasing fuel cost” and it takes effect today, October 3, 2022.

The base fare will rise from 340 ($0.78) to 450 ($1.04) as a result of the adjustments. Additionally, the minimum cost will rise from 600 naira ($1.38) to 650 naira ($1.50), and the per-minute fare will rise from 14 naira ($0.03) to 16 naira ($0.03).

The Central Bank of Nigeria reports that between December 2015 and December 2021, the cost of petrol in Nigeria climbed by 90.54 percent. The PUNCH stated in June 2022 that the price of petrol will now range from 170 naira ($0.39) to 190 naira ($0.43). Nevertheless, depending on their location, customers can still get petrol for less money.

Read: SA Uber Launches Audio Recording Feature for Safety

Reason Behind the Increase

Users may be surprised by Uber’s move to raise its prices, but it is consistent with what it does in other nations where it operates. According to Bloomberg, Uber raised its prices by 5% in London in August 2022 and intended to do the same across the United Kingdom.

Because so many drivers had left the company during the epidemic, the corporation needed to raise prices to entice new drivers.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, fewer individuals were on the move. The need for drivers at food delivery startups increased as a result of the increase in online food orders.

Driving less for more or comparable compensation was a no-brainer for many drivers, which is why they left. Uber’s food delivery revenue climbed by 179% within the same time period, despite a 43% decline in ride-hailing revenue between 2019 and 2020.

Uber is not the first company in the ride-hailing industry to raise its prices. According to a study by Rakuten Intelligence, the price of a journey on ride-hailing apps rose 98% between 2018 and 2021, in part due to a lack of drivers.

While the lack of drivers helps to explain Uber’s choice, it is not the only factor. Uber subsidized user fares as part of its expansion strategy, much like numerous other VC-funded firms.

However, the business has started aiming toward profitability recently. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi stated, “We have to make sure our unit economics work before we go huge,” in communication to workers in May 2022. Fares have increased as a result of that.

South African Uber and Bolt Drivers Have Started a Two-day Strike in Cape Town

The ride-hailing drivers are protesting in the South African province of the Western Cape in favor of lower commission costs, greater pay rates, and a quicker approval procedure for ride-hailing businesses.

Additionally, drivers demand a halt to the backlog in vehicle impoundments, which are now occurring.

Recall that in March 2022, Uber and Bolt, among other South African ride-hailing services, went on a three-day strike to protest record-high gas costs and to compel the government to establish rules protecting their rights.

And now, this strike, which began on August 17, 2022, is expected to extend until August 18, 2022, on Thursday.

Drivers want Uber to lower its commission from 25% to 10% and hike the rate per kilometer to R10 ($0.60), according to Siyabonga Hlabisa, Chair of the Uber Union.

The protesting drivers delivered a list of demands to Bolt’s Cape Town offices on August 17 and gave the businesses 14 days to react.

In order to cover increased gasoline expenses, Uber has already increased its prices three times this year. The cost of Bolt has increased by 20%.

In addition, many South African ride-hailing drivers complain that they are treated like underpaid employees with no space for negotiation due to high gas expenses and low trip rates.

Uber Empowers Kenyan Drivers With New Features

Hlabisa claims that the drivers want Uber to cease deactivating them because they are worried about their safety.

In order to negotiate prospective price adjustments, representatives from Uber and Bolt met with drivers in the South African province of Gauteng on Tuesday, August 16, 2022.

While the corporations claim to be aware of their condition, the striking drivers have given both platforms 14 days to comply with their demands.

Mpho Sebelebele, Head of communications for Uber in South Africa, said: “We recognise the pressures drivers are under, including the increasing cost of living.”

He continued by saying that it’s crucial to realize that fare changes are a regular feature of any business and depend on a number of variables, including seasonality and the macroeconomic environment.

“Recently, we have seen driver earnings begin to recover in South Africa and we are constantly looking for ways of helping drivers increase their earnings on the platform while providing riders with more cost-effective options of moving around.”

Takura Malaba, Bolt’s country manager in South Africa reaffirmed the company’s interactions with the drivers. He promised to forward their grievances to the appropriate quarters.

“Bolt respects every driver’s right to protest, and we appeal to drivers to do so legally, peacefully, and without impacting the rights of other drivers who choose to continue to operate and earn an income,” Malaba said.

This hike in road trips by Uber could come with disastrous effect for the transport company. Customers may reduce, opting to take the traditional mode of transportation. This may also lead to other competitors taking advantage of this opportunity to reduce their fare. We can only wait to see how things turn out.

Felicia Akindurodoye
Felicia Akindurodoye is an experienced writer and researcher, whose watchword is originality.

October 10, 2022
18-year-old hacks and steals sensitive information from Uber

On Thursday, Uber employees learned that a hacker had gained access to extensive portions of the company’s internal network and boasted about it on the official Slack channel. According to the news source that broke the story, the intruder showed The New York Times and security researchers screenshots of the breach and was unusually open about how it happened and how far it went.

Findings show that the intruder most likely used WhatsApp to contact an Uber employee to get first access.

The hacker gained access to the user’s account by stealing the password and convincing the user to approve a push notification for multi-factor authentication. Finally, the invader found administrator credentials that granted access to some of Uber’s most prized network assets. Uber shut down parts of its internal network while it looked into how big the problem was.

Read also: Lapsus$ Group Attacks Microsoft and Okta in Cyber Hack

What information the hacker accessed or what else the hacker did is still unclear. Uber kept a lot of information that could have been accessed, like people’s private addresses and where they were every hour.

Who is responsible for the Uber hack?

The hacker socially engineered the Uber employee after discovering the employee’s WhatsApp number; the hacker messaged the employee directly and told them to go to a phoney Uber site, which then captured their credentials in real-time and used them to access the accurate Uber site.

Multi-factor authentication, or MFA, was in place at Uber as a mobile app requiring users to enter a code displayed on their smartphone before gaining access. The hacker repeatedly typed the credentials into the simple site to get around this security. The worker, who appeared to be dazed or exhausted, pressed the button. The attacker was successfully warded off after that.

After digging around, the attacker found several Powershell scripts an administrator had saved that would automatically log them into various secure network compartments. The required login information was already included in the scripts.

To brag about his victory, the assailant allegedly sent texts to all of Uber’s employees through the company’s Slack channels.

One message reportedly claimed, “I announce I am a hacker, and Uber has suffered a data breach.” Screenshots showed that the person had access to Uber’s Amazon Web Services and G Suite accounts and its code repositories.

It is yet unknown what other information the hacker gained access to or if any of it was copied or leaked. As of Friday, Uber’s disclosure website now reads, “We have no evidence that the incident involved access to sensitive user data (like trip history).”

The outcome of the hack

Not much. The individual, who claims to be 18, posted to Uber driver support forums on Slack to express dissatisfaction with pay. Because of this, and because the invader made no effort to hide the breach, it’s safe to assume that the motivation behind the attack was not financial gain via ransomware, extortion, or espionage. Until now, nobody knew who this person was.

The business has admitted to the security breach and is now looking into it.

Was it possible that a teenager, only 18 years old, gained access to the most secret information of a multinational corporation? How is that even possible?

Read also: Cybercrime in Nigeria: Increasingly Sophisticated Crimes Part 2

While it’s too early to tell, this situation seems possible, if not likely. Still, phishing is a highly successful method of network penetration. Why use a zero-day exploit when there are more straightforward and cheaper ways to get in?

Furthermore, phishing assaults have become more sophisticated in recent months. The recent hack of Twilio is just one example of a widespread attack that has affected various businesses. The attackers used Telegram; the phishing page sent the user’s credentials to the attackers, who then used them to access the legitimate website. The attackers matched the user’s entry of a one-time password provided by an authenticator software. Even if an employee used a security tool like Duo to keep unauthorised users out of their account, the hackers would still be able to access it as soon as the employee consent.

If a user’s password is stolen in a database hack, this multi-factor authentication system will keep them safe. However, it has been shown that they are entirely ineffective against phishing attempts. Phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication (MFA) is now only available in FIDO2-compliant forms. There is no better MFA programme than this one.

Read More: Get latest update on Africa Tech News

The widespread misconception that people in modern societies are too savvy to fall for phishing campaigns continues to plague many institutions and communities. They find authenticator apps more practical than FIDO2 multi-factor authentication methods, which include carrying a phone or a physical key. Until that way of thinking changes, breaches of this kind will always be a part of life.

On Friday, Uber’s stock price fell by over 4% because of a widespread sell-off that pushed down the prices of shares in many other companies. Indicators on the Dow Jones Industrial Average were down 1%. The S& P 500 fell 1.2 per cent, and the Nasdaq Composite fell 1.6 per cent, respectively. Why Uber’s stock is down and what role the breach has had in that decline remains unclear.

Staff Writer

September 23, 2022
SA Uber Launches Audio Recording Feature for Safety

Uber, the ride-hailing platform, has launched a new audio recording feature in South Africa that will give riders and drivers access to record how their trip is faring, which is a useful tool in an emergency. And this functionality will be made available in Johannesburg and Pretoria in South Africa by September 8, 2022.

At a press event on Tuesday, Kagiso Khaole, Uber’s sub-Saharan General Manager, said that this new audio-recording feature would bring a new revolution in the quality of evidence collected when the passengers and drivers record safety cases.

“When a rider or driver logs a safety incident along with a recording, they give Uber permission to look at the file as part of an investigation.”

“We believe this feature will improve the conduct of users of the Uber app, as drivers and riders will hold each other accountable every step of the way,” he added.

Read also: Fintech for African Mobility, Moove and Uber UK join forces in London

Uber Audio Safety Function

This new feature came about because drivers asked for it at a roundtable meeting that the company held. To activate this feature, users must press the app’s shield icon and select “record audio.”

As Khaole explained, “The audio file is encrypted and stored on the respective rider and driver’s devices, but no one can listen to the audio — not even Uber. The audio can only be accessed and listened to if the rider or driver decides to submit a safety report.”

He also said that the company is always looking for ways to improve the app’s safety features. He pointed out that every trip is tracked.

“The RideCheck feature can detect unusual routes, and loved ones of users can follow their route in real-time, and they can get private emergency help through the app at the push of a button,” Khaole concluded.

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More from Uber

This new opt-in audio recording option has proved successful in parts of the United States and Latin America, where Uber has a presence. The feature is now being trialled in Pretoria and Johannesburg. Because of a deal between the companies and Sety, Uber customers and drivers in Nigeria can get security and medical help when needed. A journey. This partnership will also give users access to the private security response unit closest to them geographically through a connected device.

Riders are encouraged to complete their safety profiles by activating and making use of the services that are accessible to them, such as Trusted Contacts, PIN verification, and Thisa This feature is available in all Sub-Saharan African countries where Uber is available.

Kagiso added that the company is excited to expand into eight more cities throughout Kenya, Nigeria, and Ghana during the month of September.

Okunloye Abiodun Segun
A vibrant writer saddled with the chore of Informing the world with words.

September 16, 2022
Fintech for African Mobility, Moove and Uber UK join forces in London

As part of its global expansion, Moove, the first mobility fintech in the world and Uber’s largest car supply partner in EMEA, has announced that it will launch in London.

Moove is a company that started in Africa and has a growing number of mobility entrepreneurs as customers all over the world. It has just made its debut in Europe with a 100% EV rent-to-buy model that lets people use brand-new, zero-emission vehicles for a fixed weekly cost. With plans to grow up to 10,000 vehicles by the end of 2025, Moove wants to be the largest electric vehicle (EV) partner on Uber’s platform in London, creating long-term income opportunities and helping the city meet its net zero carbon emissions goals.

With more EVs on the platform than any other Uber city, London leads the world in electrification initiatives. The introduction of Moove in London will help Uber move closer to its objective of having an all-electric platform in the city by 2025. Customers of Moove can seek to lower the cost of their vehicle through Uber’s £145 million Clean Air Plan.

Vehicle financing is being used to transform gig economies for mobility

In order to democratize access to automobile ownership, Ladi Delano and Jide Odunsi, Nigerian entrepreneurs of British descent, founded Moove, which went live in Lagos, Nigeria, in 2020. Moove is leading the charge in the “mobility fintech sector,” a white space it created and which is addressing the issue of limited access to vehicle financing for millions of gig workers across the ride-hailing, logistics, and instant delivery sectors, of which there are approximately 4.5 million in the UK alone. Moove has now scaled to nine markets across sub-Saharan Africa and India.

Read Also: Moove Secures $105 Million To Expand Its Auto Lending Offerings

With Moove’s alternative credit scoring system, customers who might not have been able to get financial services before can now finance a car. Moove has enabled sustainable employment creation and a road to asset ownership, with its customers having made over 7 million journeys in Moove-financed automobiles over the previous two years.

Following its recent launch in India, the company is now bringing its impact-led model to the UK as part of its global mission to close the finance gap for gig workers who work on the move. This is its first expansion into Europe.

The goal of Moove’s new way of financing cars in London is to give its customers quick access to brand-new, zero-emission vehicles without credit checks, upfront fees, or deposits. As part of Moove’s plan to improve safety through ongoing training and vehicle maintenance, the company offers value-added services like regular maintenance, an MOT, and car insurance. The weekly price for Moove customers includes health insurance and gives them access to a customer success team. This is something that no other business that is part of Uber’s Clean Air Plan can do.

Also, Moove users who drive for Uber can lower their weekly payments by using the money they earn through Uber’s Clean Air Plan to help pay for the cost of switching to an EV. Over £145 million has been raised for Uber’s Clean Air Plan of about £3,000 per driver. Moove says that the 10,000 electric cars it plans to fund in London by 2025 will help cut carbon dioxide emissions by about 63,000 megatonnes per year.

“We are happy to have created a business in Africa to now be able to scale our model here in Europe, which is something that no other African fintech company has done before,” said Ladi Delano, co-founder, and co-CEO of Moove. We are proud to launch our first 100% EV fleet, representing a significant first for us. We are overjoyed to extend our collaboration with Uber to advance our goals of electrifying transportation.

“Our goal at Uber is to become a 100% electric platform in London by 2025, and we recognize that drivers need access to financing if they want to switch to an electric vehicle,” said Andrew Brem, general manager of Uber UK. With Moove’s strategy, more Uber drivers can make the conversion to all-electric vehicles more quickly, saving money on fuel and contributing to cleaner air in London. Our collaboration with Moove will benefit drivers and riders when demand from riders is higher than ever.

Uber Green, Uber’s service for electric vehicles only, is now available in all of London. This means that millions of users in the city can reserve an EV on-demand for the same price as an UberX. EV drivers make 15% more money on Uber Green trips and save money on costs and fees compared to drivers of gasoline and hybrid vehicles.

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Promoting the electrification of transportation

Moove solves many of people’s problems when switching from a gas- or diesel-powered car to an electric one. Aside from price, worries about charging infrastructure and the inability to get to charge points are among the biggest reasons people don’t buy EVs.

Moove has released Moove ChargeTM, the first end-to-end charge experience and full EV charging network app specifically for ride-hailing drivers, to streamline the charging process. With over 6,600 slow, fast, and quick charge points, one of London’s largest roaming networks may be searched for, managed, and paid for by Moove consumers.

The app, which comes with an RFID electric car charging card, is an all-in-one solution that brings together charge points from 15 charge-point network partners. This saves users about 12% of the average yearly cost of charging an electric vehicle.

Other features include a dynamic spending cap tool that helps Moove customers better manage their budgets and cash flow and the ability to search for charge points based on how well they work with their vehicle, how fast they charge, and how well they work with their vehicle, how fast they charge, and many are available.

Overall, this leads to more electric vehicles being on the road and shorter wait times for Uber’s expanding customer base, improving the experience for both drivers and customers.

Daisi Victory

September 11, 2022