Uber’s Explore Tab; Waymo Can Start Charging Fares; Wiper Malware in Ukraine-Microsoft Counterattacks; Zoom Looks to Bigger Customers

Uber has unveiled a feature to help users find new things in the areas around them. With a new Explore tab, engadget.com reports that you can make dinner reservations, check out concert listings, and learn about cultural highlights. You will also be able to check Yelp reviews, photos, and directions to a variety of experiences. Recommendations will be based on your Uber and Uber Eats history. Uber won’t charge a booking fee for reservations, but may add a service or booking fee for some of the experiences. The feature goes live today in 15 areas: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Memphis, Minneapolis – St. Paul, New Orleans, New Jersey, Upstate New York, Orlando, San Antonio, San Francisco, Seattle and Mexico City.

Google (Alphabet’s) Waymo has gotten the ok to begin charging fares and to operate 24.7 in both San Francisco and San Mateo. According to 9to5google.com, the CPUC issued a ‘Drivered Deployment’ permit to Waymo, which allows charging fares and shared rides between different groups of passengers. They will be able to operate only in “designated parts of San Francisco and San Mateo counties at any time of day or night at speeds of up to 65 miles per hour.” You can sign up for rides using both iOS and Android.

It wasn’t just Russian armor and troops that invaded Ukraine…malware attacks also struck. The New York Times reports that some particularly destructive malware posed as ransomware, but was actually a never before seen piece of ‘wiper’ malware, that was intended to wipe the Ukrainian government ministry computers and those of financial institutions. Three hours after the first strike, Microsoft jumped in, and began taking the malware…code named ‘Foxblade’…apart. By the end of 3 hours, Microsoft updated their virus detection systems to block the malicious code. the White House asked MS to share the details of the code, to prevent its use in the Baltics, Poland, and other nations, disrupting governments, banks, and alliances like NATO. 

Zoom revealed better than predicted financials for the 4th quarter, but warned of a weak outlook for 2023. Zdnet.com reports that Zoom is going to focus more on enterprise customers. That segment grew for them by 35% year over year. This is good, as the rest of their business is much slowed from during the height of the pandemic, when huge numbers of employees were Zooming in to work from home. For Q1 2023, Zoom projects a bit over a billion in revenue.