Reuters - Technology Report

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Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Ukraine finally battens down its leaky cyber hatches after attacks

KIEV (Reuters) - When the chief of Microsoft Ukraine switched jobs to work for President Petro Poroshenko, he found that everyone in the office used the same login password. It wasn't the only symptom of lax IT security in a country suffering crippling cyber attacks.

Seed funding slows in Silicon Valley

SAN FRANCISCO, August 1 (Reuters) - The bloom is off seed funding, the business of providing money to brand-new startups, as investors take a more measured approach to financing emerging U.S. technology companies.

Vantiv granted extension to make firm bid for Worldpay

LONDON (Reuters) - British payments firms Worldpay said on Tuesday that its U.S. suitor Vantiv has been granted a week-long extension to Aug. 8 to make a firm takeover bid or walk away for six months.

S&P 500 to exclude Snap after voting rights debate

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The S&P 500 will start excluding companies that issue multiple classes of shares, managers of the index said on Monday, a move that effectively bars Snap Inc after its decision to offer stock with no voting rights.

Charter surges as Japan's SoftBank considers bid

(Reuters) - Charter Communications Inc's shares surged to a record high on Monday after a source said Japan's SoftBank Group Corp was considering an acquisition offer, even as Charter shot down the possibility of it being the acquirer in any merger with SoftBank's U.S. wireless carrier, Sprint Corp.

Sony sets record with three-fold jump in first quarter operating profit

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Sony Corp on Tuesday reported its highest-ever first-quarter operating profit, taking the electronics giant one step toward its highest annual profit in two decades on the back of robust sales of image sensors.

Didi Chuxing announces tie-up with Uber's European rival Taxify

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Chinese ride-sharing firm Didi Chuxing said on Tuesday it would invest and collaborate with European ride-sharing firm, Taxify, in a strategic partnership.

Baidu competitor says to focus on AI as it plans U.S. IPO

HONG KONG (Reuters) - China's second-largest mobile search engine Sogou, controlled by Sohu.com [SOHU.O] and 45 percent owned by Tencent Holdings [0700.HK], said it will focus on artificial intelligence (AI) as it aims to build a next-generation search engine.

Bitcoin technology faces split, may create clone virtual currency

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bitcoin's underlying software code could be split on Tuesday to create a clone called "Bitcoin Cash," potentially providing a windfall for holders of the digital currency.

HBO says data hacked, media says 'Game of Thrones' targeted

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. cable channel HBO said on Monday that hackers had stolen upcoming programming, and Entertainment Weekly reported that the theft included a script for an unaired episode of the hit fantasy show "Game of Thrones."