Technology

Did Hackers Get to Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer's Email?

Douglas A. McIntyre

Published: September 30, 2016 7:05 am

Last Updated: January 13, 2020 2:58 am

It would be the final blow to Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) if in the massive breach one of the email accounts hacked belonged to CEO Marissa Mayer. The New York Post is reporting that this may have happened:

Data security experts on Thursday said the giant hack at Yahoo may have left CEO Marissa Mayer’s e-mail vulnerable, The Post has learned.

Yahoo brass and rank-and-file all use the Yahoo email service, possibly leaving everyone open to the kind of problems that Sony experienced back in 2014, sources said.

The reporters also described the size of the costs Yahoo faces because of the hack, particularly related to the Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) buyout:

Verizon is setting aside a reserve for liabilities connected to the data theft, sources said.

A senior industry source suggested that figure could be as much as $1 billion — or $2 per user account. At the same time, others have suggested a reserve closer to 25 cents per user account was more in line with the threat.

There has been speculation that Verizon will try to walk away from the deal altogether.