LendingTree

Hacker Pleads Guilty in Snowflake Customer Data Theft

Connor Moucka, a 26-year-old Canadian, pleaded guilty to hacking more than 165 Snowflake customers, stealing billions of records and extorting affected companies and individuals, the U.S. Department of Justice said. Prosecutors say Moucka and co-conspirators received over $2.5 million in ransom payments and about $500,000 from selling stolen data on hacking forums; victims suffered approximately $9.5 million in losses. Targets included major customers such as AT&T, LendingTree and Ticketmaster, with more than 100 million AT&T customers’ call and text records reportedly accessed. Moucka was arrested in Canada in late 2024, faces decades in prison and is scheduled for sentencing on October 27, 2026.

Smartphone makers push leasing and subscription ownership

As premium smartphones become more expensive and replacement cycles lengthen, manufacturers including Apple and Samsung are expanding leasing, subscription and guaranteed buyback programs to make upgrades more attractive and to secure a steady stream of trade-in devices for refurbishment. Apple launched an Upgrade leasing program in the U.S. with Klarna, while Samsung runs Galaxy Forever in India. Analysts and market firms (Counterpoint Research, IDC) report longer replacement cycles and higher average device lifetimes, which is driving experimentation with alternative ownership and financing models. Startups such as BytePe, Raylo, Grover and Cashify are also building subscription and refurbishment businesses around this trend. Industry voices note these programs support secondary markets and customer retention, but whether leasing is financially better depends on individual upgrade frequency and device resale values.

Guitar Center's Turnaround Targets Serious Musicians

Guitar Center reports progress in a multi-year turnaround under CEO Gabe Dalporto, marking its ninth consecutive quarter of positive growth. The retailer said quarterly sales climbed 5.2% to $635 million, time spent in its roughly 300 stores rose 16% year-over-year, and store traffic increased for the first time in over a decade. The company is refocusing merchandising toward more advanced instruments, unlocking and remerchandising product displays, hosting in-store events and competitions, and developing a private-label guitar with community input via a subreddit. Guitar Center is also investing in AI tools for customer recommendations, employee practice simulations, and lesson scheduling. Financial moves include a sale-leaseback of headquarters raising $19.3 million and a debt repayment extension to 2029; the company remains in the process of reducing outstanding debt.