Flink vs Perion

Cyberattack on Flink: Hackers Demand Ransom Directly from Customers

After a cyberattack on the German rapid delivery service Flink, hackers have stolen personal data of about one million customers and 13,000 employees. Because Flink refused to negotiate or pay a ransom, the attackers are now directly contacting individual customers via email, demanding 0.005 Ether (about €11.50) to prevent data sale. This 'triple extortion' tactic is unusual in German-speaking regions. The stolen data includes names, email addresses, postal addresses, and phone numbers, potentially also delivery-related details. Flink has stopped the breach, which occurred through a former employee's compromised account, and is cooperating with forensic experts and authorities. Legal experts note that customers may claim damages under GDPR, especially after a recent German Federal Court ruling that loss of control over personal data alone constitutes compensable damage.

• Hackers stole personal data of about 1 million customers and 13,000 employees from Flink.
• Flink refused to pay ransom, leading attackers to demand 0.005 Ether (approx. €11.50) directly from customers.
• The breach occurred via a former employee's compromised internal account.

Uber Eats, Wolt, Flink, Lieferando dominate German quick commerce

A YouGov study reveals that 37% of German consumers use quick commerce services for groceries and daily goods, with usage highest among younger demographics. Flink's brand awareness has doubled since 2021 to 36.5%, surpassing Wolt (33.7%) but trailing Uber Eats (50.4%). In terms of purchase consideration, Lieferando leads at around 20%, followed by Uber Eats (6.9%) and Flink (6.5%), while Wolt trails at 3%. The study highlights the growing importance of quick commerce as a regular part of digital shopping in Germany.

• 37% of German consumers use quick commerce services at least occasionally.
• Flink's brand awareness doubled from 18.1% in 2021 to 36.5% in 2026.
• Uber Eats has highest awareness at 50.4%, followed by Flink (36.5%) and Wolt (33.7%).

Flink Data Breach: Delivery Service Warns of Phishing and Extortion

German quick-commerce delivery service Flink has alerted customers to a data breach after an unauthorized person accessed one of its internal systems using compromised credentials. The incident was detected on Friday, and the affected access was promptly deactivated. An investigation with external IT forensics and cybersecurity experts is underway. Potentially exposed data includes names, email addresses, postal addresses, phone numbers, and, possibly, delivery-related information such as floor, entrance, and special delivery instructions. The company states that passwords and payment information are not affected. Flink warns customers about potential phishing and extortion attempts following the breach and advises them not to make any payments, as the company will never request money or cryptocurrency. Authorities have been notified, and criminal charges have been filed.

• Flink disclosed a data breach involving unauthorized access to an internal system via compromised credentials.
• Potentially exposed data includes names, email addresses, postal addresses, phone numbers, and possible delivery details.
• Passwords and payment information are stated as not affected.

6-K Financial Filing Analysis for Perion (2026-08-26)

On August 26, 2026, Perion Network Ltd. announced via Form 6-K the acquisition of PRN, a prominent in-store retail media company. PRN maintains exclusive multi-year partnerships across major North American retail networks, significantly expanding Perion's digital out-of-home (DOOH) and retail media footprint. This strategic acquisition enhances Perion's omnichannel advertising capabilities, enabling advertisers and brands to reach high-intent consumers directly at the point of sale.

• Perion Network Ltd. announced the acquisition of PRN, a leading in-store retail media network provider.
• PRN brings exclusive multi-year retail partnerships across some of North America's largest retail chains.
• The Form 6-K report was signed and formally filed by Chief Financial Officer Elad Tzubery on August 26, 2026.

SQREEM Appoints New CEO, Touts Behavioral Model Over LLM

SQREEM, a behavioral intelligence company, appointed Stephen Yap as its new CEO. Yap, former CRO at Perion and a long-time Google executive, will lead the company's push to market its Large Behavioral Model (LBM) as a superior alternative to LLMs for predictive analytics. SQREEM's LBM uses state-space models to analyze behavioral correlations from real-time social media and open-web data, without relying on machine learning. The company claims this approach can generate audience personas and predict consumer behavior, citing examples like the correlation between green tea consumption and travel insurance purchases. SQREEM also demonstrated the model's practical use during the Cyclospora outbreak, helping a grocer client pivot its communication strategy based on audience insights.

• SQREEM appointed Stephen Yap as its new CEO on September 23, 2026.
• Stephen Yap previously served as CRO at Perion and spent nearly two decades at Google.
• SQREEM's Large Behavioral Model (LBM) uses state-space models, not machine learning or LLMs.

Perion Acquires PRN, a Leading In-Store Retail Media Company

Perion acquires PRN, adding in-store media to complete the customer journey, with exclusive multi-year partnerships across some of North America’s largest retailers, for up to $12 million.