Peoples Co Integrates AcreTrader, ExtraHop $100M, 1M Halara Customers Leaked
The API Changelog issue 2024.03
This is issue 2024.03 of the API Changelog, a mix of API news, commentary, and opinion. In this issue, you'll get to know the most relevant API-related information from the week of January 8, 2024. Subscribe now, so you never miss an issue of the API Changelog.
During the last quarter of 2023, we published 11 newsletter editions with a curated list of announcements, news, and articles ranging from AI to security. With a total of 235 articles hand-curated from over 400 items. We write to people like yourself, who find value in API-related news and opinion.
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Announcements
AcreTrader's platform has been integrated with Peoples Co. to provide enhanced geospatial land analysis for the agricultural real estate market. The integration aims to improve Peoples Company's services by providing accurate property data and insights for better customer service.
Fixably announces a partnership with Quipt to enhance their software with trade automation for efficient device recommerce and profit optimization. Quipt's open API will be integrated into Fixably's system, promising growth opportunities in the U.S. market with its extensive marketplace network. See additional coverage on NewsWire.
Ericsson's partnership expansion with MTN focuses on cloud-based public deployments and enhancing Open API services to boost fintech innovation in Africa.
Parasoft, a leader in API functional automated testing is recognized for excellence in the GigaOm Radar Report for its AI-powered software testing platform. With advanced features like mock testing and AI/ML capabilities, Parasoft's solutions facilitate secure, reliable software delivery across various industries. See additional coverage on Yahoo!finance.
GroupM partners with Google to incorporate behavioral data from Google's Audience Insights API into its Choreograph platform, enhancing marketing insights. This collaboration enables unique audience profiling and data-driven media planning strategies for GroupM clients.
Hourly.io implemented Origami Risk's solution API to automate workers' comp policy rating. The new system offers instant insurance quotes.
ANA has integrated IATA's DG AutoCheck Connect API, enhancing safety and efficiency in the air cargo industry by digitizing dangerous goods handling. The system automates data validation, reducing manual checks and errors, with implementation begun at key Japanese airports. See additional coverage on Capa.
Funding
Grip Invest raised $10 million, led by Stride Ventures, for API enhancements and customer education. New investors joined in supporting the alternative investment platform's growth. See additional coverage on Inc42.
Prometeo, a Uruguayan startup promoting open banking, secured $13 million to expand its single API solution across Latin America. Despite low adoption in mature markets, investors like PayPal Ventures and Samsung Next back Prometeo to tap into a region ripe for financial innovation. See additional coverage on IBSintelligence, LatamList, Newsroom, and The Paypers.
OneAdvisory, now rebranded as Dispatch, secured $8 million in seed funding to bolster engineering and client services for RIAs. The firm aims to simplify data integration across tech platforms, enhancing client-advisor interactions and operational efficiency. See additional coverage on Refresh Miami.
ExtraHop secured $100 million in growth funds and strengthened its team, eyeing expansion in the growing network detection and response market. The company doubled its ARR to $200 million in 2023, attributed to its innovative tech, partnerships, and new client acquisition. See additional coverage on SecurityBrief.
AI
Generative AI by iStock launches, offering AI-generated images with commercial rights, built on NVIDIA Picasso's custom models. Advanced inpainting and outpainting API features are set to enhance image customization and will be available on iStock soon.
Groq's LPU Inference Engine speeds up generative AI applications, like producing text at 300 tokens per second, with early API access now available for select large language models. The Groq-AI partnership boosts real-time AI interactions for consumers, with general API availability set for Q2 2024, showcasing this at a special event.
Autobound introduced a public API that lets companies build insight-driven AI writers quickly, using rich web data. The API, which creates personalized sales emails and various content types rapidly, is already employed by tech firms and operates on a credit-based pricing model. See additional coverage on AIThority.
Fintech
Breez introduces FiatLink, an API to ease Bitcoin-fiat exchanges in Lightning wallets with support for multiple brokers and payment options. FiatLink simplifies integration, enabling transactions up to 1000 CHF without extra KYC, and includes LNURL-Withdraw for user-friendly withdrawals.
Australian fintech Tyro Payments is enhancing its offerings by adopting Pismo's cloud-native payment platform. The partnership aims for market expansion and innovation in cash flow management for small businesses.
PortX has partnered with Plaid to integrate core banking with advanced data connectivity, aiming to revolutionize financial data management. This collaboration will enable financial institutions to offer more personalized services, aligned with the increasing demand for digital financial technology.
Legal & General Home Finance has launched an API with Iress, improving advisers' ability to manage lifetime mortgage applications. This partnership aims to streamline client services and enhance the efficiency of later-life lending solutions.
Yellow Card has joined forces with Coinbase to enhance digital asset access in Africa, leveraging the new Yellow Card Widget for easy transactions. The partnership aims to offer secure, affordable payment methods and improve customer experience across 20 African countries.
Wealthica has launched a comprehensive financial API connecting over 150 Canadian institutions, fostering innovation and enhancing financial services. The API offers daily updates, secure integration, and customizable solutions for effective wealth management and account transfers.
TrueLayer joins SPAA, aiming to drive open banking innovation beyond EU's PSD2 compliance. The scheme promotes advanced API use and potential revenue for banks, enhancing the EU's global payments leadership.
Security
A large telecom company's API breach impacted over 37 million customers, revealing personal data like addresses and birthdays. Experts stress the urgency of securing APIs and rotating keys to prevent further exploitation by sophisticated cybercriminals.
Cloudflare's report highlights a surge in API traffic, revealing that organizations often lack accurate visibility into their API inventory and security. The study underscores API breaches due to excessive permissions and emphasizes the importance of a formal API security program, bolstered by upcoming PCI DSS regulations.
Ron Masas from Imperva highlights the risks of prioritizing development speed over security, leading to vulnerabilities like weak API validation and authorization. He suggests embedding "security champions" in teams, robust logging, and better developer-security team communication to mitigate risks.
Hackers leaked details of nearly a million Halara customers, with BleepingComputer verifying the data's accuracy and confirming customer status. Sanggiero, the hacker, claimed data was stolen through a Halara website API vulnerability and released it for free without contacting the company.