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Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Zacks Industry Outlook Highlights A10 Networks and Ondas
Chicago, IL – June 11, 2025 – Today, Zacks Equity Research discusses A10 Networks ATEN and Ondas ONDS. Link: The Zacks Communication-Network Software industry players like A10 Networks and Ondas are gaining from the ongoing digitalization efforts, including a shift to cloud computing and the rapid deployment of 5G-based networks. The strong demand for network security benefits industry participants, as a secure environment is required to run cloud-based applications. Industry players are leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to develop security solutions, thereby providing better threat protection systems. However, the industry players are suffering from challenging macroeconomic conditions and persistent inflation. Small and medium businesses have deferred capital spending on infrastructure buildout due to higher interest rates and inflation, which does not bode well for industry players. The Zacks Communication-Network Software industry comprises companies that provide software solutions supporting cloud, on-premise and hybrid environments, communication technology solutions, including broadband and Voice Over Internet Protocol, digital communication services delivered as software-as-a-service and telecom solutions, supporting the proliferation and the deployment of 5G and 6G networks of the future. There are a few companies that offer solutions based on the Open Radio Access Network standard. Others offer wireless connectivity solutions for mission-critical Industrial Internet applications and services. Solutions from these companies support a variety of industries, including telecommunications, technology, industrial, government, retail, financial, gaming and education. : Rapid digitalization, driven by the disruption caused by the pandemic, has increased the demand for cloud-based applications, virtualized software and container-based software. Applications are being developed in the cloud, which is creating opportunities and, at the same time, challenges for industry participants in terms of performance and security. Rising cyberattacks, including Distributed Denial of Service attacks and attacks using malware through Transport Layer Security and Secure Sockets Layer protocols, are redefining the cyber threat landscape. Enterprises are spending more on cloud-based security solutions. Moreover, the software-defined approach is increasingly preferred over legacy hardware-centric models due to the need for agility. : The ongoing rapid transition to the cloud has increased the importance of automation tools. Enterprises are adopting automated tools to deploy and operate security and application services. This is improving performance monitoring and detection, reporting security anomalies and reducing overall costs. : Industry participants are benefiting from a continued rise in demand for data-intensive bandwidth and the need for reduced latency associated with smartphones, tablets and machine-to-machine communication. The proliferation of data centers, big data, cloud-based services, streaming media content and IoT are key catalysts. The rapid deployment of 5G networks is creating a massive growth opportunity for telecom providers who are using solutions provided by industry participants. The Zacks Communication-Network Software industry is housed within the broader Zacks Computer And Technology sector. It carries a Zacks Industry Rank #93, which places it in the top 38% of more than 250 Zacks industries. The group's Zacks Industry Rank, which is the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates bright near-term prospects. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than two to one. Given the bullish prospects, there are a handful of stocks worth watching in this prospering industry. But, before we present these stocks, it is worth looking at the industry's shareholder returns and current valuation first. The Zacks Communication-Network Software industry has outperformed the Zacks S&P 500 composite and its sector in the past year. The industry has appreciated 23% over this period compared with the Zacks Computer and Technology sector's return of 10.6% and the S&P 500's appreciation of 11.6%. On the basis of trailing 12-month EV/Sales, a commonly used multiple for valuing network software companies, we see that the industry is currently trading at 2.68X compared with the S&P 500's 5.19X and the sector's 7.08X. Over the past five years, the industry has traded as high as 2.83X and as low as 2.35X, with the median being 2.7X. A10 Networks: This Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company is a leading provider of security and infrastructure solutions for on-premises, hybrid cloud, and edge-cloud environments. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. A10 Networks is benefiting from strong demand for its solutions from AI-related data centers. ATEN's solutions offer industry-leading efficiency in terms of throughput and low latency, along with integrated security capabilities. A10 Networks' initiatives to develop solutions for Bot Protection, DDoS mitigation and technologies designed specifically for GPU-based AI infrastructure are noteworthy. ATEN's 2025 prospects are expected to be driven by strong security revenue growth. San Jose, CA-based A10 Networks' shares have declined 0.3% year to date. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ATEN's 2025 earnings has been steady at 88 cents per share in the past 30 days. Ondas: This Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company is a provider of private wireless, drone, and automated data solutions. Ondas Networks provides wireless connectivity solutions enabling mission-critical Industrial Internet applications and services. Ondas Autonomous Systems' business unit develops and integrates drone-based solutions focusing on high-performance critical applications for government and Tier-1 commercial enterprises. The company is benefiting from strong demand for its Autonomous Drone platforms. At the end of the first quarter of 2025, order backlog was $16.8 million. Based on strong demand for both Iron Drone and Optimus Ondas expects orders to grow with revenues of at least $25 million for 2025. Shares of Boston, MA-based Ondas have declined 34.4% year to date. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ondas' 2025 loss has narrowed by a penny to 39 cents per share over the past 30 days. Why Haven't You Looked at Zacks' Top Stocks? Since 2000, our top stock-picking strategies have blown away the S&P's +7.7% average gain per year. Amazingly, they soared with average gains of +48.4%, +50.2% and +56.7% per year. Today you can access their live picks without cost or obligation. See Stocks Free >> Join us on Facebook: Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates. Media Contact Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@ Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report A10 Networks, Inc. (ATEN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Ondas Holdings Inc. (ONDS) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
2 Network Software Stocks to Watch From a Prospering Industry
The Zacks Communication-Network Software industry players like A10 Networks ATEN and Ondas ONDS are gaining from the ongoing digitalization efforts, including a shift to cloud computing and the rapid deployment of 5G-based networks. The strong demand for network security benefits industry participants, as a secure environment is required to run cloud-based applications. Industry players are leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to develop security solutions, thereby providing better threat protection systems. However, the industry players are suffering from challenging macroeconomic conditions and persistent inflation. Small and medium businesses have deferred capital spending on infrastructure buildout due to higher interest rates and inflation, which does not bode well for industry players. Industry Description The Zacks Communication-Network Software industry comprises companies that provide software solutions supporting cloud, on-premise and hybrid environments, communication technology solutions, including broadband and Voice Over Internet Protocol, digital communication services delivered as software-as-a-service and telecom solutions, supporting the proliferation and the deployment of 5G and 6G networks of the future. There are a few companies that offer solutions based on the Open Radio Access Network standard. Others offer wireless connectivity solutions for mission-critical Industrial Internet applications and services. Solutions from these companies support a variety of industries, including telecommunications, technology, industrial, government, retail, financial, gaming and education. 3 Trends Shaping the Future of the Communication-Network Software Industry Increased Adoption of Cloud-based Solutions: Rapid digitalization, driven by the disruption caused by the pandemic, has increased the demand for cloud-based applications, virtualized software and container-based software. Applications are being developed in the cloud, which is creating opportunities and, at the same time, challenges for industry participants in terms of performance and security. Rising cyberattacks, including Distributed Denial of Service attacks and attacks using malware through Transport Layer Security and Secure Sockets Layer protocols, are redefining the cyber threat landscape. Enterprises are spending more on cloud-based security solutions. Moreover, the software-defined approach is increasingly preferred over legacy hardware-centric models due to the need for agility. Growing Importance of Automation Tools: The ongoing rapid transition to the cloud has increased the importance of automation tools. Enterprises are adopting automated tools to deploy and operate security and application services. This is improving performance monitoring and detection, reporting security anomalies and reducing overall costs. Rapid Evolution of 5G and 6G Networks: Industry participants are benefiting from a continued rise in demand for data-intensive bandwidth and the need for reduced latency associated with smartphones, tablets and machine-to-machine communication. The proliferation of data centers, big data, cloud-based services, streaming media content and IoT are key catalysts. The rapid deployment of 5G networks is creating a massive growth opportunity for telecom providers who are using solutions provided by industry participants. Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Bright Prospects The Zacks Communication-Network Software industry is housed within the broader Zacks Computer And Technology sector. It carries a Zacks Industry Rank #93, which places it in the top 38% of more than 250 Zacks group's Zacks Industry Rank, which is the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates bright near-term prospects. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than two to one. Given the bullish prospects, there are a handful of stocks worth watching in this prospering industry. But, before we present these stocks, it is worth looking at the industry's shareholder returns and current valuation first. Industry Outperforms Sector and S&P 500 The Zacks Communication-Network Software industry has outperformed the Zacks S&P 500 composite and its sector in the past industry has appreciated 23% over this period compared with the Zacks Computer and Technology sector's return of 10.6% and the S&P 500's appreciation of 11.6%. Industry's Current Valuation On the basis of trailing 12-month EV/Sales, a commonly used multiple for valuing network software companies, we see that the industry is currently trading at 2.68X compared with the S&P 500's 5.19X and the sector's the past five years, the industry has traded as high as 2.83X and as low as 2.35X, with the median being 2.7X, as the charts below show. 2 Stocks to Watch Right Now A10 Networks: This Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company is a leading provider of security and infrastructure solutions for on-premises, hybrid cloud, and edge-cloud environments. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. A10 Networks is benefiting from strong demand for its solutions from AI-related data centers. ATEN's solutions offer industry-leading efficiency in terms of throughput and low latency, along with integrated security capabilities. A10 Networks' initiatives to develop solutions for Bot Protection, DDoS mitigation and technologies designed specifically for GPU-based AI infrastructure are noteworthy. ATEN's 2025 prospects are expected to be driven by strong security revenue Jose, CA-based A10 Networks' shares have declined 0.3% year to date. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ATEN's 2025 earnings has been steady at 88 cents per share in the past 30 days. Ondas: This Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company is a provider of private wireless, drone, and automated data solutions. Ondas Networks provides wireless connectivity solutions enabling mission-critical Industrial Internet applications and services. Ondas Autonomous Systems' business unit develops and integrates drone-based solutions focusing on high-performance critical applications for government and Tier-1 commercial company is benefiting from strong demand for its Autonomous Drone platforms. At the end of the first quarter of 2025, order backlog was $16.8 million. Based on strong demand for both Iron Drone and Optimus Ondas expects orders to grow with revenues of at least $25 million for of Boston, MA-based Ondas have declined 34.4% year to date. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ondas' 2025 loss has narrowed by a penny to 39 cents per share over the past 30 days. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report A10 Networks, Inc. (ATEN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Ondas Holdings Inc. (ONDS) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Sign in to access your portfolio


Techday NZ
22-05-2025
- Techday NZ
Report finds low ECH use but risks from malicious actors grow
Corrata has published a report examining the impact of the Encrypted Client Hello (ECH) privacy protocol on enterprise security and the adoption of the protocol by malicious actors. The Living With ECH Report analysed billions of connections made by enterprise employee mobile devices over a three-month period to assess the practical deployment and security implications of the latest privacy technology in internet communications. ECH, an extension to the most recent version of the Transport Layer Security (TLS 1.3) standard, encrypts information exchanged between devices and Content Delivery Networks, preventing network providers from being able to identify which websites users are trying to access. According to Corrata's findings, actual usage of ECH by enterprise mobile devices remains infrequent, with less than 0.01% of TLS connections employing the protocol. Nonetheless, more than 9% of the top one million domains are ECH-enabled, demonstrating some groundwork for future adoption. The report identified a notable risk associated with ECH adoption. Corrata's analysis revealed that 17% of ECH-enabled sites are classified as risky, indicating that malicious actors are already making use of the increased anonymity provided by the protocol. The risk is particularly acute for Chrome users who have encrypted DNS enabled. Corrata stated, "ECH could degrade, not improve, privacy: Banks and other regulated entities are often required to monitor the internet traffic going into and out of their organisation. To date, these enterprises have been able to selectively decrypt traffic without looking at sensitive data like employees' health records. But with ECH blocking their filtering, enterprises would have little choice but to decrypt all internet traffic for inspection, drastically degrading employees' privacy." The analysis highlighted the significant role played by Cloudflare in enabling ECH. Cloudflare is the only major Content Delivery Network supporting ECH, and almost all of the sites that have ECH enabled use its infrastructure. The report also noted that large website owners appear reluctant to adopt the protocol due to concerns that users may face blocks from security systems in enterprises or by public authorities. While internet service providers and enterprise security teams have reduced visibility under ECH, the protocol still allows CDNs like Cloudflare to access certain data. Malicious actors are leveraging this infrastructure to support phishing attacks, Corrata said. "Over 90% of phishing detections use Cloudflare infrastructure, according to Corrata's analysis. In addition to the anonymity provided by ECH, these sites take advantage of other Cloudflare features. For example, the "captcha" page can be used to direct desktop traffic to the legitimate site while mobile traffic is sent to the fake one. Alternatively, traffic not coming from the targeted country may be redirected to the legitimate site. These are deliberate tactics to avoid detection by security providers." The report also identified several barriers to widespread adoption of ECH. While 20% of devices are configured to use encrypted DNS and DNS resolvers that support ECH, the absence of support from browsers such as Safari and operating systems like Android hampers wider implementation. The adoption of ECH requires the participation of multiple industry stakeholders, each with different priorities. Matthieu Bentot, Chief Technology Officer of Corrata, commented on the current state of adoption. "The extremely low level of ECH adoption suggests that the security community's fears that enterprise internet traffic would go dark are not yet being realised. While the potential certainly exists for ECH to become a thorn in the side of defenders, the early signs are that this is the time to prepare rather than panic." The findings from the Living With ECH Report are based on Corrata's analysis of billions of connections made by devices running the company's mobile threat detection and response solution. The data reflects traffic from both iOS and Android devices, with Corrata tracking successful ECH connections between January and March 2025 by analysing DNS queries and TLS connection metadata.


Edinburgh Reporter
15-05-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
Security Features Offered by New Online Casinos
New online casinos guarantee the security of their customers through the implementation of advanced security technologies and standards. The following are detailed descriptions of the principal security features such casinos typically offer. Image by Aidan Howe from Pixabay Licensing and Regulation New casino venues are authorized by reputable regulatory organizations such as the UK Gambling Commission, Malta Gaming Authority, or Gibraltar Regulatory Authority. Such authorities have robust measures for guaranteeing casinos operate on an equitable basis, protecting deposits of players, and upholding responsible gaming strategies. Authorization further entails that casinos undergo regular auditing and compliance visits, which enhance player confidence and ensure lawful liability. Advanced Encryption Technology To protect sensitive information of players, new casinos use Secure Socket Layer (SSL) or Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocols with 128-bit or 256-bit encryption strength. The technology encrypts data transfer between the casino servers and the player's device, making it impossible for cyber attackers to intercept or view individual information, login details, and financial transactions. Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) A majority of new casinos have two-factor authentication as an extra layer of protection. After providing a password, users have to authenticate using a second method, such as one-time code sent via SMS, email, or by an authenticator app. This extra step significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access, even in case of compromised login credentials. Regular Security Audits and Risk Assessments New casinos run regular security audits and vulnerability scans, typically by independent cybersecurity firms. Such scans uncover potential vulnerabilities in the casino's infrastructure, software, and processes for immediate remediation. Regular testing keeps security controls up-to-date and efficient against emerging cyber threats. Cybersecurity Technologies and Protection from Threats To safeguard themselves against cyberattacks, new casinos utilize a range of cybersecurity technologies such as: Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS): Identify and stop dubious activity or unauthorized access attempts from network traffic. Anti-Malware and Antivirus Software: Protect servers and systems from viruses, ransomware, and malware. Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Protection: Block attacks aimed at flooding casino servers, with unbroken service and player access. Fraud Detection Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) Online new casinos employ artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to monitor players in real-time. These technologies analyze betting trends, transaction behavior, and speed of play to detect anomalies indicative of fraud, money laundering, or collusion. Catching them at an early point allows casinos to respond swiftly by confirming or blocking accounts, guaranteeing an equal gaming experience. Firewall and Network Security Secure firewalls are deployed to scan and filter in-transit traffic to stop malicious attempts to access casino servers. Segmentation and hardened configurations help isolate the sensitive data and restrict the attack surface to secure against breach. Continuous Monitoring and Account Protection Player accounts and transactions are always scanned for abnormalities. Casinos will mark aberrant login points, abrupt betting patterns of increases, or constant inability to log in. On suspicious activity, additional verification procedures such as identity confirmation or temporary account freezing are initiated to prevent fraud. Transparent Privacy Policies and Data Management New casinos provide clear and understandable privacy policies describing how player data is collected, stored, and utilized. Compliance with data protection regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) ensures player information is handled responsibly, with access to data, correction, and removal choices. Trust and confidence in players are built through transparency. New online casinos have a variety of safe payment options, including credit/debit cards, e-wallets (PayPal, Skrill), instant bank transfers, and cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.). The above-mentioned payment options are all protected by encryption and fraud protection settings, offering fast, secure, and anonymous transactions that reduce the risk of financial theft or data leakage. New. Advanced online casinos employ a comprehensive, multi-layered security system, which combines regulatory oversight, leading-edge technology, and live monitoring to protect players' money and personal information. These safeguards create a safe, fair, and pleasant gaming experience, giving confidence when choosing a modern online casino platform. Like this: Like Related


CNET
14-05-2025
- Business
- CNET
Why Is Venmo Asking Me to Register With Plaid? What You Need to Know About the Free Financial Service
You don't have to create your own account with Plaid but you can use Plaid Portal to view what types of information you have shared with the service. pixelfit / Getty Images If you've shared your banking login with an investing or budgeting app in the past few years, there's a good chance you've also given your data to a company called Plaid. Don't be alarmed, Plaid is a service that works behind the scenes to securely link bank accounts to financial apps. It's used by more than 12,000 financial institutions and more than 8,000 apps and payment services, like Venmo. But is Plaid safe to use and what does it do with your banking info? Here's what you need to know. How does Plaid work? With your permission, Plaid allows a financial app or service to access information from your bank. Think of Plaid as the go-between, encrypting and securing data as it's sent from your bank to the app or service. For example, let's say you want to use a budgeting app like Rocket Money. Instead of manually entering your account numbers and routing numbers for your different bank accounts and inputting your transaction histories, Plaid will automatically share the data with Rocket Money so it can analyze your earning, spending and saving patterns to develop a roadmap for your finances. Is Plaid safe to use? Anytime you're doing anything with your banking information, you need to focus on the security features that will keep that information out of the hands of bad actors. Here's a rundown of the key features that help make Plaid safe: Login and password protection: You'll need to enter your username and password for your financial institution to allow Plaid to share the account info. However, Plaid's website says it doesn't share your login info with the apps . You'll need to enter your username and password for your financial institution to allow Plaid to share the account info. However, Plaid's website says it doesn't share your login info with the apps Best-in-class encryption: While Advanced Encryption Standard and Transport Layer Security are terms that may not mean much to people who don't speak cybersecurity lingo, they are both signals of Plaid's efforts to keep all information as secure as possible while it's being transmitted. It's all encrypted, meaning that outside parties cannot view your info while it's in transit. While Advanced Encryption Standard and Transport Layer Security are terms that may not mean much to people who don't speak cybersecurity lingo, they are both signals of Plaid's efforts to keep all information as secure as possible while it's being transmitted. It's all encrypted, meaning that outside parties cannot view your info while it's in transit. Multifactor authentication: When you share your details with Plaid, expect to get a text on your phone as well. The confirmation is an additional layer of security to help Plaid verify that it's really you. Plaid says that "almost all logins" have multifactor authentication. When you share your details with Plaid, expect to get a text on your phone as well. The confirmation is an additional layer of security to help Plaid verify that it's really you. Plaid says that "almost all logins" have multifactor authentication. Regular audits:. By inviting third-party scrutiny, Plaid can regularly and independently test its application programming interfaces (API) and security controls. Additionally, Plaid says it does not sell or rent consumers' financial data. There is no record of any major data breaches with Plaid. How do I use Plaid? You don't really have to do much to use Plaid. The reason the service exists is to sync your personal financial data with a new company without requiring more setup on your end. If you're using Plaid, however, you'll know because a pop-up window informs you that you will be giving Plaid permission to share certain types of data with the app or service. If you agree, you'll enter your bank login information and Plaid will connect the two systems. If you want to know what types of data you're sharing via Plaid and with what companies, you can create a Plaid Portal account. You'll share your phone number and Plaid will scour its service to display the connections you have through the service. Can Plaid see my bank account balance and other financial data? Once you enter your bank login details, Plaid may be able to view your account balance and share those details with another service. For example, if you're applying for a personal loan or using a new budget app, the lender or the app provider will likely need to know your account balance. Other pieces of data that Plaid can collect, use and share with other providers includes: Name, mailing address, phone number and email address Transaction history including date, amount, type, and full description of each purchase, withdrawal or other transaction Account name and account type Account number Routing number Real-time balance In the past, Plaid has gotten into trouble for collecting too much data: The company settled a class-action lawsuit for $58 million that alleged Plaid was collecting more information than it needed. Can I choose what information to share with Plaid? When Plaid asks for your bank login information to connect your account with another company, you'll get a clear rundown of the types of information that will be shared. Additionally, you can submit a request to delete your data and eliminate connections with other services via Plaid's Privacy Request Form or within the Plaid Portal. Are there safer alternatives to Plaid? Plaid may not be your only option for connecting your bank account, depending on the service. For example, if you don't want to share your data with Plaid for account verification with Venmo, you can choose a manual process that includes microtransactions -- small deposits and withdrawals. Apps may partner with alternative data connection services such as MX, TrueLayer or Finicity to share your information. It's tough to say whether any of these are actually safer than Plaid; they may just offer a different user experience and, depending on your financial institution, they might be easier. Sharing your financial information with any company can feel stressful. However, Plaid's security protocols seem designed to alleviate a lot of those concerns. FAQs Do I need Plaid? If you want to use an app to help manage your finances or make payments, that app requires a digital connection to your bank to share your data. Creating and maintaining secured connections with thousands of financial institutions isn't feasible for most apps. Instead, they use a service like Plaid, which builds and maintains connections for more than 12,000 financial institutions. Depending on the app, you may have the option to use alternative data connection services or to use a manual process to share your information. Why is Venmo asking me to use Plaid? Venmo uses Plaid to instantly verify your bank account information. By entering your username and password for your online banking portal, Plaid is able to let Venmo know your essential details -- your bank account and routing numbers -- to let you send and receive money. Do I have to create a Plaid account to use it? Plaid acts as a middleman that links your bank with whatever app or service needs your account information, so you don't need a standalone Plaid account. If you want to know what information you have shared with Plaid, however, you can create a Plaid Portal account that will give you an overview of all the data. Is Plaid safe to use with my financial accounts? While no company is 100% immune to data breaches and online hackers, Plaid is used by thousands of financial institutions for protecting and transmitting sensitive information. The company follows rigorous security protocols to safeguard your financial accounts including best-in-class encryption and multi-factor authentication for the vast majority of transactions.