Crossword Genius

Accounts at stake, hidden code cracked by hackers at last (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

anecdotes

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'accounts' is the definition.
(anecdote is a kind of account)

'stake hidden code cracked by hackers at last' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
an anagram of 'code' is 'ecdo' which is present in the answer.
'stake' could be 'ante' (ante is a kind of stake) and 'ante' is found within the leftover letters.
A single letter 's' remains which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).

'at' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for anecdotes that I've seen before include "A short amusing story, probably true" , "Amusing short tales" , "Noted case (anag.)" , "yarns" , "Amusing short stories" .)

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.
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