Data hackers victimized the InterContinental Hotels Group (IGH) during the last quarter of 2016. It was declared that the malware was erased early this year. 1,174 of its hotels in the United States have been affected. The latest data breach happened with Sabre, one the largest technology companies in the world. It has reported an "incident of unauthorized access to payment information" in one of its reservation systems.
This time, Sabre, one of the world's largest technology companies, is reporting that "an incident of unauthorized access to payment information," occurred in one of its reservations systems.
With Sabre having 30,000 customers, one reservation system hacked would mean a lot of victims. IGH's hotels victimized were 1,174. The numbers are just alarming. Although investigations and solutions are being applied, the safety of hotel customers is at stake at this point. So how can they be safe?
Travel Pulse shared some tips to help travelers enjoy their vacations without having to worry about cyber attacks. Shane Stevens, Director of Omni-Channel Trust & Identity Solutions at VASCO Data Security suggested that mobile device must not be used is possible as hotel key. He also added to stop using debit cards in checking into hotels. Instead, charge cards can be used.
For travelers, it is advisable to bring a personal router and insist that they use it inside hotels according to Mounir Hahad Ph.D, Senior Director at Cyphort Labs.
Harvard University wrote "Why You Really Need To Stop Using Public Wi-Fi" It has mentioned how people are magnetized to use public Wi-Fi which is potentially dangerous. Luke Bencie, author of the above literature said that in hotels, there is a scheme called "Evil Twin." The hacker tricks users into logging in by setting up a hotspot that carries the name of the hotel. Once the user logs in, the hacker can monitor all their movements and web activities and has access to any private data that they may be revealed during their sessions.
Bencie also warns not to log into sites that contain personal financial information such as shopping sites, banks, and other sites. Aside from the hospitality industry, the banking industry is also the leading targets of cyber hackers.
Spam Fighter reported that like IGH, other hotels whose systems were hacked were Trump Hotels, White Lodging, Kimpton Hotels, Mandarin Oriental, and Hilton. Hyatt and Starwood Hotels have also experienced card hacks in 2016.
