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Major Hotel Data Breach Hits Marriott, Hyatt, Starwood

Posted: August 16, 2016 to Cybersecurity.

Tags: Data Breach, Malware, Cloud Security

A new data breach targeting 20 US hotels operated by HEI Hotels & Resorts for Starwood, Marriott, Hyatt and Intercontinental has been uncovered. The customer financial data associated with tens of thousands of transactions has been compromised thanks to point-of-sale (PoS) malware. Discovered in June, the malware was found on PoS systems used at restaurants, bars, lobby shops, spas, and other facilities. The systems could have been infected for more than a year and in some cases back to March 2015. Since customers used their cards on multiple occasions, it’s difficult for investigators to pinpoint the exact number of people affected. During the time period the systems were infected there were 8,000 transactions at the Hyatt Centric Santa Barbara and 12,800 at IHG Intercontinental in Tampa, for example. According to HEI, the company doesn’t store credit card number information, so the hackers probably recorded data from PoS terminals in real time. The cyberthieves were able to steal names, account numbers, expiration dates, and verification codes for associated cards. Fortunately, PINs weren’t taken since the systems don’t collect them. HEI have alerted federal authorities and installed new payment systems, but if you are worried you may have been one of the customers whose data was stolen, you can check the list of hotels here. If it turns out that you did stay at one of the affected hotels, it would be a good idea to cancel your credit card and check your statements for suspicious activity.

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Craig Petronella, CEO and Founder of Petronella Technology Group
CEO, Founder & AI Architect, Petronella Technology Group

Craig Petronella founded Petronella Technology Group in 2002 and has spent more than 30 years working at the intersection of cybersecurity, AI, compliance, and digital forensics. He holds the CMMC Registered Practitioner credential (RP-1372) issued by the Cyber AB, is an NC Licensed Digital Forensics Examiner (License #604180-DFE), and completed MIT Professional Education programs in AI, Blockchain, and Cybersecurity. Craig also holds CompTIA Security+, CCNA, and Hyperledger certifications.

He is an Amazon #1 Best-Selling Author of 15+ books on cybersecurity and compliance, host of the Encrypted Ambition podcast (95+ episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon), and a cybersecurity keynote speaker with 200+ engagements at conferences, law firms, and corporate boardrooms. Craig serves as Contributing Editor for Cybersecurity at NC Triangle Attorney at Law Magazine and is a guest lecturer at NCCU School of Law. He has served as a digital forensics expert witness in federal and state court cases involving cybercrime, cryptocurrency fraud, SIM-swap attacks, and data breaches.

Under his leadership, Petronella Technology Group has served 2,500+ clients, maintained a zero-breach record among compliant clients, earned a BBB A+ rating every year since 2003, and been featured as a cybersecurity authority on CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, and WRAL. The company leverages SOC 2 Type II certified platforms and specializes in AI implementation, managed cybersecurity, CMMC/HIPAA/SOC 2 compliance, and digital forensics for businesses across the United States.

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