Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
FAULTY TOWERS
Hotel chain hack hits 500m guests
HOTEL giant Marriott has admitted up to 500 million guest records could have been hacked.
There may also have been “unauthorised access” to a database with sensitive information going back four years. The breach relates to its Starwood division.
This includes chains Le Meridien, Sheraton and W Hotels, with luxury London hotels such as the Sheraton Grand Park Lane and The Westbury Mayfair.
Belfast’s AC Marriott is not on the list of hotels effected.
The database contained details such as names, addresses, email addresses, phone and passport numbers for around 327 million guests.
For some, it included bank card numbers and expiry dates. These were encrypted but Marriott, which bought Starwood in 2016, said it “could not rule out” the cards could still be used.
Adam French, of consumer group Which?, said the breach, spotted on September 8, was “on a colossal scale”.
He said: “It’s vital Marriott provides clear information on what happened and helps anyone negatively impacted.
“Anyone worried should consider changing online passwords, monitor accounts,and their credit report. Be wary of emails regarding the breach, scammers may try to take advantage.”
Marriott chief Arne Sorenson said: “We deeply regret this. We’re doing everything we can to support guests, and using lessons learned to be better moving forward.”