Cyber ​​attack on vacationers: 70,000 data from Italy travelers stolen!

Cyber ​​attack on vacationers: 70,000 data from Italy travelers stolen!

In a worrying incident, tens of thousands of holidaymakers were stolen by cybercriminals in Italy. How 5min.at Reports, over 70,000 high-resolution scans of passenger passes and identity cards that were intercepted at the check-in procedure can be offered in the Darknet for prices between 800 and 10,000 euros. Guests are particularly affected by four-star hotels in cities such as Venice, Trieste, Milano Marittima and on the island of Ischia.

The sensitivity of this data is alarming because they are often passed on without hesitation, warns Paulius Vanagas, Country Manager from NordVPN for Switzerland and Austria. He emphasizes that cyber attacks on hotels are strategically planned to get the personal data of the guests who can be of great interest to fraudsters. Increasing use can have long -term consequences, for example through personalized fraud.

Hacker attacks on hotel chains

Another example of the threat in the hotel industry was the hacker attack on the Motel One hotel chain, which took place in 2023. There, 6 terabytes of data were stolen there by cybercriminals, including information such as names, travel data and credit card data from guests. This data was also published in the Darknet, such as tagesschau.de reported.

Motel One informed the public on September 30, 2023 about the incident, although the company had already made aware of the attack three weeks earlier. The data that has come into the wrong hands also include internal business figures and personal contacts of employees. The ALPHV group is suspected of being behind the attack, with the aim of blackmailing money. Security measures were taken to prevent further data loss.

Challenges in the hotel industry

In the context of the intensifying threats from cyber attacks, there are considerable challenges for the hotel industry. An interview on swisscyberinstitute.com emphasizes that outdated IT systems, high time pressure and a high fluctuation of the staff tighten the security situation. PHISHING attacks in particular that are directed against hotel employees are a great danger because they can lead to malware is installed and cybercriminal access to confidential information.

In order to counteract these threats, effective measures in the field of cybersecurity are essential. Regular training for employees, technological upgrades and clear security processes should become a standard in the industry. The development of consciousness for cyber risks is crucial to improve protective measures and ensure the safety of the sensitive guest data.

Overall, the current incidents illustrate how important it is to take cybersecurity seriously in the hotel industry. The guests' vacation could be significantly impaired by such attacks, which has both negative effects on hotel companies and the affected customers.