Malware Steals Card Data after Infecting Servers of InterContinental Hotels

The InterContinental Hotels Group that comprises Crowne Plaza and the Holiday Inn, among other luxury resorts, encountered a security breach when malware infected the cash registers on front desks of over 1,200 hotels of the group resulting in theft of client data of credit and debit cards during September 29-December 29, 2016, the hotel enterprise reported.

World-serving hotel group InterContinental Hotels stated that 33% of the franchised hotels it operated inside USA were attacked with malware capable of pilfering payment card information of the guests.

Within one February alert, IHG reported that the malware attack apparently sharply increased the total number of hacked properties of its hotel chain. IHG further stated that point of sale devices at bars and restaurants situated in twelve of its hotels contracted malware. However, those twelve hotels were solely ones the hotel enterprise directly ran as well as that it was yet to be determined how far the breach affected the different franchisee' locations of IHG. Bankinfosecurity.com posted this, April 19, 2017.

After infecting IHG's servers, the malware seized the details of the payment cards while they navigated across the impacted online systems. The details possibly were the card-owner's card number, internal verification code, expiration date along with name. The hotel enterprise is sure other kinds of details of its guests weren't impacted.

IHG advises anybody who lodged at any of its hotels when the malware spread to examine his card statement and know if there has been any illegitimate transaction so it maybe reported to the firm issuing the payment card.

The hotels group has as well been making efforts towards making its franchised properties use the 'secure payment solution' to make sure the encryption of the card-owner's data is always intact and whenever it's referred to for any e-transaction. InterContinental Hotels has said that those of its properties which utilized the 'solution' before the hack September 29, 2016 weren't impacted.

This' when a subsidiary of IHG namely Kimpton a boutique hotel series has embarked on fighting certain court case which apparently accuses the hotel enterprise of failing towards adopting necessary and suitable steps for safeguarding card data of guests.

» SPAMfighter News - 4/24/2017