Eight million at risk of ID fraud after hackers hit hotel chain

by Dave Keating | August 25, 2008 at 03:38 am | 666 views | 16 comments | 14 recommendations

Unable To Leave Work At Home, The Royal Chase Hotel, Shaftesbury, Dorset

The world's largest hotel chain has fallen victim to a hacker, amd as a result as many as eight million people's identity information could be at risk.

Up to eight million people are at risk of ID fraud after a hacker breached the security system of the world's largest hotel chain.

An Indian hacker broke into the IT system of Best Western Hotel Group and stole personal details of everyone who has stayed there in the past 12 months.

The details, which included home addresses, phone numbers, place of employment and credit card details, were sold on through an underground network controlled by the Russian Mafia.

The information is thought to be worth up to £2.8billion. Experts say that if it falls into the wrong hands it could spark a 'major crimewave'.

'They've pulled off a masterstroke here,' said security expert Jacques Erasmus, an ex-hacker who now works for the computer security firm Prevx.

He added: 'There are plenty of hacked company databases for sale online but the sheer volume and quality of the information that's been stolen in the Best Western raid makes this particularly rare.

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eriktrips

at 07:35 on August 25th, 2008

Best Western Hotel, Twenty-Nine Palms, CA, USA. I stayed there in 2004 and shot this beautiful wide-angle panorama of my room w/TV. I think I probably was still looking for Animal Planet. :D

eriktrips has contributed a photo to this story.

Barbara McPherson

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 08:11 on August 25th, 2008

Dave Keating, I like this story. It's good stuff. Now you've got me thinking -- have I stayed at one in the past 12 months. Thanks for the warning.

World_Groove

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 08:16 on August 25th, 2008

hmmmm

Paschen

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 08:49 on August 25th, 2008

Dave Keating, I like this story. It's good stuff.

knoppy44

at 09:01 on August 25th, 2008

Well, I just was taking this pictures because I wanted to document where my iBook has been

knoppy44 has contributed a photo to this story.

Milieunet

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 09:23 on August 25th, 2008

Dave Keating, I like this story. It's good stuff.

gromgull

at 10:45 on August 25th, 2008

Picture of a run-down Best Western in a run-down area of Macau - Worst Western?

gromgull has contributed a photo to this story.

StripeyMiata

at 11:10 on August 25th, 2008

Thanks Dave, I stayed in a Best Western a year ago (hence the photo) so now I'm going to check with my Credit Company. Thanks!

StripeyMiata has contributed a photo to this story.

Gatuzz

at 15:30 on August 25th, 2008

oh my god...yo estuve alli hace 4 meses...pero no pague con mi tarjeta directamente....lo hice a traves de un agente, pero de todas formas estoy preocupado. gracias por la noticia

sytcom

at 15:49 on August 25th, 2008

I nice place for staying during your visit to Costa Rica, near to San Jose in La Uruca.

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voodoo2me

at 23:25 on August 25th, 2008

Hi,
I hope my creditcard information is protected, the future will show it.

Nice small hotel in Paris, near Pont Neuf/Notre Dame. Visit Galeria Lafayette, on the top is a Visitor platform. Great view to Sacrè-Coeur and the hole city. Below a coffee/restaurant; coffee 1,40 €, cake 4,40 €. Hint for you Dave.

Sincerely,
Klaus G. Zarth

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Paschen

at 23:43 on August 25th, 2008

SPAM comment again.

jmshwlls

at 10:21 on August 26th, 2008

My 84 Year old father and I booked for three days while we found a "proper Hotel"
we were so pleased with the accommodation and service we stayed for three weeks - Best Western in Vacaville
Super staff and exemplary cleanliness
We will now use Best western Hotels here in the UK

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jmshwlls

at 10:25 on August 26th, 2008

Until America adopts the pin and chip system on your cards as in Europe you will continue to have these problems

OR.GC.GERMANY.2008

at 06:31 on September 1st, 2008

Best Western President, Berlin, Germany

Note that the establishment has both free wireless and wired internet services, both without any kind of password, security or encryption. Good times.

OR.GC.GERMANY.2008 has contributed a photo to this story.