Radisson Warns Guests of Privacy Breach

Did you stay at a Radisson hotel in North America between November 2008 and May 2009? If so, check your financial statements and credit reports carefully for potential signs of identity theft.

The hotel and resort chain announced Aug 19 that computer systems at some of its U.S. and Canadian properties had been accessed without authorization. They did not disclose what properties or which guests were affected. “This incident is limited to guests for certain times at some hotels,” Radisson spokesman David Chamberlin told The Business Journal.

The three-month delay in notification reflected Radisson’s efforts to “analyze the origins and extent of the unauthorized access,” according to a FAQ related to the event. Yet the company did not reveal details on either the origins or extent of the breach as “the investigation is still on-going and sensitive.”

The data accessed included information such as the name printed on a guest’s credit card or debit card, a credit or debit card number, and/or a card expiration date. Social Security numbers were not affected.

The company stated it has implemented “additional security measures designed to prevent a recurrence of such an attack,” and was working with law enforcement to investigate the incident.

Radisson, which has more than 400 locations in 68 countries, might also want to bolster its scrutiny of its computer systems as, according to the FAQ, Radisson only became aware of the unauthorized access through information provided by its payment card companies and payment card processors.

With the news this week of an indictment against hackers who accessed 130 million credit card and debit card numbers from major retailers and payment processors, it is obvious data breaches remain an ongoing threat to consumers.


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