Marriott Data Breach January 2020

What Was the Breach?

The chain known for its luxurious hotels and resort properties, Marriott, endured yet another massive data breach. The breach occurred in 2020, resulting in the theft of more than five million guest records. The attack sets the stage for hackers to use Marriott guests' personal information to open new accounts, rack up charges on credit cards and perform additional social manipulation for financial gain.

How Did the Breach Occur?

Marriott representatives state that the breach was discovered in February of 2020. The company spokesperson insists hackers weaseled their way into one of the hotel's networks after stealing employee login credentials. The hackers then accessed guests' personal information for financial gain.

When Did the Breach Occur?

This breach took place in January 2020.

Who Does the Breach Impact?

The hackers stole the personal information of Marriott guests. Examples of the personal information accessed in the attack include customer birthdates, names, account numbers with the hotel chain, language preferences, telephone numbers, etc. Furthermore, the company's spokesperson admitted that the information stolen in the attack extends to Marriott account PINs, account passwords, credit card information, driver’s license numbers, and national IDs.

The attack delved deeply into the information of Marriott customers who stayed at the company’s properties between 2016 and 2018. The pressing question is how many affected customers will experience the fallout of the attack in the form of identity theft. Furthermore, it is also worth noting that Marriott as a business has also received negative press from the breach.

How Many Files Does the Breach Affect?

In total, more than 500 million Marriott guests were compromised in the attack. To find out more about the breach, read our article: Marriott Hotel Data Breaches and the Aftermath.