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TripAdvisor database hacked - email addresses compromised
If you have ever rated something on TripAdvisor, you may be in for a nasty surprise in your inbox in the coming weeks. Last weekend, hackers penetrated the TripAdvisor member database and stole up to 20 million records.
In a statement issued by TripAdvisor on their site, the only information they say was impacted involved email address. TripAdvisor does not store credit card information or other financial data and passwords are said to be secure. As a precaution, it may still be safe to change your TripAdvisor password and anywhere else you used that same password.
The impact from this should be relatively minimal - most people could end up with a bit more spam than usual, but in today's spam overload world, a couple more V1ag7A! emails won't really be noticeable.
TripAdvisor claims they identified the vulnerability and shut it down immediately. The full email sent to customers can be found after the jump.
To our travel community:
This past weekend we discovered that an unauthorized third party had stolen part of TripAdvisor's member email list.
We've confirmed the source of the vulnerability and shut it down. We're taking this incident very seriously and are actively pursuing the matter with law enforcement.
How will this affect you? In many cases, it won't. Only a portion of all member email addresses were taken, and all member passwords remain secure.
You may receive some unsolicited emails (spam) as a result of this incident. The reason we are going directly to you with this news is that we think it's the right thing to do. As a TripAdvisor member, I would want to know.
Unfortunately, this sort of data theft is becoming more common across many industries, and we take it extremely seriously.
I'd also like to reassure you that TripAdvisor does not collect members' credit card or financial information, and we never sell or rent our member list. We will continue to take all appropriate measures to keep your personal information secure at TripAdvisor. I sincerely apologize for this incident and appreciate your membership in our travel community.
Steve Kaufer
Co-founder and CEO
Filed under: Internet Tools
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
john Mar 24th 2011 1:38PM
this is why I never store credit cards with e-stores. There security never seems up to the task.
chaim Mar 26th 2011 7:52AM
I always use a disposable credit card when I use a site . Once the money is used it can not be hacked .Never store your information on your online computer .Store needed information about your banking and personal information on a computer with no wireless card or way to interact the net .I prefer to use and older generation computer for finances like windows 98 - 2000 Etc. The two computer method works best for safe internet browsing
Frank Mar 26th 2011 12:37PM
Hackers and those generating virus's, if caught, should be publicly crucified as an example.
frank clay Apr 24th 2011 12:34AM
tripadvisor uk is not safe ?