Ransomware: One of Hospitality's Biggest Threats in 2017 | News | Hospitality Magazine ... - 1 views
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After the attack made headlines for locking guests out for their rooms, the hospitality industry felt the first shockwaves of the top cyber security threat for 2017.
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Ransomware is a modality that takes digital devices hostage and prevents the user from accessing or generating information. Hackers then request the user to pay a ransom in order to recover access. Ransom money is requested in digital currency, usually Bitcoins. In 2016, an Austrian Hotel experienced ransomware for the first time. Devices were hacked and encrypted in a way that prevented hotel staff from programming room key cards and kept some guests out of their rooms. This risk could be mitigated by recognizing and acting fast at the signs of an attack. When the first devices have been compromised, staff can act by disabling other devices from being held hostage. Back ups can also save a company from being unable to access them in the event of an attack.