Marriott has second massive data breach in 2 years; over 5 million guests compromised
On Tuesday, March 31, Marriott International disclosed that it suffered a data breach that likely affected more than 5 million guests.
According to a press release from Marriott, the breach began in mid-January 2020 and was discovered at the end of February 2020. Per the results of the company's investigation, compromised data includes contact details (name, phone number, email address, mailing address); loyalty account information (passwords were not affected); additional personal details (birth date, gender, company); partnerships and affiliations (linked airline accounts and frequent flyer numbers) and preferences (language and room preferences).
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Marriott says that Bonvoy passwords, credit cards, driver's license/national identification numbers, credit cards and passport information were not affected in this latest breach.
The chain sent emails to all involved parties, though if you want to check for yourself, you can do so through a portal that Marriott has set up. It will let you know if your data was involved in the breach and, if so, what specifically was affected.
If you were affected by this latest breach, you'll notice that you'll be required to change your Bonvoy account password upon logging in, and you'll be asked to set up two-factor authentication to add a layer of security to your account. Marriott says that it's working with the appropriate authorities regarding this situation.
How to protect yourself from a data breach
With incidences of cybercrime continuing to rise, it's hard to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to your online information. However, there are some steps you can take to better safeguard your data.
Use identity-protection programs
For those who are affected by this incident, Marriott is offering one year of a complimentary information-monitoring service through IdentityWorks via Experian. U.S. residents can enroll here and those who live outside the U.S. and in participating countries enroll here.
There are other services on the market, like CompleteID (also offered through Experian) and LifeLock, that are available to all consumers and start at $9.99 per month, a small price to pay for data security.
Change your passwords
This always seems like a no-brainer, but this is one of the best ways to keep your information safe. In today's world, there are an endless number of passwords to keep track of, so we recommend using a password manager like 1Password to keep it all straight for you. 1Password charges roughly $5 per month, and you can store and protect all the passwords for your entire family. It also works with biometric features on the Apple platform like TouchID and FaceID, adding another level of security for your passwords. Hackers are less likely to be able to figure out a unique, 25-character password with letters, numbers and symbols.
For another layer of security, enable two-factor authentication on all accounts that offer it.
Regularly check your accounts
It's important to check your balances once a month (at the very least) to make sure you don’t see any fraudulent activity. A service like Award Wallet can also help track your balances for free.
Bottom line
This Marriott data breach marks the second in as many years for the world's largest hotel chain. While this recent breach isn't nearly as widespread or devastating as the last one that affected Marriott in 2018, it's concerning that breaches that affect millions of guests continue to happen with some degree of frequency.
Perhaps we'll crack the code on data security in the future but for now, it's important to remain vigilant with your online data while cybercriminals still have the upper hand.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.