Whether you are traveling for business or for fun, Consumer Reports recently published an article warning travelers that they face increased risks from hackers and cyber criminals who want to steal your money and your identity.
A new report indicates the hospitality industry – the hotels, resorts, and tour operators – is a tempting and sometimes easy target for data thieves. According to the report, 38% of data breaches around the globe in 2010 involved hospitality companies.
Global hotel and resort chains are especially vulnerable to hackers due to their lack of security for guest data, including credit card numbers and even passport information. The high availability of this information on hundreds of worldwide online reservations guarantees a traveler’s exposure is far greater than normal.
What can you do to protect yourself?
While it’s always preferable that a travel retains his or her personal identity, some travel insurance plans offer Identity Theft protections, cash reimbursement, and services to restore your identity when compromised. See the passport and credit card services offered by travel insurance companies too.
Take a look at the Guide to Online Security from ConsumerReports.org for steps to protect yourself.
