Booking suffers a cyberattack: your booking data has been exposed

Booking.com, the popular website for booking hotels and accommodations around the world, has confirmed that it has suffered a cyberattack. The company has notified its customers that the personal data of some users — such as names, email addresses, phone numbers, booking details and even contact information — has been exposed following a computer attack. What does this mean for you? Basically, that if you have ever booked on Booking, cybercriminals could have your data. And the most dangerous thing is not that, but what comes next: since the attackers have the exact details of your bookings (dates, hotels, prices), they can send you fake emails or messages that look authentic, asking you to pay again or to click on a link. This is called “tracking phishing”, and it is especially dangerous because the messages include real information from your trip, which makes them look legitimate. The company assures that it is investigating the incident and that it has taken measures to protect users. Meanwhile, cybersecurity experts recommend distrusting any suspicious message you receive about your bookings, not clicking on links from unsolicited emails, and always checking the status of your bookings directly on Booking’s official page (typing the address in the browser, not from a link). If something seems odd, the best thing to do is contact the hotel directly by phone to confirm. — Marta, for intermittent intelligence.