Tag Archive for: tourism

Ransomware Attacks Pose Major Threat to Travel and Tourism


Companies are consistently working on information and network security projects to set up a reliable technical protection system

The travel and tourism sector has become a prime focus for cyberattacks in recent times, resulting in ransomware incidents arising from data breaches.

Against this backdrop, cybersecurity concerns within the industry have escalated with a 4% year-on-year (YoY) rise in 2022, reflecting the prevailing sentiment.

An analysis of the latest data found that sentiment for airlines, travel services, and lodging rose by 6%, 4%, and 1%, respectively, in 2022 over 2021.

Companies are consistently working on information and network security projects to set up a reliable technical protection and security management mechanism to ensure customer security and prevent data leakage. A severe data security incident can lead to operational disturbances and cause significant financial damage to the business.

LATAM Airlines Group SA plans to have self-boarding (biometric) to advance customer experience. The company is also starting Pre-Flight check documentation where customers can send their documents digitally before boarding.

China Eastern Airlines Corp Ltd discussed establishing a sound information and security-related management mechanism.

Booking Holdings Inc talked about SQL injection where a third party tries to insert malicious code into companies’ software through data entry fields on websites to gain control of the system using the websites as a platform.

Tourism Holdings Ltd updated its digital strategy and made investments in new technology and cybersecurity solutions.

H World Group Ltd and Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Limited have set up an information security committee responsible for developing policies and procedures, offering data protection-related advice, protecting the security of customer data, and avoiding data leakage.

Failing to adopt appropriate technology leaves companies vulnerable to cyber threats that can have a detrimental impact on their operations.

Investing in robust cybersecurity solutions, educating employees about cybersecurity risks, and staying up to date on cybersecurity threats can help reduce the likelihood of an…

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Tourism Council plagued by ransomware


Those who have looked at the Block Island Tourism Council’s website lately may have noticed something odd – slightly dated content and inaccurate business listings. Those trying to reach the office of council Director Jessica Willi by email also have encountered difficulties. That’s because the company that hosts the website was a victim of a ransomware attack.
“The site’s been locked down since New Year’s Eve,” Willi revealed at the council’s meeting on January 24. As for emails, those received an automatic bounceback message for the first two weeks, but the system is functioning now
according to Willi.
(First Warden
Keith Stover revealed last week after a closed session of the Town Council that the town had experienced some trouble “months ago.” “There was an attempt to get into the town’s computer system,” said Stover. “It didn’t constitute a breach.”)
Willi said the hosting company, CC Inspire, was working to correct the problem and that a 2019 version of the Tourism Council’s website had been uploaded, thus the 2019 travel planner. She has also been getting numerous calls about incorrect business listings and telephone numbers. The Glass Float Project link where people can register their found orbs has also been affected. Of the interruption, Willi said, “It’s a bummer.”
The Tourism Council will be migrating its website over to another platform, however, not in reaction to the incident but at the request of the state. Willi said the state’s tourism council, and three of the five regional tourism councils are using Simple View, a company that specializes in travel, or “destination branding.”
“I love this company,” said Willi. “There’s nothing bad to say about them.”
She did however add that they were kind of like “driving a Ferrari on a Block Island dirt road.” They also will cost the Tourism Council a lot more money in annual fees.
There is grant money from the state that may help, although Willi said the timing was such that they would need to expend their own money and hope their grant application was accepted. If the money comes in later, it probably could
be applied to the annual fees.
Implementation of a new website…

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Army Safeguarding National Interests – Jammu Kashmir Latest News | Tourism


The Indian Army is one of the best in the world without any doubt, a battle-tested unit with an unblemished track record of no comparison at all. While the world realised and faced the brunt of terrorism in the last two decades only, our army is battling it out for the last four decades now. Army’s unique methods employed are exemplary and unmatched. All leading world armies are always eager to have joint exercises with our soldiers to get an on-hand experience of our expertise. Factually it is not an easy task to have two hostile nuclear nations as your neighbour but our army with its valour has been able to match both of them. Our Government’s policy of ‘talks and terrorism cannot go together’ and the army’s consistent pressure have delivered the desired result of a peaceful border for quite some time now. India has a distinct record, despite being one of the largest and best armies, yet we have never been hostile to any nation in our history. But whenever provoked our army has always given a befitting reply. The Surgical Strikes and Balakot operation are recent examples and the result is for everyone to see, no major terrorist activity in the last few years, they very well know the consequences of provocation now, all credit to our armed forces. There has been changing of tactics by the enemy but Indian Army has also upgraded itself accordingly to thwart any challenge, be it the use of drones, tunnels, weapons using artificial intelligence or any other method, army response has been acerbic and unfettered. Our army is defending the highest battleground in the world, the Siachen for decades now. Even in 2020 Ladakh’sGalwan and other North Eastern skirmishes with China had been professionally tackled at their face value by the army, stood our ground forcing them to come to negotiating table, one-to-one talks on equal terms. The recent up gradation of infra all along the international border is for everyone to notice. Hundreds of kilometres of roads, bridges and tunnels to make borders all-weather accessible, all-weather bunkers, advance landing grounds, airports, helipads, and water augmentation have been done to secure our borders in a…

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Cyberattacks Increased by 60% In Tourism Sector This Year


The global average number of attacks against organisations in the tourism and leisure sector has increased by 60 per cent this year compared to the first half of June 2021, according to Check Point Research’s Threat Intelligence Report.

Considering that the pandemic has brought the country to a standstill, not allowing people to travel, many hackers and cybercriminals are taking advantage of these people who are eager to travel again, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

The recent report by Check Point Research also revealed that the global average number of weekly attacks against travel and leisure organisations increased by 60 per cent in June 2022 compared to the first half of June 2021.

In addition, according to a report provided by Portugal’s Diário de Notícias, despite airport delays and growing congestion, international travel is expected to increase by 11 percent, which means it will reach pre-pandemic levels.

“For many of us, this may be the first time we have travelled abroad since the pandemic, and as such, there may be certain elements of our travel routines that we may have forgotten, including our cybersecurity hygiene habits, which is music to the ears of opportunistic hackers looking to take advantage of relaxed attitudes and unprotected devices,” Rui Duro, Country Manager at Check Point Software Technologies in Portugal pointed out in this regard.

Sometimes computer attacks can go unnoticed. However, businesses are among the most vulnerable throughout the year.

In this case, it should also be mentioned the ransomware attack on the Kaseya network on July 4, 2021, by the Russian-speaking criminal group REvil, affected over 1000 organisations worldwide.

Russian ransomware threat group Revil launched this attack against technology provider Kaseya by compromising and distributing malware through Kaseya’s remote VSA software and patch management tool. REvil initially requested $70 million but later lowered it to $50 million – for a universal decryptor, as well as rewards for victims of individual organisations from $50,000 to $5 million, based on the size of the organisation.

However, Check Point highlighted some tips that should be taken care of for summer…

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