The hotel chain Marriott admitted on Tuesday that backup computer tapes containing data on approximately 206,000 customers were missing from a company office in Florida.
The data, which relates to customers of its timeshare division, Marriott Vacation Club International (MVCI), included personal information such as the credit card details, social security numbers and, in a few cases, the bank details of customers.
The company said it has contacted the affected customers and is offering to enroll them free-of-charge in a credit monitoring service, so that customers can discover if there is any irregular activity on their account.
"We regret this situation has occurred and realize this may cause concern for our associates and customers," said Stephen Weisz, the president of MVCI.
The company has launched an investigation into how the tapes went missing.
Customers of MVCI who are concerned they may have been impacted can find out more information from the company Web site.
Talkback
Why would any business with a sense of responsibility for their customer's data be using unencrypted media? You wouldn't send that info to a web browser over an unencrypted HTTP link, so why wouldn't you encrypt sneakernet traffic like backup tapes?
Because they don't really care that much as long as it's not causing them probems and they keep making money.
Basic security is rarly enforced, thus rendering high level encryptions and the like useless anyway.
I think they will be making it up through proper damage control.
Rubbish, Sensitive data such as thist should have been encrypted as a matter of course. Disregard for customers security is rife in the IT industry. Money is what matters to these people.