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Tag: information

  • Global Hotel Giant Booking.com Hit by Customer Data Breach: Is Your Information Safe?

    Global Hotel Giant Booking.com Hit by Customer Data Breach: Is Your Information Safe?

    Travel booking platform, Booking.com, recently experienced a data breach, potentially exposing user data to unauthorized individuals. This discovery was made following the observation of suspicious activities related to several reservations. The compromised data might consist of booking details, user names, email addresses, phone numbers, and other information shared by customers during their booking process.

    Despite the security breach, the Netherland-based company assured its users that their financial data and home addresses were not compromised. The company said, “We have dedicated teams and employ machine learning tools to monitor, detect, and block suspicious activity around the clock. We are continuously working to enhance the robust security measures we have in place.”

    Scale of the Breach

    Booking.com, being one of the largest hotel reservation platforms globally, did not reveal more information about the extent of the breach, including the number of users affected.

    There have been reports from some customers who claim to have received phishing messages through WhatsApp that contained their booking details and personal information. This suggests that the hackers could be using the stolen data to target Booking.com customers.

    In response to this issue, Booking.com took immediate action to contain the situation and issued new PINs to users with reservations. They also cautioned their customers to stay alert to suspicious emails or phone calls pretending to be from the properties or the platform itself. The company emphasized that they would never ask for credit card details through an email, phone call, text message, or WhatsApp.

    History of Cybersecurity Challenges

    The recent breach is one of many cybercrime attempts targeting Booking.com, which has been dealing with an increase in scams on its platform. Fraudsters, posing as legitimate entities, have been known to ask for payment details under the guise of pre-authorization or trip verification, leading to sizeable unauthorized charges.

    A similar incident happened in 2018 when attackers used phishing techniques to gain login credentials from hotel employees in the United Arab Emirates. This breach allowed them to access booking information of over 4,000 users on the platform.

    Despite these security challenges, Booking.com has recorded a high number of bookings. Since 2010, it has facilitated reservations for about 6.8 billion customers, making it one of the leading players in the travel and hospitality industry.

    Questions & Answers

    What kind of customer information was potentially exposed in the data breach?
    Email addresses, phone numbers, booking details, and any other information shared by the customers during the booking process might have been compromised.

    What steps has Booking.com taken in response to the data breach?
    Booking.com has issued new PINs to affected users and taken immediate action to contain the issue. They have also warned their customers to be wary of suspicious communication that could be impersonating the platform or associated properties.

    Has Booking.com experienced cybersecurity issues in the past?
    Yes, Booking.com has faced challenges with cybercrime in the past. For instance, in 2018, attackers used phishing techniques to access the booking information of more than 4,000 users on the platform.

  • Karen Tan Assumes Role As Dhl Express’s Cio For Asia-pacific Region: A Stepping Stone For Digital Innovation

    Karen Tan Assumes Role As Dhl Express’s Cio For Asia-pacific Region: A Stepping Stone For Digital Innovation

    DHL Express, the internationally recognized express service provider, recently announced the appointment of Karen Tan as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the Asia-Pacific region. Tan, who is based in Singapore, will assume the position currently held by Jimmy Yeoh, who is set to retire from the organization at the close of 2025 after thirty-three years of dedicated employment.

    Karen Tan’s Professional Journey

    Prior to accepting this new position, Tan held the role of CIO for DHL Express Singapore. In this capacity, she led the creation of a comprehensive digitalization framework. She also implemented robust data protection and information security practices, significantly enhancing both employee engagement and leadership scores within her IT team.

    Tan served as the company’s Data Protection Officer (DPO) Champion as well, collaborating with global DPO and legal teams to ensure the implementation of policies and procedures to effectively manage personal data. Furthermore, Tan was the DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging) Champion, leading initiatives such as International Women’s Day, International Men’s Day, and Generations Day, fostering an inclusive and empowered workplace culture.

    New Role Expectations

    In her new role, Tan will manage the region’s IT infrastructure, the digital acceleration plan, and the cybersecurity strategy, supporting a network that extends over 40 countries and territories. Her leadership will be central to promoting cross-functional collaboration and communication among various teams, essential for maintaining smooth cross-border trade and delivering superior service to customers across the region.

    Company Statements

    Ken Lee, the CEO for Asia Pacific at DHL Express, considers digitalization as one of the major trends that will impact the logistics industry. The company’s Strategy 2030 emphasizes the growth of this segment to expedite digital innovation for an enhanced customer experience. Lee praised Tan’s record of driving digital acceleration, data protection, and cross-functional collaboration, and her passion for innovation.

    On her part, Tan recognizes the importance of meeting the challenges of cybersecurity and data protection as digital ecosystems become increasingly complex. She expressed her honor in assuming her new role and her commitment to maintaining the standards and quality of the employee and customer experiences.

    Professional Background

    Tan commenced her career at DHL Express in 1990 in the role of a customer service trainer. She has held a variety of positions across the DHL Group in the ensuing years, including roles in IT, commercial operations, and regular operations. From 2014, she held the position of Vice President of Operations Programs for the Asia Pacific region, before being appointed the CIO at DHL Express Singapore in 2021.

    Questions & Answers

    Who has been appointed as DHL Express’s new CIO for the Asia-Pacific region?
    Karen Tan has been appointed as the new CIO for the Asia-Pacific region.

    What were some of Tan’s responsibilities in her previous role as CIO for DHL Express Singapore?
    In her previous role, Tan led the development of a nationwide digitalization framework and strengthened data protection and information security practices. She also worked to improve employee engagement and leadership scores within the IT team.

    What will be some of Tan’s main responsibilities in her new role?
    As the CIO for the Asia-Pacific region, Tan will oversee the region’s IT infrastructure, manage the digital acceleration roadmap, and strategize cybersecurity measures. Her leadership will be crucial in facilitating cross-functional collaboration and communication across multiple teams.

  • Uniqlo shoppers Details Leaked Online

    Uniqlo shoppers Details Leaked Online

    Uniqlo parent Fast Retailing announced hackers may have gained access to personal information of 461,091 accounts registered on the company’s Japanese shopping websites.

    The retailer said in a statement Monday the hackers may have accessed customers’ personal information, purchase history and partial credit card numbers of some of the users of its Uniqlo Japan and GU Japan online stores from April 23 to May 10 by means of list type account hacking.

    List type account hacking is when user IDs and passwords are potentially leaked from other services or sites.

    The company said it is still investigating the breach and added the number of incidents and circumstances may change during the course of the investigation.

    In the meantime, the Japanese retailer advised its online store’s customers, the number of which the company has not disclosed, to use unique passwords and to avoid using passwords used from other websites to lower the chances of hackers accessing their accounts.

    “Fast Retailing sincerely apologizes for the trouble and concern this has caused to its customers and all others involved,” the company said.

    “Going forward, the company will further strengthen its security measures and take steps to ensure safety, in order to prevent similar incidents in the future.”

    The retailer said information that was potentially accessed includes:

    • Customer name (last name and first name)
    • The customer address (postal code, address, and apartment number)
    • Customer phone number, mobile phone number, email address, gender, date of birth, purchase history, and clothing measurements
    • Receiver name (last name and first name), address, and phone number
    • Customer partial credit card information (cardholder name, expiration date, and a portion of credit card number). The credit card numbers potentially accessed are hidden, other than the first four and last four digits. In addition, the CVV number (credit card security code) is not displayed or stored.

    In its announcement, Fast Retailing said it has identified the origin of the communication from which the unauthorized logins were attempted and has blocked access. The company added it is strengthening monitoring of other access points.

    The Japanese retailer said it has already disabled the passwords for the 461,091 user IDs that were compromised and is sending individual e-mails to each person affected, requesting that they reset their password.

    Fast Retailing has also filed a report of damages regarding the unauthorized logins with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police.

    Online sales made up 9.9 percent of Uniqlo sales in Japan and 20 percent in China in the company’s first-half report. The company said overall online sales rose 30.3 percent in that report.

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  • Google adds Tiles to Wear OS To Show Useful Information

    Google adds Tiles to Wear OS To Show Useful Information

    From a totally redesigned UI and battery life improvements to faster Google Pay and bug fixes, no matter how big or small the update there’s no denying Wear OS by Google, as it’s now called, has come a long way since it was first introduced back in 2014 under the Android Wear branding.

    Today, to help improve the overall experience even more, the Silicon Valley-based giant has announced another pretty big update to its wearable-focused OS.

    Around eight months ago, as some of you may remember, a new Wear OS design was introduced that provided users with swipeable access to a variety of things. A swipe from the bottom of the screen showed recent notifications and Quick reply suggestions, while a swipe down displayed a variety of Quick Toggles. Similarly, a swipe over to the left side of the panel brought up the Google Assistant and over on the right sat Google Fit.

    The response to this new design since its launch last summer appears to have been largely positive, and now Google is building upon it with a cool new feature that it’s calling Tiles.

    As the name suggests, Wear OS by Google will soon integrate a number of tile-like cards into its UI that users can easily swipe through to see various bits of information that may interest them. Tiles are accessible by simply swiping to the left and, if users aren’t happy with the default order, they can be rearranged freely by long-pressing them and dragging each one individually until they are in the desired order. Alternatively, smartwatch owners can switch them around inside the Wear OS by Google app on their smartphone.

    According to Google, the initial rollout will include a total of six individual tiles. The first, called Goals, works just like the current Google Fit screen, allowing users to view their daily workout goals and start a physical activity with a simple tap.

    Another fitness-focused feature comes in the shape of the Heart rate Tile which, as expected, shows users their current heart rate. However, in order to use this one, consumers need a smartwatch with a built-in heart rate monitor. Alternatively, Bluetooth heart rate sensors such as straps can also be used.

    Joining Heart rate will be Next event and Forecast. The former does exactly what it says on the tin by displaying the next event in the calendar, while the latter allows users to prepare for the day by providing the local weather forecast.

    Completing the lineup of Tiles is Headlines which will constantly display the latest news headlines from a variety of different sources throughout the day. Also arriving as part of the update is the Timer tile which, as its name suggests, allows users to quickly set timers on their respective smartwatches.

    The new Tiles feature will begin rolling out to Wear OS watches across the globe over the course of the next month. An exact start date for this is yet to be confirmed, but Google does plan on showing the feature off at Google I/O next week where it’s also expected to announce the Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL, which will act as the company’s first mid-range smartphones.

    Regarding the future of Tiles, Google has confirmed that, over time,it’ll expand upon the current list of six by introducing new ones that center around different features. Eventually, users should have a Tile for every need.

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  • Soekarno Hatta Airport Now Have Tourist Information Center

    Soekarno Hatta Airport Now Have Tourist Information Center

    State-owned operator Angkasa Pura II, Tourism Ministry and Transportation Ministry have launched Tourist Information Center at Terminal 3 of Soekarno Hatta International Airport.

    TIC services that have been operating since June 19 will serve to promote Indonesian tourism. “In order to achieve the full-year target of tourist arrivals,” Angkasa Pura II president director Muhammad Awaluddin said today in a written statement.

    Awaluddin said that Terminal 3 will serve international flights which allow TIC to promote Indonesia’s tourist destinations.

    Promotional contents at the TIC are a wide range of tourist destinations in Indonesia prepared by Tourism Ministry, particularly in relation to the branding ‘Wonderful Indonesia’ and ‘Pesona Indonesia’ (Indonesian Charm).

    The TIC will also enrich Terminal 3 digital contents. Angkasa Pura II is committed to turning Soekarno Hatta into a digital airport in line with the company’s vision of becoming the best smart connected airport operator in the region.

    Tourism Minister Arif Yahya expects TIC in Terminal 3 to become some kind of tourism supermall. Meaning that tourists may get information on tourist attractions, transportation, accommodation, etc. which can be accessed immediately by making reservations and paying for the best tourism experience.

    Angkasa Pura II and Tourism Ministry are committed to collaborating for the development of tourism sector. That includes enhancing international flight connectivity in all airports operated by the company, including Soekarno Hatta.

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