According to USA Today, computer hackers continue to steal hotel guests’ credit-card data more than any other industry. Nicholas Percoco, an Internet expert who investigates corporate data breaches, says that after hotels, restaurants were the next-most-investigated industry for breaches.

Part of the problem for hotels is that hackers have been creating more sophisticated software. The new breed of software can sit undetected inside a hotel’s network for months until an expert seeks it out, said Percoco.

“Once installed on the hotel reservations system, (the hacker) is able to go through all the data on that system and pull out the credit card information,” he said. “They can look not only at historic data on that system, but also the data being input at the same time.”
Typically, hotel breaches are detected only after a credit card company notices a trend over time, he said. The credit card companies may see a pattern where credit cards are legitimately used at a particular hotel – and then fraud appears on those cards “some time after,” Percoco said.

Fortunately, some of the larger hotel companies are starting to spend money to combat hotel hackers.

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The Better Business Bureau issued a warning about the latest Facebook “phishing” scam, which is designed to steal your personal information reports the Salisbury Post. This scam is spread via status updates which say fast food chain McDonald’s is closing and encourage users to click a link to find out why.

Here is an example of what a status update might look like: “OMG!! McDonald’s might soon shut down because of this! Warning: Your jaw will drop to the floor! Follow the two easy steps below to see why McDonald’s might soon shut down! Step one is to click on the link that says ‘Like This Page!’ and then click on the ‘Like’ button to continue.”

If you click on the link, you’re asked to fill out a survey that asks you for personal information. The link might also infect your computer with spyware, malware or viruses designed to steal any personal information or passwords stored on your computer.

To protect your identity from such scams, never click on suspicious links online disguised as sensational information, even if the link comes from one of your Facebook friends. Also, never give out personal information online unless you’re positive it’s safe to do so.

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If your information gets into the wrong hands, a thief can do much more than rob you of your money—he could destroy your good credit. Unfortunately, while it takes years to build a good credit history, it can be diminished in just a few days.

Imagine this scenario. A thief gets a hold of your name, address, and Social Security number and uses it to apply for a car loan or credit card. When the lender receives the application, it checks your credit report and sees that your credit is good. The thief gets a loan in your name and never makes a payment. The late payments start showing up on your credit report, lowering your credit score. You may not be aware that anything is wrong until you apply for a loan or line of credit. Because your score is low, you’ll be declined or get stuck with a high interest rate.

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