30 November 2018
Marriott values our guests and
understands the importance of protecting personal information. We have taken
measures to investigate and address a data security incident involving the
Starwood guest reservation database. The investigation has determined that
there was unauthorized access to the database, which contained guest
information relating to reservations at Starwood properties on or before
September 10, 2018. This notice explains what happened, measures we have taken,
and some steps you can take in response.
understands the importance of protecting personal information. We have taken
measures to investigate and address a data security incident involving the
Starwood guest reservation database. The investigation has determined that
there was unauthorized access to the database, which contained guest
information relating to reservations at Starwood properties on or before
September 10, 2018. This notice explains what happened, measures we have taken,
and some steps you can take in response.
On September 8, 2018, Marriott
received an alert from an internal security tool regarding an attempt to access
the Starwood guest reservation database. Marriott quickly engaged leading
security experts to help determine what occurred. Marriott learned during the
investigation that there had been unauthorized access to the Starwood network
since 2014. Marriott recently discovered that an unauthorized party had copied
and encrypted information, and took steps towards removing it. On November 19,
2018, Marriott was able to decrypt the information and determined that the
contents were from the Starwood guest reservation database.
received an alert from an internal security tool regarding an attempt to access
the Starwood guest reservation database. Marriott quickly engaged leading
security experts to help determine what occurred. Marriott learned during the
investigation that there had been unauthorized access to the Starwood network
since 2014. Marriott recently discovered that an unauthorized party had copied
and encrypted information, and took steps towards removing it. On November 19,
2018, Marriott was able to decrypt the information and determined that the
contents were from the Starwood guest reservation database.
Marriott has not finished
identifying duplicate information in the database, but believes it contains
information on up to approximately 500 million guests who made a reservation at
a Starwood property. For approximately 327 million of these guests, the
information includes some combination of name, mailing address, phone number,
email address, passport number, Starwood Preferred Guest (“SPG”) account
information, date of birth, gender, arrival and departure information,
reservation date, and communication preferences. For some, the information also
includes payment card numbers and payment card expiration dates, but the
payment card numbers were encrypted using Advanced Encryption Standard
encryption (AES-128). There are two components needed to decrypt the payment
card numbers, and at this point, Marriott has not been able to rule out the
possibility that both were taken. For the remaining guests, the information was
limited to name and sometimes other data such as mailing address, email
address, or other information. Marriott reported this incident to law
enforcement and continues to support their investigation. We have already begun
notifying regulatory authorities.
identifying duplicate information in the database, but believes it contains
information on up to approximately 500 million guests who made a reservation at
a Starwood property. For approximately 327 million of these guests, the
information includes some combination of name, mailing address, phone number,
email address, passport number, Starwood Preferred Guest (“SPG”) account
information, date of birth, gender, arrival and departure information,
reservation date, and communication preferences. For some, the information also
includes payment card numbers and payment card expiration dates, but the
payment card numbers were encrypted using Advanced Encryption Standard
encryption (AES-128). There are two components needed to decrypt the payment
card numbers, and at this point, Marriott has not been able to rule out the
possibility that both were taken. For the remaining guests, the information was
limited to name and sometimes other data such as mailing address, email
address, or other information. Marriott reported this incident to law
enforcement and continues to support their investigation. We have already begun
notifying regulatory authorities.
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