The Marriott Data Breach: What Happened, Who Was Affected, and How to Protect Your Business
The news of the Marriott data breach shook the world when it was revealed that personal data from up to 500 million guests had been compromised. This breach, one of the largest in history, exposed critical security flaws and raised major concerns about how companies handle customer data. If your business works with sensitive information, or you’ve ever stayed at a Marriott or Starwood property, you need to understand the risks and what steps to take next.
What Happened in the Marriott Data Breach?
In late 2018, Marriott International announced that hackers had accessed the reservation system of its Starwood subsidiary, compromising a database dating back to 2014. The breach involved approximately 327 million records containing personally identifiable information (PII) such as:
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Names
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Email addresses
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Passport numbers
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Phone numbers
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Birth dates
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Reservation details
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Encrypted payment card information
Marriott discovered the breach on September 8, 2018, but the unauthorized access had been ongoing for nearly four years. On November 19, they decrypted the stolen data and confirmed the scope of the attack. While the data was encrypted, Marriott admitted that the encryption keys may also have been stolen, significantly weakening the protection.
How Did the Attackers Gain Access?
Cybersecurity experts are still analyzing the full chain of events, but it’s clear that the attackers exploited weaknesses in how Marriott stored and managed its encryption keys. Best practices dictate that encryption keys should be stored separately from the encrypted data—something that may not have been followed here.
This raises important questions:
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How did hackers gain access to both the data and its encryption keys?
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Why did Marriott take two months to notify the public after discovering the breach?
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And most critically, how did this breach go undetected for four years?
While some answers may never come to light, one thing is certain: Marriott failed to detect and respond to a prolonged data breach, leaving millions at risk.
Were You Affected?
If you were a member of Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) or stayed at any of their properties—including Sheraton, Westin, W Hotels, St. Regis, or others—your information may have been compromised.
Beyond personal details, the stolen data could include passport numbers and payment card details, increasing the risk of identity theft, fraud, and phishing attacks.
What Is Marriott Doing About It?
In response, Marriott launched a dedicated website and call center to support impacted customers. They’ve also offered:
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One year of free WebWatcher service to monitor for misuse of personal data
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Fraud consultation and identity theft recovery services for affected U.S. customers
However, relying solely on Marriott’s support isn’t enough. The Marriott data breach is a stark reminder that individuals and businesses must take ownership of their cybersecurity.
What Should You Do Now?
Whether or not you were personally affected by the Marriott breach, these steps can help protect your data and reduce your exposure to future attacks.
🔐 Monitor Your Identity
Stay alert for suspicious activity. Monitor your credit reports, bank statements, and email accounts for unusual behavior. Consider enrolling in an identity monitoring service.
📩 Be Wary of Phishing
Hackers often follow data breaches with phishing attacks. Watch for emails pretending to be from Marriott or other trusted organizations, especially those asking you to click links or provide personal details.
Business Leaders: Don’t Wait for a Breach to Act
If your business handles sensitive client or employee data, you can’t afford to be reactive. Use the Marriott breach as a wake-up call to strengthen your cybersecurity posture.
Here’s how:
💡 Implement Security Awareness Training
Employees are often the weakest link in your security chain. Equip your team to recognize phishing, social engineering, and suspicious behavior by offering:
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Baseline phishing simulations
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Interactive cybersecurity training modules
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Real-world attack simulations
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Detailed reports and progress tracking
🌐 Use Dark Web Scanning
Stolen credentials and data often end up on the Dark Web, a hidden part of the internet where cybercriminals buy and sell stolen information.
Dark Web Scanning can alert you if your company’s data—email accounts, passwords, payment info—has been compromised. By identifying threats early, you can prevent further damage and shut down unauthorized access before it becomes a larger issue.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Rely on Big Corporations to Protect You
The Marriott data breach proves that even global giants with vast resources can fall short on cybersecurity. Whether you’re a business owner, IT leader, or simply a consumer, you must take a proactive role in protecting sensitive data.
At Vision Computer Solutions, we help businesses stay ahead of threats with robust cybersecurity services, including:
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Security Awareness Training
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Dark Web Monitoring
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Endpoint Protection
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Data Encryption & Backup Solutions
📞 Contact us today at 1.248.349.6115 to secure your business before the next data breach happens.
