Police Probe Massive Data Leak at Chinese Hotel Chain
Chen Juan
DATE:  Aug 30 2018
/ SOURCE:  Yicai
Police Probe Massive Data Leak at Chinese Hotel Chain Police Probe Massive Data Leak at Chinese Hotel Chain

(Yicai Global) Aug. 30 -- Police in China are investigating one of the country's largest hotel chains after claims that around 500 million items of user data have been leaked online.

A screenshot went viral this week showing a hacker's attempt to cash in on data from Shanghai-based Huazhu Group for bitcoin on the dark web.

The leak involves data from hotel brands including Hanting, CitiGO, Crystal Orange and Ibis, according to the post. Some 123 million pieces of user registration data, 130 million pieces of customer identity information, and 240 million check-in records are included with details of identity cards, bank accounts and mobile phone numbers.

The case is the latest blow to consumer trust in China after a series of incidents this year, most notably a fake vaccine scandal that hit the headlines last month and last weekend's alleged murder of a passenger by a driver working for Didi Chuxing, China's dominant ride-hailing service provider. That second killing of a Didi user since May has further heightened government and public concern over safety.

Huazhu was last involved in a data leak in October 2013 when nearly 20 million check-in records from Hanting and Home Inns were leaked online due to security problems with partner Huida Yizhan, a hotel-related digital services provider.

The group operates multiple hotel chains in China and boasts some 113 million members. Huazhu more than doubled its second-quarter net profit to CNY316 million (USD46 million) from a year earlier. It had an overall occupancy rate of around 90 percent, some 70 percentage points above the industry average.

Editor: William Clegg

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Keywords:   Huazhu Hotel Group,Information Leakage