Hackers breached a Starwood database at Marriott and stole information from 500 million people, including sensitive data like passport numbers and possibly payment card information. The big questions: How did they miss it for four years, and did the company do the right due diligence before its 2016 Starwood merger?
The Marriott breach has the sheer numbers and brand star power to make people take notice: 500 million people were affected, including possibly anyone who stayed at ubiquitous Marriott and Starwood properties across the globe. An unknown attacker stole information including emails, names, addresses, passport numbers and possibly payment card information, in a slow-moving attack that lasted four years.
The breach itself isn’t terribly unusual except for two critical questions:
Marriott stock is down about 5 percent in a mixed market on Friday.
But analysts seemed initially unconcerned about thefinancial impact: «Uncertainty regarding a potential impact to the brand will likely weigh on sentiment for trading today,» wrote Wes Golladay of RBC Capital Markets in an analyst statement this morning.
