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Marriott Discloses Missing Data Files

Posted by Zonk on from the i-seem-to-have-misplaced-this-small-item dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Marriott International has admitted that it is missing backup computer tapes containing credit card account information and the Social Security numbers of about 206,000 time-share owners and customers, as well as employees of the company." From the Washington Post story: "Officials at Marriott Vacation Club International said it is not clear whether the tapes, missing since mid-November, were stolen from the company's Orlando headquarters or whether they were simply lost. An internal investigation produced no clear answer. The company notified the Secret Service over the past two weeks, and has also told credit card companies and other financial institutions about the loss of the tapes."

8 of 162 comments (clear)

  1. And THAT is why... by Winlin · · Score: 5, Funny

    I stayed in a Holiday Inn Express last night.

  2. Re:why do they have SSNs for customers? by User+956 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Time-share owners, maybe, employees definately, but customers? Why?

    Look, they're just making sure you don't steal any towels. Towel theft is a big deal.

    --
    The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
  3. Oh thank you thank you thank you! by rleesBSD · · Score: 4, Funny

    Now wifey will never know.

  4. This is why... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    This is exactly the reason why we never make backups. What does not exist, cannot be stolen :)

  5. Secret Service? by moosesocks · · Score: 2, Funny

    Forgive me for being uninformed, but why would the Secret Service be the agency responsible for investigating this type of incident?

    Unless Valerie Plame had a timeshare.....

    --
    -- If you try to fail and succeed, which have you done? - Uli's moose
  6. Re:why do they have SSNs for customers? by tq_at_sju · · Score: 2, Funny

    i got a marriot towel..... i mean i'm kind of a big deal....people know me

    --
    http://www.vanillaafro.com - take me seriously and I will shoot you
  7. Re:Lost != Stolen by MichaelSmith · · Score: 2, Funny
    All backups should be done on VERY obscure hardware

    In a previous job we did all our backups on nine track tape. Older backups were impossible to read because the magnetic coating would just stick to the read head.

    Nobody was going to steal that data!

    --
    http://michaelsmith.id.au
  8. Famous Last Words by TallMatthew · · Score: 3, Funny
    IT Manager: "Datasafe's here to pick up the backup tapes."

    Marriott soon-to-be-ex SA: "Um, didn't they already come this week?"