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| (pc-Google Images) |
Romantik Seehotel Jäegerwirt 4-Star Superior Hotel had confirmed that it paid €1,500 (£1,275/$1,600) in Bitcoin ransom to cybercriminals who managed to break into their network and hack their key card system that prevented its guests from entering or leaving their rooms.
Besides gaining control of the electronic key system, the hackers even gained control over the general computer system, shutting down all hotel computers, just for the fun of it. Once the hotel made the payment, the system was completely restored that allowed the hotel staff to gain access to the network and hotel guests to enter and exit their rooms.
Fortunately, the security standards of the hotel had been improved by its IT department, and critical networks had been separated to thwart the attack, giving attackers no chance to harm the hotel again.
"The house was totally booked with 180 guests; we had no other choice. Neither police nor insurance helps you in this case. The restoration of our system after the first attack in summer has cost us several thousand Euros. We did not get any money from the insurance so far because none of those to blame could be found. Every euro that is paid to blackmailers hurts us. We know that other colleagues have been attacked, who have done similarly."
The Ransomware had stolen the nights of many businesses and organizations, as they would often be blamed to fight up to this nasty threat.
