Austrian Hotel Pays $1,600 Ransom After Hackers Target Electronic Key Lock System

Ever-changing technology has undoubtedly improved the way we travel. Nonetheless, there are some clear cons, none more concerning than the potential for a crippling cyber attack.

According to Bleeping Computer, a four-star hotel in Austria has been targeted by hackers on multiple occasions of late, with a ransomware infection recently affecting many of the hotel's key systems. 

Romantik Seehotel Jägerwirt in the Austrian Alps had its electronic key lock system, reservation system and cash desk system go down, according to Bleeping Computer, citing local media.

The hotel, which was at full capacity with 180 guests booked in, opted to pay the ransom of $1,600 in Bitcoin.

Fortunately, no guests were locked into their rooms because of fire code regulations mandating that smart locks open manually from the inside. What's more, most guests were out on the local ski slopes when the incident occurred.

"We were hacked, but nobody was locked in or out," the hotel's managing director Christopher Brandstaetter told Bleeping Computer. "For one day we were not able to make new keycards."

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"Since the locking system must work even in the event of power failure, the guests in the hotel almost did not notice the incident," the manager also added. "We simply could not issue new keycards because the computers were encrypted."

The hotel has been the target of at least four attacks so far and has shelled out more than $10,000 to enhance digital security.

In hopes of protecting the hotel from another attack, Brandstaetter said management will make the switch from smart locks to conventional keys in the future.

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