What are the most common cyber attacks on booking systems?

1 Phishing and social engineering

Phishing and social engineering are techniques that hackers use to trick users into revealing their login credentials, personal details, or payment information. They often send fake emails, texts, or calls that appear to be from legitimate sources, such as the booking system provider, the hotel, or the travel agency. They may ask users to verify their accounts, confirm their bookings, or update their payment methods, and direct them to malicious websites or attachments that capture their data. To avoid falling for phishing and social engineering, users should always check the sender's identity, the URL of the website, and the content of the message for any signs of fraud.

2 Malware and ransomware

Malware and ransomware are malicious software that hackers use to infect booking systems and gain access to their data. Malware can perform various actions, such as spying, stealing, deleting, or altering data, while ransomware can encrypt data and demand a ransom for its decryption. Hackers can spread malware and ransomware through phishing emails, infected devices, or compromised networks. To prevent malware and ransomware attacks, booking systems should have updated antivirus software, firewalls, and backups, and users should avoid opening suspicious links or attachments.

3 SQL injection and cross-site scripting

SQL injection and cross-site scripting are types of web application attacks that hackers use to execute malicious commands or scripts on booking systems. SQL injection targets the database of the booking system, where hackers insert SQL statements that can access, modify, or delete data. Cross-site scripting targets the web interface of the booking system, where hackers inject JavaScript code that can hijack user sessions, redirect users to malicious websites, or display fraudulent content. To protect against SQL injection and cross-site scripting, booking systems should use parameterized queries, input validation, output encoding, and secure cookies.

4 Distributed denial-of-service

Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) is an attack that hackers use to overwhelm booking systems with a large amount of traffic, preventing them from functioning properly or crashing them completely. Hackers can launch DDoS attacks using botnets, which are networks of compromised devices that they control remotely. DDoS attacks can disrupt the availability and performance of booking systems, causing frustration and loss of revenue for hospitality businesses and customers. To mitigate DDoS attacks, booking systems should use load balancing, traffic filtering, and cloud services.

5 Credential stuffing and brute force

Credential stuffing and brute force are attacks that hackers use to gain unauthorized access to booking systems by trying different combinations of usernames and passwords. Credential stuffing relies on using stolen or leaked credentials from other sources, such as data breaches or dark web markets, while brute force tries random or common passwords until it finds a match. Hackers can use credential stuffing and brute force to access user accounts, steal personal and payment information, or make fraudulent bookings. To prevent credential stuffing and brute force, booking systems should enforce strong and unique passwords, multi-factor authentication, and account lockout policies.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?