Booking.com data breach: Travel company warns customers of ‘suspicious activity’ affecting reservations

Booking.com customers have been put on alert after a data breach exposed the personal details of some users to unauthorised third parties, renewing fears about how safe travellers’ information really is.

The global booking giant — which boasts more than 28 million accommodation listings worldwide — connects travellers with hotels, apartments, flights, car rentals and experiences across hundreds of countries.

In an email sent to affected customers on Monday, Booking.com warned the compromised information could include booking details, names, email and home addresses, phone numbers and any information shared directly with accommodation providers.

“We recently detected suspicious activity involving a number of reservations and took immediate action to contain the issue,” the company said.

“The security of your personal information is our utmost priority. We’ll continue to enhance and extend the robust security measures we have in place to secure your reservations with us.”

Customers were also advised to take additional precautions, including using antivirus software, to guard against phishing scams that impersonate trusted organisations to steal personal or financial details.

It is not known how many customers have been affected, nor whether credit card details have been compromised.

PerthNow has contacted Booking.com for comment.