RantCrush Top 5: January 30, 2017

One problem with going high tech is the threat of online hackers. A luxury hotel in Austria recently had to deal with that problem. Management at Seehotel Jaegerwirt was forced to pay thousands in Bitcoin to hackers who had managed to take control of the hotel’s electronic key system. After locking all the doors, stopping guests from entering their rooms, and shutting down hotel computers and the reservation system, the hackers demanded a ransom of 1,500 Euros. The Managing Director Christoph Brandstaetter said they didn’t have any choice: “The house was totally booked with 180 guests, we had no other choice. Neither police nor insurance help you in this case.”

Hotel ransomed by hackers as guests locked in rooms https://t.co/itULpE2shs pic.twitter.com/jNdyLaerq8

— The Local Austria (@TheLocalAustria) January 28, 2017

The hotel had been attacked before and had to replace its computers. This time, just paying the ransom was way faster and easier. But after the hotel paid up, the hackers tried to shut computers down once again. Now the management at the 111-year-old hotel plans to make the hotel hacker-safe by replacing the modern electronic locks with real, old-fashioned door locks for normal keys.

via GIPHY

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.