TUI admits HolidaysUncovered hit by web security attack

September 20, 2010 By 1 Comment

TUI Travel-owned user review site Holidays Uncovered suffered a security breach last week, impacting on how the site appeared in search engines.

holidays uncovered attack

Officials are still unsure as to the extent of the problem but have confirmed the attack took place and are investigating the circumstances.

The issue first came to light late on Thursday 16 September when searches on Google revealed the following warning message against each result featuring the user review site.

“This site may harm your computer”

The message is understood to have remained against search results for around ten hours before the attack was halted and measures put in place to prevent it happening again.

TUI Travel director of ecommerce Alun Williams confirmed on Friday that the incident had occurred, possibly through a breach of the site’s OpenX advertising system.

The breach was fixed immediately but a review is underway to establish the circumstances, he said.

TUI package holiday brand Thomson bought HolidaysUncovered in September 2007 for an undisclosed fee. The deal triggered a round of similar deals with TripAdvisor snapping up HolidayWatchdog six months later.

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Kevin May About Kevin May

Kevin May is editor of Tnooz. He joined as a co-founder in August 2009 after spending nearly four years as editor of UK-based business publication Travolution.

Passionate about the business of travel and the internet, Kevin played a major role in establishing Travolution in print, online, events and with an annual awards programme, as well as becoming a regular speaker and moderator at industry events.

Prior to Travolution, Kevin was web editor at Media Week (UK) and also worked in regional newspapers for two years at the Essex Enquirer. He started his career in journalism at the Police Gazette at New Scotland Yard in London.

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    September 20, 2010 at 6:52 am

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