orbitz site

Orbitz and Expedia Reach $110,000 Settlement with Pennsylvania AG Over 2017 Data Breach

The travel companies were fined for lax data security practices that potentially led to a breach affecting 880,000 payment cards globally.

Travel websites Orbitz and Expedia have reached a settlement with the Pennsylvania attorney general’s office that concludes an investigation into a 2018 data breach, state Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced Friday.

Orbitz disclosed in March 2018 that a breach may have compromised data for 20,755 Pennsylvania users and up to 880,000 payment cards across the globe. Expedia has owned Orbitz and its assets since a sale in September 2015, according to the attorney’s office.

Shapiro and his team have fined the companies $110,000, including an $80,000 civil penalty, as punishment for lax data security policies that did not adequately protect customer information.

As part of the settlement, Expedia and Orbitz committed to strengthening their cybersecurity practices, including implementing a comprehensive security program on Orbitz’s website. In addition, the companies must conduct an annual comprehensive risk assessment, reorganize its network to be more segmented, and deploy better access control and account management tools.

“Someone broke into Orbitz’ IT system and vacationed in what was supposed to be a safe place for travelers,” Shapiro said in a statement. “The breach showed the company’s promise to keep customer information secure was more like a leaky boat. We work every day to protect Pennsylvania consumers and to seek justice when any company misrepresents itself.”

Shapiro’s settlement follows in the footsteps of other attorneys general who have gone after companies for data breaches in recent years. In July, all 50 state attorneys general declared victory after reaching a $650 million settlement with Equifax, the consumer reporting agency that suffered a 2017 breach affecting 147 million customers.

Orbitz, which did not provide comment on the sesttlement, first began to investigate a breach in 2017 after discovering that an older website, which hosted its travel rewards redemption service, and the platform of an unnamed business partner were breached, according to Fortune. The stolen information included names, dates of birth, email addresses and street addresses in addition to payment card information.

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • AI Is Now the Leading Cybersecurity Concern for Security, IT Leaders

    Arctic Wolf recently published findings from its State of Cybersecurity: 2025 Trends Report, offering insights from a global survey of more than 1,200 senior IT and cybersecurity decision-makers across 15 countries. Conducted by Sapio Research, the report captures the realities, risks, and readiness strategies shaping the modern security landscape. Read Now

  • Analysis of AI Tools Shows 85 Percent Have Been Breached

    AI tools are becoming essential to modern work, but their fast, unmonitored adoption is creating a new kind of security risk. Recent surveys reveal a clear trend – employees are rapidly adopting consumer-facing AI tools without employer approval, IT oversight, or any clear security policies. According to Cybernews Business Digital Index, nearly 90% of analyzed AI tools have been exposed to data breaches, putting businesses at severe risk. Read Now

  • Software Vulnerabilities Surged 61 Percent in 2024, According to New Report

    Action1, a provider of autonomous endpoint management (AEM) solutions, today released its 2025 Software Vulnerability Ratings Report, revealing a 61% year-over-year surge in discovered software vulnerabilities and a 96% spike in exploited vulnerabilities throughout 2024, amid an increasingly aggressive threat landscape. Read Now

  • Motorola Solutions Named Official Safety Technology Supplier of the Ryder Cup through 2027

    Motorola Solutions has today been named the Official Safety Technology Supplier of the 2025 and 2027 Ryder Cup, professional golf’s renowned biennial team competition between the United States and Europe. Read Now

  • Evolving Cybersecurity Strategies

    Organizations are increasingly turning their attention to human-focused security approaches, as two out of three (68%) cybersecurity incidents involve people. Threat actors are shifting from targeting networks and systems to hacking humans via social engineering methods, living off human errors as their most prevalent attack vector. Whether manipulated or not, human cyber behavior is leveraged to gain backdoor access into systems. This mainly results from a lack of employee training and awareness about evolving attack techniques employed by malign actors. Read Now

New Products

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.