In a sigh of relief for both the company and its guests, MGM Resorts announced today that its systems are fully restored after a 10-day ransomware-related outage that had disrupted operations across their hotels and casinos.
Just over a week ago, MGM Resorts faced a significant cyber challenge when the ALPHV/BlackCat ransomware group claimed responsibility for causing disruptions across the renowned hotel and casino chain.
Their approach was alarmingly simple – a 10-minute phone call to an employee, demonstrating the power of social engineering tactics.
During the outage, guests reported difficulties in making reservations, using ATMs, playing certain games, and even entering their hotel rooms using mobile keys.
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This cyber incident affected not only MGM’s properties in Las Vegas but also regional resorts, including MGM Springfield in Massachusetts, MGM National Harbor, and the Empire City Casino in New York.
The situation raised concerns about the nature of the cyberattack and whether any guest data had been compromised.
MGM Resorts acted swiftly, shutting down certain systems, initiating an investigation with external cybersecurity experts, and notifying law enforcement agencies.
While the exact nature of the ransomware attack and whether any data was exfiltrated remained undisclosed, the restoration of the company’s systems brings some respite.
In a statement, MGM Resorts expressed their gratitude to their dedicated employees for their efforts in addressing intermittent issues during the outage. They also extended their thanks to guests for their patience during this challenging period.
As of the current update on September 20, 2023, all MGM Resorts’ hotels and casinos are operating normally.
Slot Dollars and FREEPLAY are available at all properties. However, MGM Rewards members are advised that their accounts will be adjusted to reflect Tier Credits and MGM Rewards points at a later date.
Some MGM Rewards points redemption, and promotional offers may still be unavailable, and guests are encouraged to check with the MGM Rewards desk or their Casino Host for more information.
MGM Resorts has not disclosed further details about the measures taken to secure their systems against future attacks, but this episode highlights the need for continued investment in cybersecurity to protect the integrity and privacy of both businesses and their patrons.
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