GoDaddy to Settle FTC Charges of ‘Unreasonable Security Practices’

admin — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 21:41:25 +0000

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said Wednesday (Jan. 15) that a proposed settlement order will require web hosting company GoDaddy to improve its information security program.

The regulator alleged in a complaint that GoDaddy failed to implement “reasonable and appropriate” security measures and that it misled customers about the extent of its data security protections, according to a Wednesday press release.

“Millions of companies, particularly small businesses, rely on web hosting providers like GoDaddy to secure the websites that they and their customers rely on,” Samuel Levine, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in the release. “The FTC is acting today to ensure that companies like GoDaddy bolster their security systems to protect consumers around the globe.”

Reached by PYMNTS, GoDaddy said in an emailed statement that it invests “significant resources” to help protect its customers’ data and websites and plans to continue doing so.

“We are constantly improving our security capabilities and have already implemented a number of the requirements in the settlement agreement with the FTC,” the statement said. “Notably, the resolution of this matter includes no admission of fault and no monetary penalties. We expect minimal financial impact associated with complying with the terms of the agreement with the FTC.”

The FTC said in its press release that GoDaddy’s “unreasonable security practices” resulted in several security breaches that allowed unauthorized access to customers’ websites and data and exposed consumers visiting those sites to risks.

The regulator added that the proposed settlement order will prevent the company from making misrepresentations about its security, require it to implement a comprehensive information-security program and mandate that it have an independent third-party assessor conduct reviews of that program.

In a separate, similar case, the FTC said in December that it finalized an order requiring Marriott International and its subsidiary Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide to implement a comprehensive information security program.

That case came after the companies suffered three data breaches that affected more than 344 million of their customers worldwide.

Marriott said at the time in a press release that it made no admission of liability with respect to the underlying allegations and that many of the enhancements to its data privacy and information security programs were already in place or in progress.

The post GoDaddy to Settle FTC Charges of ‘Unreasonable Security Practices’ appeared first on PYMNTS.com.

Starwood Hotels Adds Foursquare to Loyalty Program

admin — Tue, 10 May 2011 16:41:09 +0000

Foursquare has partnered with Starwood Hotels and Resorts to begin offering members of the Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) loyalty program additional points, badges and rewards for their checkins at participating hotels.

Beginning Tuesday, Foursquare members who connect their SPG and Foursquare accounts will earn 250 bonus Starpoints when they check in with a confirmed reservation at one of more than 1,000 hotels.

Starwood first announced the new program Tuesday morning via its SPGInsider Twitter account, tweeting: “Checking-in just got even more rewarding. Link your SPG acct with foursquare and earn bonus Starpoints, visit http://bit.ly/SPG4Square.”

“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Starwood on what will be one of the widest reaching loyalty integrations on any location-based service,” says Tristan Walker, director of business development for Foursquare. “Foursquare is focused on helping businesses reward loyal customers, and few companies truly understand customer loyalty like Starwood, so the partnership is a natural fit.”

Starwood properties include the St. Regis, W Hotels, Four Points, Westin, Le Meridien and Sheraton hotels.

The promotion runs through July 31, 2011, and members who check in during the promotion period will be eligible to win a resort getaway. SPG members will receive one entry per checkin.

Starwood is also hiding a Free Resort Night Award at some hotel locations. SPG members may find and unlock the reward by checking in between now and May 31, 2011.

SPG members who check in frequently at Starwood locations may be anointed as the “SPG Mayor.” Each month, Starwood will declare the member with the most checkins across all its properties as the SPG Mayor. “Mayoral duties will include sharing your favorite insider travel tips and destination hotspots with fellow frequent travelers around the globe,” according to Starwood promotional materials.

Starwood plans to kick off additional Foursquare promotions in August, but details are unknown at this time.

The partnership furthers Foursquare mission to reinvent loyalty programs and most closely resembles a similar program it started with Safeway last year.

More to come …

More About: checkins, foursquare, loyalty, loyalty program, MARKETING, SPG, starwood hotels

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Tag: starwood hotels

GoDaddy to Settle FTC Charges of ‘Unreasonable Security Practices’

Starwood Hotels Adds Foursquare to Loyalty Program