Western Reader
Thousands of guests at the MGM Resorts on the Las Vegas strip found themselves locked out of their hotel rooms due to a cyberattack.
This alarming incident raised serious concerns about the vulnerability of our digital systems and the potential for chaos when they are compromised.
MGM Resorts International, which boasts approximately 48,000 rooms on The Strip, was hit by this cyberattack.
The company’s properties include renowned names such as Mandalay Bay, the Bellagio, Luxor, and MGM Grand. The cyberattack, first detected on Sunday night, disrupted company emails, reservations, room keys, and even casino slot machines.
We went to a few MGM properties today to find several slot machines down due to the cyber security breach@8NewsNow pic.twitter.com/NRsW0fT6zz
— Victoria Saha (@VictoriaSaha) September 11, 2023
The company issued a statement on Monday acknowledging the cybersecurity issue affecting some of its systems. They assured an investigation had been promptly initiated with the help of external cybersecurity experts.
Law enforcement was also notified and certain systems were shut down to protect data. However, the investigation is ongoing, as the full extent of the issue is yet to be determined.
The impact of the cyberattack was felt both internally and externally. A concierge at the iconic Bellagio hotel reported the entire system was down and it was unclear when it would be restored. In the meantime, all computer operations were being done manually.
Guests of MGM properties took to social media to express their frustration and concern. Many reported being unable to access their rooms. Footage emerged showing the casino at the ARIA with machines off as the outage continued.
ATMs and credit card machines were also down, with restaurants at the properties only accepting cash and room charges being paused.
MGM’s systemwide outage continues—appears to be a cyber attack. Statement: “MGM Resorts recently identified a cybersecurity issue affecting some of the Company’s systems. Promptly after detecting the issue, we quickly began an investigation with assistance
from leading external… https://t.co/uyGrf6K6Y3— Vital Vegas (@VitalVegas) September 11, 2023
The cyberattack didn’t just affect Las Vegas. Reports suggest MGM properties outside of Vegas, including the Borgata in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and the Mississippi-based Biloxi, were also affected.
This is not the first time MGM has been targeted. In 2019, the company got hacked, affecting a reported 142 million guests.
High-profile individuals such as Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Justin Bieber were implicated in the breach. However, it was confirmed that no financial information was compromised during that breach.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential threats posed by cyberattacks. It likewise underscores the need for robust cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive data and maintain the smooth operation of businesses.
This article appeared in Conservative Cardinal and has been published here with permission.
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