What happened?

We discovered that an unauthorized third party has recently stolen part of TripAdvisor's member email list. We're taking this incident very seriously. We've identified the vulnerability, shut it down and are vigorously pursuing the matter with law enforcement. We sincerely apologize for this inconvenience.

How does this impact those who were affected?

The portion of our membership that was impacted may receive some unsolicited emails (SPAM) as a result. No passwords were taken, and any and all password information is secure. TripAdvisor does not collect members' credit card or financial information, and we never sell or rent our member list.

How many members were impacted?

It affected a portion of our membership.

When did it happen?

We're still investigating the details.

What is TripAdvisor doing about this?

While we're still investigating the details, we've identified the vulnerability, shut it down and are vigorously pursuing the matter with law enforcement. We are also are implementing additional security precautions to help prevent another incident in the future.

What is SPAM?

SPAM, aka. Junk Mail, is unsolicited bulk email. Unsolicited means that the Recipient has not granted verifiable permission for the message to be sent. Bulk means that the message is sent as part of a larger collection of messages, all with nearly identical content. More serious forms of SPAM include phishing in which the emails ask users for more personal information such as credit card information, bank account information, passwords and ID numbers.

How can I reduce or avoid SPAM?

Avoid opening suspicious or unsolicited emails

Never respond to SPAM email or click any links in SPAM email

Avoid giving personal or financial information in an email, especially credit card information, bank account information, passwords and ID numbers. (TripAdvisor will never ask you for your password or sensitive personal information over email). Most major email service providers have SPAM filters which help reduce the amount of SPAM in your inbox. Check with your email provider for more information.

What are some common SPAM red flags?