The Embattled Swipe-Card Hotel Key

The magnetic hotel room key, one of the lodging industry's most popular but controversial creations, is losing some of its attraction. . .For several years, rumors have circulated on the Internet about privacy concerns with magnetic cards. . .A few weeks ago, though, the rumors boiled over after Robert L. Mitchell, a national correspondent for the trade publication Computerworld, posted an item on his blog questioning the security of magnetic cards. Mr. Mitchell reported that Peter Wallace, an information technology manager for a travel agency in Wyomissing, Pa., had discovered personal information encoded on key cards issued by at least three different hotel chains. Mr. Wallace would not discuss his findings with me, claiming that the report had hurt his business, but insisted his earlier statements were accurate. ''Do the research,'' he said. ''The truth is out there.''

Mr. Mitchell, who said Mr. Wallace had also stopped communicating with him after the blog posting, believes Mr. Wallace is telling the truth. So much so, in fact, that Computerworld is collecting samples of hotel key cards to find out if they contain any personal data. ''If you listen to people in the industry, you'll hear them tell you that there is no personal information on those cards,'' he said. ''But what is the truth? We intend to find out.''

Source: The New York Times

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