MARKETING: Every now and again you hear of a tale of woe which illustrates the vulnerability that many companies face when it comes so-called open web and the efforts of some smart hackers. Small travel brands, so reliant on Google Maps to open their doors to consumers, should take note. Read more on Wired.
Here is a story about a restaurant in Washington DC, a victim of hacking on Google Maps.
It began in early 2012, when proprietor Rene Bertagna experienced a sudden 75% drop off in customers on the weekend, the time he normally did most of his business.
The slump continued for months, for no apparent reason. Bertagna’s profits plummeted, he was forced to lay off some of his staff, and he struggled to understand what was happening.
Only later did Bertagna come to suspect that he was the victim of a gaping vulnerability that made his Google listings open to manipulation.
Read more on Wired