FAQ
Flare FAQ: PMS security for short-term rental managers
What is Flare?
Flare is a security monitoring app for short-term rental property managers. It watches your property management system (Guesty) and alerts you when something risky changes, such as a new admin, changed owner payout details (both within minutes) or guests reporting suspicious payment requests.
Which property management systems does Flare support?
Guesty at launch, with more to follow.
Is Flare a guest screening tool?
No. Guest screening checks guests before they arrive. Flare checks your PMS account for signs of account takeover, payout fraud and guest phishing. The two work well together.
How do I know if my Guesty account has been hacked?
Common warning signs: a new admin you don't recognize, permission changes, an old unused account suddenly active, owner bank details or a listing's payment account changing, or guests saying they received payment requests from you. Flare alerts you to these automatically, and to messages in your PMS inbox that link to fake booking-platform pages, which is how most takeovers start.
Can Flare spot phishing messages sent to my team?
Most takeovers start with a message that looks like a guest or a booking platform and links to a fake login page. Flare reads the messages in your PMS inbox and warns you when one links to a site that imitates Booking.com, Airbnb, Guesty or a payment company, hides where it goes, or was registered only days ago and asks you to log in. It can't see your email, so it doesn't cover phishing sent straight to your mailbox.
How can I prevent owner payout fraud?
Watch for changes to owner payout details and confirm every change with the owner by phone before the next payout. Flare alerts you when payout details change in your PMS, where your PMS shares that data.
My guests received a fake payment message in my name. What should I do?
Tell guests not to pay through any link, check your PMS for new admins and changed message templates, reset passwords and turn on two-step login. Flare includes a “We've been hacked” checklist and warns you when guests report suspicious payment requests.
Can Flare change or delete anything in my PMS?
No. Flare never changes or deletes your data. It only reads.
Does Flare store guest data?
No. Flare stores fingerprints of changes, not guest details.
How will I receive alerts?
By email or in Slack, on your phone and laptop.
How much does Flare cost?
Pricing will be announced at launch. Pilot customers get first access.