How to protect yourself from Credit/Debit card data theft?

There is no doubt that ransomware are the primary focus of every cyber criminal to raise funds in this modern era of technology. Security researchers has been raising concerns about how cyber criminals are easily targeting the card holder because of the lack of security measures. Many banking chains in developing countries are still using Windows XP operating system, an OS which has been outdated for a while now. All these aspects are providing opportunities to cyber criminals to exploit the security holes.

Last year, Wall Street Journal has broken the story that the data theft of Debit Card holders has reached the 20 year high. Even though the target of criminals are only U.S citizens but it has showed even the biggest banks in the world have severe vulnerabilities in their security infrastructure. A report published by FICO (credit-scoring and analytic firm) last year says; the attacks on U.S citizens by debit cards used at ATMs has reached the all-time high.

Brian Kerbs, a well known name in the Infosec industry has also published a report recently in which; explained the tactics cyber criminals are using to steal customers credit/debit card data.  In his report he explained how hackers are using the techniques to hijack the customers phone and internet jack on ATMs. He also revealed that; NCR and Diebold ATM holders are the most vulnerable to these skimming techniques of cyber criminals. 

How a user secures himself from Debit Card Data theft

Few important tips that can help you avoid the data theft of your credit/debit card are as follow: 

• Check for compromised ATM machines: 

The skimmer device which I've been mentioning from the start is one of the most common way to steal your cards data among cyber criminals. A crook will plant one of these gadgets on the “swipe” or “dip” port on an ATM, where it may read the magnetic strip on your card and rip its data. The thief can then create counterfeit cards, or use the card information to make purchases online.

• Avoid using ATMs on public places (Shopping malls, Stores)

The ATMs located on public places like railway stations, Shopping malls, Stores (Walmart) are more easier to temper with then the ones on bank premises. For the sake of your own debit/credit data security avoid using ATMs that are in public places; the risk is too high. Just look at the numbers provided by FICO, as mentioned above: 174% increase in compromises for bank-based ATMs versus 317% increase for the rest. 

• Restrict your exposure and notify bank of any unusual transaction immediately

Not using your Credit/debit card will minimize the risk of encountering an infected ATM machine. Avoid taking out small amount of money; it can help you in achieving this task. In case you notice a transaction in your account that you cannot recognize; immediately make a call to your bank. 

These simple steps can avoid your pain of debit card data theft after all it was not always your bank's fault. Stay safe and keep note of these advises for the sake of your own security.  

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by Malik korrich ~ jeudi 14 avril 2016 0 commentaires

A Sophisticated ATM Attack by so-called Whiz-bangs

ATM skimmers become ever-more advanced, some thieves take the old-fashioned route and crack them right open, but there's a much quieter, high-tech form of theft targeting ATMs. It's called skimming. This is what happens when crooks take the idea of ATM hacking a little too literally.

A recent attack has been conducted in which three wannabe robbers went to town to smash a wall-mounted cash machine with crowbars and hammers. An ATM technician and KrebsOnSecurity reader has revealed the photos of this attack.

Source: Krebsonsecurity

According to the technician, the burglars ruined a $13,000 cash acceptor, a $5,000 check scanner, a $900 monitor, and a $700 card reader, among many other pricey items. They damaged almost every single part of the machine.

The criminals attempted to work their way into a cash machine using brute force. While they managed to make a real mess of the outer casing, they barely managed to scratch the cash-containing safe hinge as shown below which conceivable explains that if you’re going to use unsophisticated techniques to break into an ATM, you may as well use explosives instead of crowbars.

Source: Krebsonsecurity

This incident resulted in a great devastation that looks like something out of a bad Transformers movie.

According to European ATM Security Team (EAST), the real pros came armed with thermal tools to cut into the thick metal parts. These so-called whiz-bangs were not carrying the right tools for the job.

The malefactors draped flame-retardant cloth around the ATM while they exerted all their efforts cutting into the cash machine with a gas-powered torch.

In December 2014, there was a series of attacks on ATMs in Europe in which criminals attempt to blast open the cash machines with explosive gas. Since then, Bloomberg Business has published “Boom,” a detailed look at the growth of explosive gas attacks on ATMs since 2013.

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by Malik korrich ~ mardi 7 avril 2015 0 commentaires

Protect YourSelf From ATM Fraud

We are living in the age of technology and whole world has become dependent on plastic money to an impressive degree.There is no doubt that the use of a credit card and ATM it is safer to go with large amounts of cash, but you have to keep your eyes on the skimming.

Skimming fraud is an act to obtain card information illegally and use without the permission of card holder.

This can be done by using various method but in this article i will try to cover about ATM skimmer.

An ATM Skimmer is a device that acting as a card reader and normally place over ATM card slots where you would insert your card.

When you insert your card into a cash machine there is a reader that interprets the information on your card’s magnetic strip, the ATM skimmer works on the same way and when you put your card in that machine that has a skimmer device than this device steal information in the magnetic strip on credit/debit card as they pass through the overlying skimmer.

In the case of ATM or debit cards the criminal requires the user PIN for successful transaction, PIN san be steal by insert a small camera nearby which record all the action of the user.

 

Skimming Spots

Normally this type of fraud has been done by a organized gangs operating in different countries, in some cases these groups are not directly involve in skimming but they just simply sell the fraudulent device to low-level and newbie criminal. The main common areas of skimming as follows:

• Bank ATMs
• Hotels
• Gas station 
• Merchant shops 

Protection

The most effective way to prevent this fraud is to create the awareness at all levels, banking system must have an ability to detect the skimming and banks should educate their staff regarding the common attacks.

Look around before using your card is there any piece of metal and plastic around the card reader, If an ATM looks suspicious, do not use it and alert the ATM owner.  

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by Malik korrich ~ samedi 22 janvier 2011 0 commentaires