Ever since ATM machines first appeared back in 1969, thieves have been eagerly lining up to hack them and their users. Today’s ATMs include integrated video cameras, thick steel walls and silent alarms for security but some also contain the latest in state of the art of hacking technology adding up to more than… Read More »
Evolution of ATM Theft: Sledgehammers To Skimmers
Over 10 billion transactions are performed every year at ATMs and there are over 425,000 of these cash dispensing machines throughout the US for a total of 3,000,000 used globally. ATMs hold anywhere from $3,000 to upwards of $100,000 per machine so they naturally become a prime target for thieves. Physically breaking open an ATM is… Read More »
Billion Dollar Bank Hackers Use Old Phishing Technique
Last week the internet security firm Kaspersky Lab released a report on a highly-successful group of cybercriminals who targeted banks and may have stolen up to a billion across 100 financial institutions worldwide. While Kaspersky Labs did not name the victimized organizations, the report indicates they were mostly located in China, Russia and the United… Read More »
The Battle Over Digital Payments at the Cash Register
Apple has launched their their new digital wallet service, but not all North American retailers are on board with the new service. Retailers that are members of the Merchant Customer Exchange (MCX) organization are developing an alternative based around an app that uses visual QR codes. The app is called CurrentC, and is currently in… Read More »
Has Apple Pay Put An End To Credit Card Security Issues?
All across America today, retailers have begun to accept Apple Pay purchases using secure encryption, Touch ID and Apple iPhones. So is cash still king or have we crowned a new form of payment winner? Apple’s new smartphones and iPads use an NFC wireless module to communicate to a merchant’s payment terminal. Once connected, a… Read More »
J.P. Morgan Chase Breach Affecting Up To 83 Million Accounts
It seems every few weeks, another organization announces a big data breach putting their customers at risk. This time it’s the largest bank in the United States. J.P. Morgan Chase announced a breach on August 27th, but initially believed the number of compromised accounts was much smaller. It wasn’t until October 2nd that they revealed 76 million… Read More »
Home Depot Admits to Potentially Massive Data Breach
It wasn’t that long ago consumers were apprehensive about the risks of buying online. With the recent rash of retailers falling victim to point-of-sale malware, the tables may have turned. Last week Home Depot confirmed a potentially massive data breach and officially joined the ranks of Target, Neiman Marcus, P.F. Chang’s, Goodwill and other retailers… Read More »
‘Backoff’ Retail Malware Threat Even Worse than Expected
Just a few weeks ago the Department of Homeland Security issued a warning to retailers about Backoff, the point-of-sale malware responsible for the massive payment card security breach at Target during last year’s holiday season. The initial report indicated up to 600 retailers were affected, but on August 22nd the DHS issued another advisory that… Read More »
