Bank Card Technology is Older Than the Floppy Disk. So Why Aren't ATMs Hacked More Often?

From PR Newswire –

“After collectively spending billions of dollars, perhaps a trillion dollars, on network security, corporations still have major security problems. Meanwhile, your ATM card allows your bank to dispense cash with confidence from a machine on a city sidewalk.

The technology used by your ATM card is more ancient than the floppy disk. So why are bank ATM networks generally secure, while corporate information networks, in spite of continuous investment in the latest security technology, are barely able to keep ahead of intruders?

Wes Kussmaul, author of Don't Get Norteled, claims that the difference is not about technology but about assumptions and architecture.”

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The hazards of outing ATM malware

From ATM Marketplace -

"In December 2013, Russian antivirus software developer Dr. Web announced that it had added protection to its ATM Shield product to block Trojan.Skimer.18 malware.

Threats followed immediately, according to a post on the Dr. Web blog. A message from either the programmer or the crime syndicate (Dr. Web isn't sure which) read, in part:

• ... the development of Dr.Web_ATM_shield threatens activity of Syndicate with multi-million dollar profit. Hundreds of criminal organizations throughout the world can lose their earnings.
• You have a WEEK to delete all references about ATM.Skimmer from your web resource. Otherwise syndicate will stop cash-out transactions and send criminal for your programmers’ heads.

When Dr. Web proved to be indifferent to the idea of criminal organizations losing their earnings, the "syndicate" firebombed Dr. Web offices. Twice."



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Breaking the ice: The US meets cash recycling ATMs (finally)

From ATM Marketplace –

“If you've been around the ATM industry during the last several years, you will have heard a lot about cash recycling technology. But if you've been around the industry in the U.S., you won't have seen it deployed. At all.

Some in the industry believe that this is bound to change; Elan Financial Services and Nautilus Hyosung America say that, in fact, change has begun already.”

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Barclays machine moniker misfire has Brits bristling

From ATM Marketplace –

“In an apparent attempt to ease customers' transition from staffed teller counters to machine-equipped "assisted service counters," a handful of Barclays branches in the U.K. have given first names to their self-service devices.

According to a report by the U.K.'s Daily Mail, the names were meant to help customers distinguish one machine that performs a particular set of transactions from another that performs a different set. For instance, you might see "Sally" about depositing a check, but visit "Mike" to arrange a direct debit.

However the effort has not gone down well with those who see the attempt to humanize machines as a patronizing brush-off by the bank.”

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