News came out last month

[here] on information security blog Krebsonsecurity.com, about attacks on European ATM machines that involved cutting into the machines and tapping into the wires that connect to the internal card reader. The hole would then be covered up with a fake decal or sticker. Photos supplied by NCR now show what such attacks could look like.

A hole left by crooks who added “wiretapping” or “eavesdropping” theft devices to a compromised ATM. Image: NCR.

“In this attack, the ATM fascia is penetrated close to the card reader to create a hole large enough for the attacker to reach inside the ATM and place a tap directly onto the card reader in order to skim card data as it is read by the ATM,” NCR said in an advisory it produced on the increasingly common attacks.

A key element in all aspects of security is to be aware of and take note of anything that appears newly altered or damaged. Certainly this is good personal advice when using a cash machine, but also for corporate situations in offices and boardrooms. Duct tape left under a table, carpet pulled up or bulging at an edge, or tiny crumbs from ceiling tile on a desk or floor could all be indications of tampering and possible eavesdropping attempts and should be investigated.

Read more on this ATM breach at Brian Krebs blog, Krebsonsecurity.com.

 

Equipment used by crooks to conduct “eavesdropping” or “wiretapping” attacks on ATMs. Source: EAST.