Two world’s largest financial and retail ATM services, Diebold Nixdorf and NCR Corp. have sent alerts to US which is now a target for cyber criminals to hack cash machines.
The criminals use tools that force machines to generate cash in a hacking scheme known as ‘jackpotting.’ The malicious scheme has slowly spread its technique worldwide. However, the details are abstract because victims and police officials have not disclosed details about how much cash has been stolen.
Krebs on Security published the news, which said the ‘jackpotting’ hack had begun last year in Mexico. Both companies told Reuters that warnings have been sent to clients.
The hack has raised concerns within financial industry. NCR said in an alert on Friday, “This should be treated by all ATM deployers as a call to action to take appropriate steps to protect their ATMs against these forms of attack.”
Cyber criminals have attacked cash machines in several countries across Europe, according to a 2016 Russian cyber security Group IB report. The same year similar attacks were reported in Thailand and Taiwan.
Diebold Nixdorf said the company was warned by US officials as hackers targeted its own ATM model: Opteva. The model was closed for production years ago.
Nixdorf also explained the steps involved in drawing access to ATMs. A CNBC report reads “The hackers replace the hard drive and use an industrial endoscope to depress an internal button required to reset the device.”
The hackers typically target independent ATMs attached to pharmacies, retail stores and drive-through, observed a confidential US Secret Service. This was reported by Krebs on Security. But, Reuters was unable to acquire a copy of the Secret Service.