Can a Portable ATM Machine be protected from Thieves?

Portable ATM machines provide great convenience to consumers in a myriad of retail establishments, events, and outside locations. You might think that their placement, away from the heightened safety and security of places like banks, would make them more vulnerable to thieves and others with ill intentions. That’s most certainly untrue and here are just a few of the ways that these machines are protected. 

Portable ATM Machine protection on site 

First and foremost, ATM machines are built to take a beating. They’re typically constructed with industrial-grade steel and heavy welding. Depending on their location, they might even be bolted to the wall or the ground keeping them securely in place and extremely difficult to move without the right tool kit that includes a torch and industrial-strength drill.  

Portable ATM Machine protection with software and other means

Portable ATM machines are also equipped with cameras onboard and in the surrounding area that take photographic and video footage of anyone that engages the machine. They have alarms that go off if the machine is compromised in some way and which notifies the police and an alarm company contracted to monitor the signal. In addition, many have a GPS inside that will make tracking a perpetrator fairly easy.  

How you can keep the machine safe

If you’re a business owner with an onsite portable ATM machine, you probably won’t have to do much beyond your usual security measures to keep the machine safe. If you suspect someone has ill intentions toward the machine, or you catch someone casing it out, you can call the police before any crime is attempted. You can also be sure you have a video camera in your establishment that points directly at the area immediately surrounding the machine.  

What to do if thieves strike

If you report to work one morning and find that thieves have struck and went straight for the portable ATM machine, call the police first. After the police are called, you can call the company that manages the ATM for you. It’s not likely that thieves will be successful getting the machine out of the building, or the money out of the machine, but it’s best to prepare for any possible scenario. Jail time and fines for stealing from an ATM are pretty hefty which serves as a deterrent to possible thieves.

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Wireless ATM service perks

ATM machines outside of banks have been a game-changer for small businesses. Offering this convenience to their customers increases foot traffic, creates an additional revenue stream into the business and often increases the money spent by customers when they’re there. Wireless ATM service is a no brainer for businesses. Why wouldn’t you make you business even better by adding wireless ATM service in Colorado? Here’s what you need to know.

Benefits everywhere you need them 

The most obvious benefit of wireless ATM service in Colorado is that the machine can be everywhere you need it to be. If a machine is inside of a space, it won’t add an additional need for connection to outside lines. If it’s outdoors, and you’re an event planner, you’ll be amazed at the many places where an ATM can be placed for the convenience of your event attendees. That means they never have to leave your event to get more cash to spend there.  

No need for extra equipment with wireless ATM service

With many wired machines that depend on Internet connectivity, you need to worry about ancillary equipment that can make that happen. Another convenient feature of wireless ATMs is that no connectivity equipment is required. No more worries about buying a router with the bandwidth to support the machine, or potential connectivity problems that might arise between the machine and the connection source.  

Less room for error with wireless ATM service

Because a wireless ATM automatically gets the information it needs and the connection is required wirelessly, there is less room for error due to faulty connections or equipment. As a business owner, you can practically set it and forget it. In all actuality, a reputable ATM service company will set it for you, delivering the machine, making sure it’s online, and ensuring that it’s always operable for the convenience of your customers and for a positive impact on your bottom line.

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Have you explored these ATM security options yet

ATM crimes have increased significantly over the last few years. They are on the rise, especially because many are yet to upgrade their terminals to EMV. The debit cards still carry the magnetic stripes which can be easily duplicated.

The popular attacks include card shimming and card skimming. The other attacks can include anything that varies from grab raids to high-tech attacks. Recently, there have been more unusual attacks like jackpotting and explosive attacks. The threats to ATMs evolve but so should the security measures. Here is a rundown on the security options that you can consider-

Knowledge

Knowledgeable technicians have better chances of spotting any tampering with the ATMS including malicious hardware units. So, being familiar with the ATM terminals is one of the best practices to save cash and sensitive information.

Placement of the ATMs

The placement of the ATMs also plays an impact on its security. The best would be to obtain a criminal activity report first before considering potential ATM locations. This report can suggest what type of security best suits the location. When ATMs are installed in safe locations for customers, they are also more secure for ATM owners.

Physical barriers

To prevent smash and grab attacks, physical barriers can play a great role. Concrete pylons and bollards can be used as physical barricades around the ATM. For an extra layer of security, anchor kits allow you to bolt the ATM to the ground. The anchor kits can withstand high impacts.

Security

The top cabinet on the ATM is the most vulnerable point for an ATM attack. To prevent unauthorized entries, upgrading the locks and managing the key access is a good option.

Software update

ATMs are susceptible to a number of cyberattacks. To protect an ATM from unauthorized downloads and malicious software, software updates in a timely manner are necessary. For more precautionary measures, updating the passwords and monitoring the technicians or employees accessing the ATM should be done regularly.

Investing in security management software

Remote diagnosis and monitoring solutions allow the ATM owners to operate and manage the ATMs in real-time. There are security softwares available that scan any unusual transaction or service activity at the ATMs. Any suspicious activity that might occur is recorded and the alert is sent to the concerned department.

For an added layer of security, alarms should be installed at the ATM access points. These will notify the site staff when the terminal site is breached.

With a combination of technology and preventive strategies, the risk to ATM terminals can be greatly reduced.

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ATM jackpotting: How, why, when? All you need to know about it…

What is ATM Jackpotting?

To be acquainted with protecting any ATM, one first needs to know the latest trends,techniques, and defenses. ATM jackpotting is when hackers install malicious software on ATMs for the the machines to dole out money without any PIN requirement. For this, the thieves first gain physical access to the ATMs just like anyone else and install electronic equipments to start with their so-called art. The malware can either be from a mass storage device which sends a signal to the ATM to dispense cash or a separate dispenser (the one with malware) can be attached to the ATM by disconnecting the original dispenser.

 

What are the type of Jackpotting?

Jackpotting has basically two types- malware and black box.

1. The malware method can be from a mass storage device which sends a signal to the ATM to dispense cash. The malware can even be installed days before the actual crime occurs. In the meantime, the ATM dispenses cash normally form cash machine denver.

2. The Black Box method can be a separate dispenser(the one with malware) which can be attached to the ATM by disconnecting the original dispenser. The criminals drill out the serial ports in the ATMs in the facia thereby hijacking the EPP cable which then sends commands to spit out cash form cash machine denver.

 

Where did ATM jackpotting origin?

Jackpotting dates back to 2013, when the first attack occurred in Mexico and which slowly spread to other countries. Once successful, jackpotting finds the next weakest link. Coming to the United States of America, jackpotting has been targeted to standalone ATMs. It has popped up in New England and the Pacific Northwest. Jackpotting might seem appealing to criminals in the US due to the higher rate of currency than any other country.But the risks involved with getting caught are very high.

 

What has made jackpotting easy?

There isn’t one particular answer that can explain this trend of new crime. Like any other crime, hackers find financial fraud cyclical. By targeting a region where law enforcement is not as robust, the attackers take advantage of the ease of entry. When one region is locally attacked, they try to move around globally before being exposed to law enforcement.

 

Are certain ATM brands more vulnerable to these attacks?

In no case are certain models/types more vulnerable to attacks than others. Law enforcement ought to have the best practises for such scenarios based on the locations of the ATMs.

 

Should consumers be worried?
As per the reports, consumers should NOT be worried. The attack in no way affects the consumers’ information or personal funds. The concern should be on the possibility of future access. With rumors circulating about hacks and reports of money theft, this may lead to a dangerous situation where the malware lies dormant, preparing and growing for even bigger attacks.