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ATM malwares are no myth to the cyber world and this time is no different than the earlier. a team of security researchers from PointProof have unraveled the veil off a new malware, named GreenDispenser, that gives the capability to hackers to attack compromised ATMs and drain all of it's cash.
This malware acts on the basic principle of a primitive DDoS action in which the machine displays an 'out of service' message on the screen but in the meanwhile can crack open the bank vaults through correct pin number, looting a lot of money with no trace of robbery at all.
Such kind of activities were first reported in Mexico and similar abuses have been reported in other countries ever since. GreenDispenser, unlike its predecessors, Ploutus and Tyupkin; requires no physical access for the installation procedure and hence makes it easier for the hacker to break into the machine and subsequently; the server.
It is being doubted that cyber criminal bosses now have an mobile app that provides them with a two-step encryption and creates a firewall of authorisation for malwares such as GreenDispenser itself.
ProofPoint, in another post explained such encryption; an extract from which is given below:-
GreenDispenser employs authentication using a static hardcoded PIN, followed by a second layer of authentication using a dynamic PIN, which is unique for each run of the malware. The attacker derives this second PIN from a QR code displayed on the screen of the infected ATM. We suspect that the attacker has an application that can run on a mobile phone with functionality to scan the barcode and derive the second PIN – a two-factor authentication of sorts.
Now, these malwares are evolving with the passage of time, making ATMs more vulnerable. ATMs being the primary target results as a threat to the financial institutions. Thus, security with credit and debit card credentials should be also enhanced accordingly. The question arises; How long to completely secure the parameters?
