Mexico's Ultimate ATM Hack Still Works, Nets Millions Chris Smith - BGR
go to original October 8, 2014

In early January, and then again in March, reports detailed some smart ATM attacks that allowed hackers to steal money from malware-infected ATMs without requiring any access to the credit or debit cards used by customers. Instead, hackers managed to steal cash directly from the bank, after taking over the machines with special programs. This ultimate heist appears to still be working, The Register reports, as hackers are still using the practice that has netted them “millions of dollars.”

Such attacks were sighted in Mexico first, but apparently more ATMs around the world belonging to unnamed financial institutions have now been infected with the malware. Called Tyupkin, the malware has been installed on some 50 ATMs in eastern Europe, although exact details about the infected machines haven’t been offered by Kaspersky Lab, which is investigating the matter.

Interestingly, hackers need to gain access inside the 32-bit Windows-powered ATM and then install the Tyupkin malware with help of a bootable CD before getting cash out of it. It’s not clear how they’re able to actually get inside the ATMs in the first place, but hackers have wisely only infected ATMs that had no security alarms in place.

Once the malicious program is installed, hackers can simply return as many times as they want — apparently they do it on Sunday and Monday evenings, which is when Tyupkin accepts commands — and collect cash.

A video showing this attack, which has apparently netted "millions of dollars", is embedded below.

Read the rest at BGR

Photo: Learnvest

Kaspersky Lab’s experts performed a forensic investigation into cyber-criminal attacks targeting multiple ATMs around the world. During the course of this investigation, the company’s researchers discovered a piece of malware infecting ATMs that allowed attackers to empty the cash machines via direct manipulation, stealing millions of dollars. (Kaspersky Lab)

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