Readers I just read an AOL.Com report today that I felt needed to be passed on to those people who may not have seen the report. The federal government is concerned about thieves targeting ATM machines for people who use a debit card.
“Hackers are installing malware on bank computer networks and changing ATM settings to withdraw more money than you have in your bank account; and in one of these cases, thieves hacked into only 12 accounts and they managed to withdraw a total of $40 million dollars,” ‘GMA’ reported.
Extra money is loaded into ATM machines and banks perform less monitoring of the ATM machines on the weekends and holidays and for this reason, the attackers take advantage of these type situations, according to federal authorities.
Regulators realize hackers steal money as they distract bank security employees, according to the Los Angeles Times.
‘Hackers cripple bank customer websites by bombarding them with millions of electronic demands; and these type attacks can be used as diversions, forcing bank security employees to deal with them while the fraudsters hack their way into the bank computers.’
The authorities are not naming specific banks that have been hit by the hackers, but The Wall Street Journal did report that hackers appeared to be focusing on small and mid-size banks.
Fiberhub’s chief- technology officer Rob Tyree told KLAS that they’re suggesting debit cards users switch to using their credit cards in lieu of their debit cards for the time being.
‘As technology improves to prevent these type hackings, the technology to perpetrate them also is improving.’
Tyree suggested that debit card users sign up for email and telephone alerts to notify the users of any account activity.
Barbara Kasey Smith wrote this article based on an AOL.Com article she read.
Source:
AOL.Com