How to Fight Cross-Border ATM Fraud

Security Expert: Industry 'At War With Criminals'
How to Fight Cross-Border ATM Fraud
ATM cash-outs and card-skimming schemes are getting more difficult to detect because today's attacks are global, coordinated and sophisticated, says ATM security expert Chuck Somers.

Sharing meaningful information on fraud threats will be increasingly critical as international schemes become more prevalent, says Somers, a security specialist for ATM manufacturer Diebold Inc.

Coordinated global attacks, like the one that in late 2012 and early 2013 that resulted in a $45 million global financial loss, are becoming more common, he explains during this interview with Information Security Media Group (see New Arrests in $45 Million ATM Cash-Out).

"Criminal attacks occurring down the street, across the country or across the ocean today can occur in your business tomorrow," he says. "This is an industry at war with criminals."

Criminals' knowledge about banking systems and payments has steadily increased in the last 10 years, Somers says. To keep pace, banking institutions have to change the siloed ways they have historically addressed fraud, he says.

Institutions need to address fraud detection more holistically, reviewing patterns and anomalies across numerous channels, Somers says.

Information sharing also plays a role, not just among an institution's departments, but also with other banking institutions, vendors and law enforcement, he adds.

"We compete with each other on a lot of levels," he says. "So one of the challenges we face is coming up with a way to share information."

During this interview, Somers discusses:

  • How the U.S.'s migration to EMV will impact global ATM fraud;
  • Why Microsoft's ending of Windows XP support is a major security concern; and
  • Challenges off-premises ATM deployers face concerning enhancements to physical and software security.

In early 2014, Somers will retire from Diebold, where he's spent the last 28 years focusing on a range of financial security topics, including ATM vulnerabilities and emerging software risks.

At Diebold, Somers is the vice president of ATM security and systems, overseeing physical threats, logical security and fraud. Somers' team works closely with Diebold's global risk and security group to identify emerging threats and leverages development groups within Diebold to develop security solutions. Before joining Diebold's ATM team, Somers served as vice president of global software development, vice president of global professional services and was general manager of software and services.




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