FBI Warns Banks Of Imminent Cyber Attack

Cyber Attack
If ever I see arms reaching out of my screen... i'm just gonna call the Ghost Busters. Not the FBI.

The FBI sent a confidential warning to banks worldwide on Friday, alerting them to a highly coordinated attack planed for ATMs all over the globe.

Cyber criminals are planning what is called an “ATM cashout”. The scam involves hacking a payment processor to allow fake cards to be used at ATMs where criminals make cash withdraws with fake cards.

Generally the crimes are very coordinated with millions being withdrawn from hacked ATMs in a matter of a few hours.

“The FBI has obtained unspecified reporting indicating cyber criminals are planning to conduct a global Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cash-out scheme in the coming days, likely associated with an unknown card issuer breach and commonly referred to as an ‘unlimited operation’.

Historic compromises have included small-to-medium size financial institutions, likely due to less robust implementation of cyber security controls, budgets, or third-party vendor vulnerabilities. The FBI expects the ubiquity of this activity to continue or possibly increase in the near future.”

Details from confidential warning to banks obtained cyber security expert Brian Krebs.

The warning issued to banks also hinted that most of these attacks have traditionally happened over the weekend when banks are closed. When banks are closed, it takes longer for them to respond and allows the hack to continue for longer.

FBI has warned banks to start upgrading their security and keep software updated.

If you need some cash from the ATM, get it out before this weekend. Just to be safe.

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Morgan is a freelance writer for a variety of publications covering popular culture, societal behavior and the political influences of each.