Hackers Target ATMs in Russia, Eastern Europe - The Wall Street Journal

The Wall Street Journal, By Amir Mizroch

Cyber criminals aren’t only targeting big banks‘ computer systems. They’re also going after their ATM machines, especially in Eastern Europe and Russia.

Researchers for Kaspersky Lab, a security company, and INTERPOL, say they have discovered malicious software which allows criminals to empty cash machines and steal millions of dollars. The company said it began a forensic examination into the hack of multiple ATMs in Eastern Europe and Russia at the request of a financial institution. They would not name the institution.

At the time of the investigation around March this year, the malware was active on more than 50 ATMs at banking institutions in Eastern Europe and Russia. Kaspersky says the malware has spread to the U.S., Israel, Malaysia, France, India and China. ATMs are not connected to the Internet, so it may not be possible to register attacks unless the victim bank reports it. The confirmation of the spread of the malware is made possible through local contributions to sites that register computer viruses, as well as from law enforcement agencies. Read more.