How do you feel about ATMs

daveplzak · 2014-03-21T15:18:29.000Z

If you knew that 60% of ATMs ran on an obsolete operating system that no longer got patches or fixes and even if it is “hardened” does it still have vulnerabilities? Would you still continue to use ATMs? Or is it a moot point because we hardly ever hear of ATM theft now?

jimmy-t · 2014-03-21T15:25:42.000Z

I think this article covers it well:

ZDNET

Windows XP lives on in ATMs. Crisis?

An ATM running an unpatched Windows XP is not like your kid's old laptop running XP. It's pretty heavily defended. And lots of new ATM and POS security features are coming in the next few years.

Working at a credit union, I’m not terribly concerned with the situation. After all, it’s much easier to setup a skimmer than try to hack into a confined system.

lwbm · 2014-03-21T15:25:46.000Z

ALL of the ATM’s in my area run XP. Its hilarious to see the blue screen stop codes…

There was a post last week about how poor banks are at keeping things secure…

andre-s · 2014-03-21T15:26:08.000Z

ATM crimes are alive and well.

Card skimmers and camera tech improves every day.

Many Point-of-Sale machines still run XP anyway.

jimmy-t · 2014-03-21T15:26:42.000Z

To expand on that, there is talk about getting Linux to a point to support ATMs, though that’ll take some time.

jimmy-t · 2014-03-21T15:28:39.000Z

LWBM:

ALL of the ATM’s in my area run XP. Its hilarious to see the blue screen stop codes…

What’s funnier is that we have a coin machine that runs off of Windows 98…

LWBM wrote:

There was a post last week about how poor banks are at keeping things secure…

I’d have to say a good portion of that are the vendors who need to get their software to work with newer OS versions. As was mentioned in the XP EOL forums, there is still plenty of software out there that prevents many techs from upgrading.

gregbriggs8268 · 2014-03-21T15:28:42.000Z

I won’t go to sketchy looking ATM’s, I only go into the ones at legit Chase branches because if anything happens there I am not liable for it.

ryandokter1409 · 2014-03-21T15:30:13.000Z

I rarely use an ATM anymore. If I need cash, I’ll get cash back while purchasing something else at the store.

jimmy-t · 2014-03-21T15:31:15.000Z

Ryan8481:

I rarely use an ATM anymore. If I need cash, I’ll get cash back while purchasing something else at the store.

That is a method that is highly suggested anyway, since ATM skimmers are getting better.

scottalanmiller · 2014-03-21T15:33:31.000Z

DavePlzak:

If you knew that 60% of ATMs ran on an obsolete operating system that no longer got patches or fixes and even if it is “hardened” does it still have vulnerabilities? Would you still continue to use ATMs? Or is it a moot point because we hardly ever hear of ATM theft now?

ATMs were ridiculously insecure before. Knowing this really changes nothing.

will224 · 2014-03-21T15:38:00.000Z

Thanks to Breaking Bad I haven’t felt right about ATMs for some time now.

jeremyb · 2014-03-21T15:38:09.000Z

DavePlzak:

Or is it a moot point because we hardly ever hear of ATM theft now?

I hear about skimmers all the time around here. Especially Gas Stations and ATMs. Even well lit ones are getting hit.

Sure, rarely does anyone attempt to physically steal the whole thing anymore (occasionally), but electronically it happens more than you probably hear about.

Like a few others above, I almost never use ATMs and pay inside for gas. Can’t eliminate all risk, but the obvious stuff I can avoid.

jimmy-t · 2014-03-21T15:39:27.000Z

Jeremy_B:

DavePlzak:

Or is it a moot point because we hardly ever hear of ATM theft now?

I hear about skimmers all the time around here. Especially Gas Stations and ATMs. Even well lit ones are getting hit.

Sure, rarely does anyone attempt to physically steal the whole thing anymore (occasionally), but electronically it happens more than you probably hear about.

Like a few others above, I almost never use ATMs and pay inside for gas. Can’t eliminate all risk, but the obvious stuff I can avoid.

This is the reason I only use credit cards. Haven’t used a debit car in over four years.

mhunt · 2014-03-21T16:01:17.000Z

Credit cards, Debit Cards, Online banking, aren’t ATM’s actually obsolete anyway?

edwardblanchard · 2014-03-21T16:41:04.000Z

Ryan8481:

I rarely use an ATM anymore. If I need cash, I’ll get cash back while purchasing something else at the store.

Yep and this helps to avoid wasting money on ATM fees … when I’m in an area where my bank doesn’t have an ATM I’ll buy a drink or gum and get cash back … Going to shell out a buck and half either way so I’d rather walk away with something for it!

xplummerx · 2014-03-21T16:42:19.000Z

If I need cash, I’ll use my debit card at a store to get a pack of gum or something and get cash back for whatever I need. I’ll do all I can to keep from using an ATM.

chamele0n · 2014-03-21T16:53:29.000Z

Edward_B:

Ryan8481:

I rarely use an ATM anymore. If I need cash, I’ll get cash back while purchasing something else at the store.

Yep and this helps to avoid wasting money on ATM fees … when I’m in an area where my bank doesn’t have an ATM I’ll buy a drink or gum and get cash back … Going to shell out a buck and half either way so I’d rather walk away with something for it!

That is a really nice way to save on ATM fees, if you have them. I rarely use ATMs any more.

timwisner9694 · 2014-03-21T16:56:16.000Z

Many European banks still use IBM OS/2 4.0 (Warp) in some systems. I guess that is so old that it is secure?

andre-s · 2014-03-21T17:01:38.000Z

The only problem isn’t the software, it’s the skimmers.

isaac · 2014-03-21T19:39:15.000Z

I can’t remember the last time I pulled out cash unless I was talking to a teller directly. If I need cash I just go in, have a nice conversation with the person behind the counter, they usually compliment my hat and I walk out. I like the human interaction when I can.

I’ve always felt ATMs were sketchy, nothing new here.