Researchers show ATM theft by thermal imaging
Thursday, September 1, 2011 - 04:00
in Physics & Chemistry
(PhysOrg.com) -- A paper presented at the August USENIX Security Symposium (USENIX Security '11) in San Francisco explains how PINs can be stolen using digital cameras capable of thermal imaging. The paper, "Heat of the Moment: Characterizing the Efficacy of Thermal Camera-Based Attacks," showed how an ATM customers pressing down keys of a personal code number gives these cameras the ability to catch the numbers from residual heat left behind from the users fingertips.