Thermal imaging cameras help steal PIN numbers

According to a team of researchers from the University of California at San Diego, they realized that there is one rather interesting – and unorthodox manner of finding out the PIN number at the ATM, thanks to the use of thermal imaging cameras. Yes sir, these cameras can be used to steal PIN numbers whenever one makes a cash withdrawal from an ATM. How does that happen? Simple – residual heat from a person’s finger is left behind whenever one punches in their PIN number, where an infrared camera will be able to pick it up – the whole sequence, without requiring one to actually view the way your finger dances all over the buttons.

In a research performed at UCSD that involved 21 volunteers who punched in 27 randomly selected PIN numbers on both plastic and brushed metal keys, plastic PIN pads can retain the heat signature from the finger for the longest – which in turn, reveals the order they were pressed.

Of course, there are other variables to be taken into consideration – including how hard you press the buttons, while your body temperature can also affect the results. Metal PIN pads work better in your favor as a withdrawee since they do not retain heat long enough to show just which keys were pressed. The software that analyzes these heat signatures can determine the PIN number 80% of the time within 10 seconds, and when 45 seconds has passed, the success rate remains at 60%. Best to wear gloves the next time round, no?

Edwin Kee
Categories: General
Tags: atm