Why you never use ATMs in the hotel defcon is hosted in, or near
Just got back from vegas and finally started catching up. Looks like a fake ATM was placed at defcon (no surprise).
"As the conference was kicking off a few days ago, attendees noticed that at ATM placed in the Riviera Hotel, which plays host to the annual event, didn't quite look right, according to a senior conference organizer who identified himself only as Priest. "They looked at the screen where there would normally be a camera," he said. "It was a little bit too dark, so someone shined a flashlight in there and there was a PC."
The ATM looked like a working system, but when people would put their cards in the machine, it would scan their card information and record the PIN numbers they entered. He didn't know how long the ATM had been at the Riviera." - ComputerWorld
I make it a point to use the nicer hotel (bellagio, caesars, etc...) ATMs where I can see 10 camera's aimed at me and whenever possible withdraw my money in advance of my blackhat/defcon trip.
Read more: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9136179/Fake_ATM_doesn_t_last_long_at_hacker_meet
I feel this article could be interpreted differently. There is no indication that the fake ATM machine was placed in the Riviera just in time for Defcon, it could very well be placed in the Riviera and other hotels on the strip to skim CCs from tourists in general. The fact that it was discovered at the Riviera during Defcon could actually make using ATM machines at the Riviera safer than in other hotels where guests are not as observant and aware of such scams.
Posted by: peter | Aug 2, 2009 6:58:07 PM
Fair points. You're probably right the lower security hotels are probably prime targets for fake atms/skimmers. On the other hand this isn't the first time a hotel defcon was hosted at had fake atms/skimmers so I wouldn't say defcon made the hotel safer by any means :)
Posted by: Robert | Aug 3, 2009 10:57:36 AM