4 ms·

Since it's only implied how it works and there seems to be some confusion in the comments. It seems like the technique is to simply create a very form-fitting i

Since it's only implied how it works and there seems to be some confusion in the comments. It seems like the technique is to simply create a very form-fitting insert which won't fit properly if some device is overlaid onto the machine. The insert is not left in the device, but is just used for a quick in-and-out check.

Dah00n 3y ago
And it is patented..
- loeg 3y ago
  But also, freely licensed.
  - crote 3y ago
    Only for large retailers, though. Why not directly offer the CAD file for download right on that page, or make the resulting product available for purchase?
    - monkeymeister 3y ago
      Likely to avoid defeat attempts. The corporate email requirement acts as a first-line defense to at least try to stave-off would be skimmers / scammers grabbing the CAD file and working out the measurements needed to defeat it.
      - kalupa 3y ago
        ah, nothing like security through obscurity!
        pbjtime 3y ago
        Which should not be your entire strategy but is completely valid layer of mitigation
      - Operyl 3y ago
        Seems easier to just pay off an underpaid Target employee.
- dotBen 3y ago
  This is a good thing, some troll could patent it and then deny anyone else the right to use it.
  - somehnguy 3y ago
    Wouldn't an attempt to do that fail the prior art test?
    - bigmattystyles 3y ago
      Why even risk it? Just get the patent and license it for free.
- KennyBlanken 3y ago
  [flagged]
  - runjake 3y ago
    > It's literally just a box-shaped piece of plastic with specific dimensions, attached to a handle. That's it. That could be said about a very large number of useful products. It doesn't lessen their utility. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html#comments https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html#comments
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
- gorkish 3y ago
  Sure is. Good thing criminals are too dumb to find it, and especially too dumb to replicate it. I'm sure they will never be able to modify their skimmers to circumvent it. They will rue the day they messed with Target's IP lawyers!!! https://patents.google.com/patent/US11507762B2/ https://patents.google.com/patent/US11507762B2/
cdchn 3y ago
Basically a Go/No-Go gauge for a payment terminal.
jeremy_wiebe 3y ago
> Since it's only implied how it works and there seems to be some confusion in the comments. Seems like a lot of TLDR; :) The article says exactly how it works. > The usage is very simple: Insert the tool into the payment terminal’s chip card slot. If it can insert fully, the terminal is safe. If it gets stopped, there might be a skimmer!

Dah00n 3y ago

And it is patented..

loeg 3y ago
But also, freely licensed.
- crote 3y ago
  Only for large retailers, though. Why not directly offer the CAD file for download right on that page, or make the resulting product available for purchase?
  - monkeymeister 3y ago
    Likely to avoid defeat attempts. The corporate email requirement acts as a first-line defense to at least try to stave-off would be skimmers / scammers grabbing the CAD file and working out the measurements needed to defeat it.
    - kalupa 3y ago
      ah, nothing like security through obscurity!
      - pbjtime 3y ago
        Which should not be your entire strategy but is completely valid layer of mitigation
    - Operyl 3y ago
      Seems easier to just pay off an underpaid Target employee.
dotBen 3y ago
This is a good thing, some troll could patent it and then deny anyone else the right to use it.
- somehnguy 3y ago
  Wouldn't an attempt to do that fail the prior art test?
  - bigmattystyles 3y ago
    Why even risk it? Just get the patent and license it for free.
KennyBlanken 3y ago
[flagged]
- runjake 3y ago
  > It's literally just a box-shaped piece of plastic with specific dimensions, attached to a handle. That's it. That could be said about a very large number of useful products. It doesn't lessen their utility. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html#comments https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html#comments
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
gorkish 3y ago
Sure is. Good thing criminals are too dumb to find it, and especially too dumb to replicate it. I'm sure they will never be able to modify their skimmers to circumvent it. They will rue the day they messed with Target's IP lawyers!!! https://patents.google.com/patent/US11507762B2/ https://patents.google.com/patent/US11507762B2/

cdchn 3y ago

Basically a Go/No-Go gauge for a payment terminal.

jeremy_wiebe 3y ago

> Since it's only implied how it works and there seems to be some confusion in the comments. Seems like a lot of TLDR; :) The article says exactly how it works. > The usage is very simple: Insert the tool into the payment terminal’s chip card slot. If it can insert fully, the terminal is safe. If it gets stopped, there might be a skimmer!