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Having previously worked in the ATM industry I can say that this is a very serious problem. Physical security is a big deal with ATMs and I haven't seen a sing
by jboggan 12y ago
Having previously worked in the ATM industry I can say that this is a very serious problem.
Physical security is a big deal with ATMs and I haven't seen a single Bitcoin ATM yet that is physically secure. They all utilize flimsy enclosures that are easily defeated with a crowbar, allowing access both to the cash cassettes and (more importantly for Bitcoin ATMs) the computer cage that necessarily has the private keys on it. If someone were serious about physical security they'd be finding old NCR 5888's or 5886's for cheap on the used market and refurbing them to work with Bitcoin, since they have physical safes that are real deterrents. You'd still have to relocate the "cages" to be inside the safe enclosure (keeping the private keys safe), but that wouldn't be a big deal with a Raspberry Pi or other small form factor Linux machine.
- skyhookatm 12y agoYou make a good point. Our units are smash and grab proof, with a 1/4" steel plate lid, but we fully understand that security is an illusion and even the most robust systems can be overcome by a nice enough drill bit and/or jig saw blade. Encryption, however, is not an illusion. If someone goes to the trouble of breaking into a Skyhook ATM while it's mounted to a business owner's countertop, as unlikely as that sounds, the sensitive data inside is safe.