NZ Hacker leads the planet!

Hacker ATM attacks show security holes
LAS VEGAS - A hacker has discovered a way to force ATMs to disgorge their cash by hijacking the computers inside them.

The attacks demonstrated Wednesday targeted standalone ATMs. But they could potentially be used against the ATMs operated by mainstream banks.

Criminals have long known that ATMs aren't tamperproof.

There are many types of attacks in use today, ranging from sophisticated to foolhardy: installing fake card readers to steal card numbers, hiding tiny surveillance cameras to capture PIN codes, covering the dispensing slot to intercept money and even trying to haul the ATMs away with trucks and trying to crack them open later.

Computer hacker Barnaby Jack spent two years tinkering in his Silicon Valley apartment with ATMs he bought online. These were standalone machines, the type seen in front of convenience stores, rather than the ones in bank branches.

Barnaby Jack is a mate of mine, and I'm guessing the NZ media haven't worked out that he is a NZer yet, because they haven't done their usual song and dance routine reserved for NZers who do well overseas. His expose on how weak the ATM machine's are is staggering when you can see what he makes them do to spit money out like a jack pot machine.

Congrats and a salute to NZer leading his field of expertise! It's great that one of the planets best hackers is from little old NZ.