Skimmerhyökkäykset

Skimmerhyökkäykset, also known as skimming attacks, are cybercrime techniques that involve the illicit acquisition of card data from credit and debit card holders. The attacker covertly installs a small hardware device, called a skimmer, on an ATM or point‑of‑sale terminal. Modern skimmers are often integrated into the device’s magnetic stripe reader or key‑pad area and can record data from the card’s magnetic stripe, EMV chip or even the contactless radio frequency signal. After the victim uses the terminal, the skimmer captures transaction details such as card number, expiration date, and the PIN entered. The device is then removed by the attacker, who later retrieves the stolen data via an encoded signal, a hidden storage medium or by connecting to the skimmer with a dedicated reader.

Once the cardholder information is in the attacker’s possession, fraud can occur in several ways. The attacker may clone the card by printing a pass‑through card with the stolen magnetic stripe, create a counterfeit chip card, or use the data to make online purchases through a stolen PIN and card details. In recent years, skimmer attacks have also been combined with malware to compromise the host device’s software, enabling continuous data extraction from legitimate transaction terminals.

Detection of skimmer devices typically involves physical inspection of ATMs and point‑of‑sale terminals, scanning for unusual attachments, and monitoring for anomalies in transaction patterns. Protective measures include installing tamper‑evident seals, using contactless payment methods, enabling chip‑and‑pin transactions over magstripe, and educating customers about checking card and terminal for signs of tampering. Technological countermeasures such as EMV chip authentication, tokenization and end‑to‑end encryption also reduce the risk of successful skimming. Authorities worldwide report that while skimerhaj