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Rain Technology, a provider a directional-display technology, has developed a solution that aims at reducing the risk of onlookers visually stealing a consumer’s PIN at an ATM.
The solution, called ATM Switchable Privacy, enables as little as 0.2% of an ATM screen to be visible outside of a 45-degree viewing angle, according to Rain. This makes it harder for criminals to look over an unsuspecting consumer’s shoulder to gather data off an ATM screen that can be used to facilitate a fraudulent ATM transaction, according to the company.
Rain’s solution is embedded within the liquid-crystal module of an ATM screen and is activated by a hardware or software trigger, such as when a card is inserted into the ATM or via a screen prompt.
The technology is also compatible with devices from leading ATM manufacturers such as Diebold Nixdorf, Hyosung Innovue, and NCR Atleos.
When the privacy mode is turned off, the ATM reverts to widescreen display capabilities that Rain says enhance marketing and branding opportunities for the ATM deployer.
“Visual hacking is a serious problem as there are [criminals] that will hang out near ATMs to capture data whether it be visually or by other means such as a camera,” says Paul Treichler, head of sales and marketing for Rain. “ATM Switchable Privacy adds another layer of privacy to existing ATM security.”
Other ATM security features include biometric identification and hoods that shield the PIN pad to make it harder for criminals to see a consumer’s PIN as it is entered.
While visual hacking is a serious problem, it is often used in conjunction with skimming, a tactic in which criminals insert a device with the ATM’s card reader that captures a cardholder’s account and PIN data. “Someone seeing your balance or withdrawal information is certainly invasive, but the most prevalent threat is ‘shoulder surfing’ PIN hacking in combination with skimming, which gives a criminal full access to a consumer’s account,” says Sam Ditzion, chief executive of Boston-based payments industry consulting firm Tremont Capital Group.
Consumers make more than 10 billion cash transactions at ATMs annually, according to ATM processor National Cash Systems. There are more than 3.2 million ATMs deployed globally, according to ResearchandMarket.com.
Rain’s technology is also available to POS terminal makers, according to the company. The technology is popular for handheld POS devices in which consumers enter a tip or other payment data, Treichler says.
And its screen technology is available to computer manufacturers. Large corporations like the technology because it protects access to sensitive data on employee-issued devices used in public places, Treichler says.
Ditzion adds that similar technology has been in use for many years to shield sensitive information on computer screens and is popular in medical settings and with passengers on airlines viewing sensitive information.
