Paid Parking Lots New Target For Credit Card Hackers
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Security experts say to be on the lookout for hackers targeting pay terminals at parking lots and garages.
SP+, a national company that provides parking, reported that the pay terminals at 17 of its parking facilities were remotely hacked.
For weeks the installed malware collected names, credit card numbers, and verification codes.
The company is now "working with the computer security firm to implement additional enhanced security measures."
SP+ operates the more than a dozen Central Parking facilities in Dallas. None of those facilities were affected. Most of the impacted facilities were in Chicago.
However, UT Dallas cyber security expert Dr. Zhiqiang Lin said nearly all remote pay terminals are vulnerable.
He said some pay stations are often as easy to hack into as the average home computer.
"Defending them is a difficult task," he said. "For defenders you have to make it 100% secure. For attackers if they find 1% that's not secure, they get in."
Donovan Harrison said he uses his credit card to pay for parking in downtown Dallas several times a week.
"It could have possible taken my information right then," he said as he swiped his card. "I check my account every morning and every evening. That's the best way. You got to battle it at the forefront."
Follow CBSDFW.COM: Facebook | Twitter
(©2014 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
Latest News:
Top Trending: