ATM SafetyPIN software

Last updated

ATM SafetyPIN software is a software application that would allow users of automated teller machines (ATMs) to alert law enforcement of a forced cash withdrawal (such as in robbery) by entering their personal identification number (PIN) in reverse order. [1] The system was patented by Illinois lawyer Joseph Zingher ( U.S. Patent 5,731,575 ).

Contents

SafetyPIN is not currently used in ATM systems, despite widely circulated rumors originating from a chain letter e-mail, mainly due to issues regarding palindrome PINs being incompatible with the system and potential security vulnerabilities that could arise if implemented.

History

The concept of a backup emergency PIN system, or duress code, for ATM systems has been around since at least July 30, 1986, when Representative Mario Biaggi, a former police officer, proposed it in the U.S. Congressional Record, pp. 18232 et seq. Biaggi then proposed House Resolution 785 in 1987 which would have had the FBI track the problem of express kidnappings and evaluate the idea of an emergency PIN system. HR785 died in committee without debate.

Zingher has not been successful in marketing licenses for his patent. [2] Police in New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Illinois, and Kansas have supported the concept. [3] [4] [5] [6] Police support prompted the Illinois legislature to pass a law making it mandatory on all ATMs in Illinois. The law was changed shortly after it was passed by a "follow-on" bill that changed the meaning to the exact opposite of what they were seeking. [7] [8] [9] [10]

In 2006, an e-mail chain letter hoax circulated that claimed a reverse PIN duress code system is in place universally. [11] American Banker reported on January 2, 2007, that no PIN-reversal duress code is used on any ATM as of that date. In September 2013 the hoax was still circulating in Australia with the text:

If you should ever be forced by a robber to withdraw money from an ATM, you can notify the police by entering your PIN in reverse. For example if your PIN is 1234 then you would put in 4321. The ATM recognizes that your PIN is backwards from the ATM card you placed in the machine. The machine will still give you the money you requested, but unknown to the robber, the police will be immediately dispatched to help you. This information was recently broadcast on TV and it states that it is seldom used because people don't know it exists. Please pass this along to everyone possible. Australian Federal Police. AFP Web site: http://www.afp.gov.au

The same kind of e-mail chain letter hoax is still circulated on Tumblr and Facebook, as well as in India and other parts of the world.

Were the system implemented, palindromic PINs such as 5555 or 2112 then would be unavailable so that false alarms would not occur. Moreover, PINs that are semi-reversible such as 5255 or 1241, where the first and last numbers are the same, would be something to avoid as well so that accidental alarms would not be triggered by mistakenly switching the middle numbers.

Diebold, a manufacturer of ATMs, states on their website that no such emergency alerting system is currently in use. They cite an article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch which claims bankers oppose the reverse-PIN system out of concerns that "ATM users might hesitate or fumble while trying to enter their PINs backwards under duress, possibly increasing the chances of violence." Diebold further states that they would be willing to support such technology if their customers (presumably banks) request it. [11]

A bill making the reverse emergency PIN system mandatory on all ATMs in the state of Illinois was proposed on February 10, 2009. Subsection (i) is the new bill. [12]

i) A terminal operated in this State must be designed and programmed so that when a consumer enters his or her personal identification number in reverse order, the terminal automatically sends an alarm to the local law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the terminal location. The Commissioner shall promulgate rules necessary for the implementation of this subsection (i).

In 2009, Los Angeles City Councilman Greig Smith announced his intention to make the ReversePIN system mandatory on all ATMs in the city. [13] [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Automated teller machine</span> Electronic telecommunications device to perform financial transactions

An automated teller machine (ATM) is an electronic telecommunications device that enables customers of financial institutions to perform financial transactions, such as cash withdrawals, deposits, funds transfers, balance inquiries or account information inquiries, at any time and without the need for direct interaction with bank staff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Secure cryptoprocessor</span> Device used for encryption

A secure cryptoprocessor is a dedicated computer-on-a-chip or microprocessor for carrying out cryptographic operations, embedded in a packaging with multiple physical security measures, which give it a degree of tamper resistance. Unlike cryptographic processors that output decrypted data onto a bus in a secure environment, a secure cryptoprocessor does not output decrypted data or decrypted program instructions in an environment where security cannot always be maintained.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fire drill</span> Method of practicing orderly evacuation in case of a fire

A fire drill is a method of practicing how a building should be evacuated in the event of a fire or other emergencies. In most cases, the building's existing fire alarm system is activated and the building is evacuated by means of the nearest available exits, as if an emergency had actually occurred. Fire drill procedures may vary depending on the building type, such as hospitals or high rise buildings, where occupants may be relocated within the building as opposed to evacuating the building. Generally, the evacuation interval is measured to ensure that it is fast enough, and problems with the emergency system or evacuation procedures are identified so that they may be remedied.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">9-1-1</span> Emergency telephone number for the North American Numbering Plan (NANP)

9-1-1, usually written 911, is an emergency telephone number for Argentina, Canada, Dominican Republic, Jordan, Mexico, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, the Philippines, Sint Maarten, the United States, and Uruguay, as well as the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), one of eight N11 codes. Like other emergency numbers around the world, this number is only intended for use in emergency circumstances. Using it for any other purpose is a crime in most jurisdictions. Penalties for abuse/misuse of 9-1-1 can range from probation/community service to fines/jail time. Offenders can also be ordered to undergo counseling and have their use of telephones restricted or suspended for a period time as a condition of probation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emergency telephone number</span> Telephone number that allows caller to contact local emergency services for assistance

An emergency telephone number is a number that allows a caller to contact local emergency services for assistance. The emergency number differs from country to country; it is typically a three-digit number so that it can be easily remembered and dialed quickly. Some countries have a different emergency number for each of the different emergency services; these often differ only by the last digit.

Ten-codes, officially known as ten signals, are brevity codes used to represent common phrases in voice communication, particularly by law enforcement and in citizens band (CB) radio transmissions. The police version of ten-codes is officially known as the APCO Project 14 Aural Brevity Code.

Premier Election Solutions, formerly Diebold Election Systems, Inc. (DESI), was a subsidiary of Diebold that made and sold voting machines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York City Fire Department</span> Fire department in New York City

The New York City Fire Department, officially the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) is the full-service fire department of New York City, serving all five boroughs. The FDNY is responsible for fire suppression and fire prevention, and is a major provider of EMS services in New York City. Beyond fire suppression and EMS, the FDNY is responsible for a broad range of services, including technical rescue, CBRN defense, and structural collapse response and analysis. The FDNY is equipped with a wide variety of general-purpose and specialized Vehicles,Tools and Equipment to serve its varied missions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diebold Nixdorf</span> American multinational financial and retail technology company

Diebold Nixdorf is an American multinational financial and retail technology company that specializes in the sale, manufacture, installation and service of self-service transaction systems, point-of-sale terminals, physical security products, and software and related services for global financial, retail, and commercial markets. Currently Diebold Nixdorf is headquartered in the Akron-Canton area with a presence in around 130 countries, and the company employs approximately 23,000 people. Founded in 1859 in Cincinnati, Ohio as the Diebold Bahmann Safe Company, the company eventually changed its name to Diebold Safe & Lock Company. In 1921, Diebold Safe & Lock Company sold the world's largest commercial bank vault to Detroit National Bank. Diebold has since branched into diverse markets, and is currently the largest provider of ATMs in the United States. Diebold Nixdorf was founded when Diebold Inc. acquired Germany's Wincor Nixdorf in 2016. It is estimated that Wincor Nixdorf controls about 35 percent of the global ATM market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Personal identification number</span> PIN code

A personal identification number (PIN), or sometimes redundantly a PIN number or PIN code, is a numeric passcode used in the process of authenticating a user accessing a system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Computer-aided dispatch</span> A method of dispatching vehicle-based services assisted by computer

Computer-aided dispatch (CAD), also called computer-assisted dispatch, is a method of dispatching taxicabs, couriers, field service technicians, mass transit vehicles or emergency services assisted by computer. It can either be used to send messages to the dispatchee via a mobile data terminal (MDT) and/or used to store and retrieve data. A dispatcher may announce the call details to field units over a two-way radio. Some systems communicate using a two-way radio system's selective calling features. CAD systems may send text messages with call-for-service details to alphanumeric pagers or wireless telephony text services like SMS. The central idea is that persons in a dispatch center are able to easily view and understand the status of all units being dispatched. CAD provides displays and tools so that the dispatcher has an opportunity to handle calls-for-service as efficiently as possible.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Call box</span> Special purpose telephone

A call box or callbox is a box containing a special-purpose direct line telephone or other telecommunications device which has been used by various industries and institutions as a way for employees or clients at a remote location to contact a central dispatch office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EMV</span> Smart payment card standard

EMV is a payment method based on a technical standard for smart payment cards and for payment terminals and automated teller machines which can accept them. EMV stands for "Europay, Mastercard, and Visa", the three companies that created the standard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Security alarm</span> System that detects unauthorised entry

A security alarm is a system designed to detect intrusions, such as unauthorized entry, into a building or other areas, such as a home or school. Security alarms protect against burglary (theft) or property damage, as well as against intruders. Examples include personal systems, neighborhood security alerts, car alarms, and prison alarms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Shepherd-Barron</span> British inventor

John Adrian Shepherd-BarronOBE was an India-born British inventor, who led the team that installed the first cash machine, sometimes referred to as the automated teller machine or ATM.

A false alarm, also called a nuisance alarm, is the deceptive or erroneous report of an emergency, causing unnecessary panic and/or bringing resources to a place where they are not needed. False alarms may occur with residential burglary alarms, smoke detectors, industrial alarms, and in signal detection theory. False alarms have the potential to divert emergency responders away from legitimate emergencies, which could ultimately lead to loss of life. In some cases, repeated false alarms in a certain area may cause occupants to develop alarm fatigue and to start ignoring most alarms, knowing that each time it will probably be false. Intentionally falsely activating alarms in businesses and schools can lead to serious disciplinary actions, and criminal penalties such as fines and jail time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panic button</span> Device that alerts others to the presence of an emergency

A panic alarm is an electronic device that can easily be activated to request help during an emergency where danger to persons or property exists. It is designed to contact assistance quicker, easier, and simpler than a conventional phone call.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wincor Nixdorf</span> German corporation

Wincor Nixdorf was a German corporation that provided retail and retail banking hardware, software, and services. Wincor Nixdorf was engaged primarily in the sale, manufacture, installation and service of self-service transaction systems, retail banking equipment, lottery terminals, postal terminals, software and services for global financial and commercial markets.

A duress code is a covert distress signal used by an individual who is being coerced by one or more hostile persons. It is used to warn others that they are being forced to do something against their will. Typically, the warning is given via some innocuous signal embedded in normal communication, such as a code-word or phrase spoken during conversation to alert other personnel. Alternatively, the signal may be incorporated into the authentication process itself, typically in the form of a panic password, distress password, or duress PIN that is distinct from the user's normal password or PIN. These concepts are related to a panic alarm and often achieve the same outcome.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emergency medical dispatcher</span>

An emergency medical dispatcher is a professional telecommunicator, tasked with the gathering of information related to medical emergencies, the provision of assistance and instructions by voice, prior to the arrival of emergency medical services (EMS), and the dispatching and support of EMS resources responding to an emergency call. The term "emergency medical dispatcher" is also a certification level and a professional designation, certified through the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International (APCO) and the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch. Many dispatchers, whether certified or not, will dispatch using a standard emergency medical dispatch protocol.

References

  1. ↑ ZICUBED ATM SAFETYPIN Archived August 9, 2007, at the Wayback Machine ATM Safety PIN aka Reverse PIN Web Site.
  2. ↑ Why Great Ideas Get Shot Down CNNMoney.com, 01-27-2006
  3. ↑ Asbury Park Press, January 25th, 2006
  4. ↑ Are Local Banks Doing All They Can To Protect ATM Users? Archived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine Jesse Jones, WLWT. March 3, 2004
  5. ↑ St.Louis Post Dispatch, March 27th, 2005
  6. ↑ "Wichita Eagle" April 19, 2001
  7. ↑ St. Louis Post Dispatch, March 27, 2005
  8. ↑ Public Act 093-0898 Archived September 30, 2007, at the Wayback Machine Illinois General Assembly
  9. ↑ FINANCIAL REGULATION (205 ILCS 616/) Electronic Fund Transfer Act Archived September 28, 2006, at the Wayback Machine Illinois General Assembly
  10. ↑ Banking on ATM Safety Forbes, 01-28-2004
  11. 1 2 Security Update - Reverse PIN Hoax Archived 2013-01-30 at the Wayback Machine Diebold, Inc.
  12. ↑ Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SB1355 Archived March 6, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  13. ↑ "Teen's Slaying Prompts Talk of ATM Duress Code". nbclosangeles.com. 2 September 2009.
  14. ↑ Sax, Robin (16 November 2009). "ATMurders Can Be Avoided". huffingtonpost.com.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.