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What caused the Tesco breach?: There's no official report on the recent Tesco bank breach, but an analysis by security blog Digital Shadows says it was likely the result of a payment system compromise or a cash-out operation using cloned cards. Digital Shadows reports that of the two, the cash-out scam is the easier to pull off. Other forms of theft, such as a trojan attack, are less likely because the National Cyber Security Centre in the U.K. has reported it's unaware of any wider threat to the U.K.'s banking system. The most likely downstream threat given the cloned cards would be crooks trying to sell stolen card information and performing phishing attacks.
A shopper bags her items at a checkout at the Tesco Basildon Pitsea Extra supermarket, operated by Tesco Plc, in Basildon, U.K., on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015. Many European food retailers are coming to terms with persistently low inflation as well as consumers who remain frugal yet purchase food more frequently. Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg
Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg
Orchestrating the ATM: In an effort to counter the perception that ATMs are stressful to use and lack privacy, Atom bank has hired the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to set the mood for people using a particular cash machine, reports The Mirror. The ATM is in London's Dray Walk Gallery, and the initiative comes after the bank commissioned YouGov research that found that 29% of people said they were nervous about someone seeing their balance at the ATM and 85% of British consumers say they do not know their balance. The bank says the move is to show mobile banking services and ATMs can take the stress out of banking. Atom bank is affiliated with Spanish holding bank BBVA. The move comes as banks add myriad technology to ATMs in an effort to keep cash machines relevant while addressing the encroachment of mobile banking.
Help for disrupted EU banks: The European Commission has set up a task force to inform a response to the wave of mobile and digital payments innovation on the broader banking industry, reports Fintech Roundup. DG Fisma and DG Connect will chair the task force, which will examine regulatory and risk issues tied to rapid technology development. It will form policy recommendations and other measures during 2017, in an effort to help European banks seize digital innovations and embed them into their business models.
Cashless payment in Nordic countries: Finland and Sweden have both made significant moves to reduce the countries' reliance on paper money. In Finland, a new service called Siirto has been deployed with the support of Automatia, a shared ATM network for OP Bank Nordea and Danske Bank. According to Finextra, users execute payments via mobile phone numbers for sending and receiving money, with all transfers occurring in real time via the user's bank account, similar to the Zelle model in the U.S. It's also similar to the Swish platform in Sweden, which has resulted in a 40% drop in the use of notes and coins—a drop so dramatic the government is considering issuing digital currency to counter the decline, Finextra reports.
Android Pay says Cześć to Poland The Official Google Blog • Pali Bhat Whether you’re doing your daily shop or heading for a night out, your Android phone is all you need as you walk out the door -- thanks to Android Pay. Starting today, Android Pay is available in Poland, helping you pay for...
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The transaction comes as the megabank is determined to simplify its operating model and shed units that have slower growth prospects or aren't core to its business.
