A NEW wave of criminals known as “cyber pickpockets” are believed to be operating in Cork with shoppers advised to take extra caution during a period of online cyber deals ahead of Christmas.
Dr Paolo Palmieri, a cyber security expert who lectures on the subject in the Department of Computer Science at University College Cork, said a publican recently confided in him after customers found records of purchases they never made.
While the sums taken were as little as between €10 and €20, Dr Palmieri said that a number of punters were targeted resulting in significant profits for the criminal responsible.
The digital thefts – which occurred in recent weeks – were achieved with card readers exploiting contactless technology through bags, wallets and pockets. Crowded areas are particularly attractive to thieves intent on gathering as much cash as possible in a short period.
Dr Palmieri explained how people can now find themselves in close physical proximity to their cyber attacker.
“There are things happening offline that can fall into the category of cyber security,” he said.
“If someone’s contactless credit card is charged by a hidden mobile device that is a cyber security attack because it is using the technology of the contactless card without the knowledge of the victim. In a crowded space the criminal will be able to get close enough to the person’s wallet with the device and initiate a transaction. It happens a lot and quite recently I spoke to a pub…
