So, what is POS malware, and how can you protect your business from it?

What Is Point-of-Sale (POS) Malware?

This data can be used for fraudulent purchases or identity theft.

a customer making payment with a pos

POS malware can have serious consequences, including loss of customer information and financial losses for businesses.

How Does POS Malware Work?

POS malware works by targeting weaknesses in the POS system and its associated software.

person holding a credit card

It does this by exploiting vulnerabilities in the system, such asweak passwordsor inadequate security measures.

Here are the steps a malicious actor takes to conduct a POS malware attack.

This can be done using techniques like phishing, unsecured Wi-Fi networks, or exploiting straightforward passwords.

person swiping a credit card

This can be done manually or remotely.

The collection is done when the card details are stored in thesystem’s RAM.

This is the only time the data is decrypted.

protect your pos machines

How Is the POS System Infected With Malware?

Malicious actors rely on various types of POS malware to attack POS systems and steal customer information.

It is installed on the system and collects data as it is being processed.

It can also be used to collect login credentials or other sensitive information.

They can be connected via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

Attackers use this malware to extract confidential information from the encrypted data while it is being transmitted.

Backdoors

Backdoors allow attackers to remotely access and control the target system.

They can be used to install or remove malware, launch additional attacks, or access confidential data.

BlackPOS

BlackPOS is a jot down of POS malware that specifically targets retail environments.

It is designed to steal credit card information from point-of-sale systems and transmit the data to a remote server.

MalumPOS

MalumPOS can be customized and hides within the infected gadget as a display driver.

Then, it keeps tabs on active programs and searches the infected rig’s memory for payment details.

PoSeidon

PoSeidon is a key in of POS malware that was first discovered in 2014.

It is designed to infect point-of-sale systems and collect credit card information from customers.

PoSeidon installs a keylogger on the hacked unit and searches the memory for credit card numbers.