EAST presents at 2012 Qatar Finance Information Security and Risk Conference

March 24, 2012 - PRLog -- The presentation, made by EAST Coordinator Lachlan Gunn, illustrated how 29 countries cooperate through EAST to share information on ATM related crime.  Current threats faced by EAST members were explained along with information on trends and countermeasures.  According to Gunn: “The security of payment cards is not just the responsibility of card issuers, card schemes or card acquirers - every cardholder has a part to play too. Whenever we enter our PIN at an ATM or payment terminal, we should cover it. Your PIN is your responsibility. Protect it.”

The conference was set up by Qatar’s Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology (ictQATAR) to raise awareness about emerging cybercrime risks, and to exchange information with international experts on trends and solutions.  According to Khalid N. Sadiq Al-Hashmi, Executive Director (Cyber Security) at ictQATAR, the conference was “an extension of ictQATAR’s on-going work to ensure all sectors in Qatar are aware of the latest cyber threats and prepared to manage them effectively.”  He pointed out that, while technology enhances efficiency and customer service, it also throws open the possibility of or hacking, data breaches and consumer scams.

A presentation focussed on securing the ATM channel in Qatar from cybercrime threats such as hacking and malware was made by Jason Coupe, Head of Information Security at the International Bank of Qatar (IBQ).  Auke Huistra, co-Chair of FI-ISAC, explained the workings of the European public-private partnership initiative for the sharing of information on cybercrime, and also the workings of the Dutch public-private platform for cybercrime information exchange (CPNI.NL).  Presentations on cyber security were also made by Adli Abd Wahid, Vice President (Cyber Security Response Services) at Cyber Security Malaysia, and U.S. based Brian Krebs, investigative reporter and Editor of Krebsonsecurity.com.

The conference closed with an address by Malike Bouaoud, Risk Section Manager (Critical Information Infrastructure) of the Qatar Computer Emergency Response Team (Q-CERT).  He stated that, because Qatar is a wealthy country with growing influence across the world it is a natural target for organised fraudsters. “We work with financial institutions in Qatar to protect our country from such cyber-attacks,” he said.

ENDS
(Background data on EAST follows)

For further information please contact the EAST Coordinator, Lachlan Gunn:
Email coordinator@eas-team.eu or visit http://www.european-atm-security.eu

ABOUT EAST

Founded in 2004, EAST is a ‘non-profit’ organisation whose members are committed to gathering information from, and disseminating EAST reports to ATM deployers and networks within their countries/regions.  While the main focus of EAST is on ATMs, the group also focuses on all payment terminals that have a direct impact on crime perpetrated at ATM locations.

Our mission is to gather and provide information to the European ATM industry and to facilitate effective representation of ATM related security issues at relevant European central institutions, through a pan-European co-ordination of ATM security resources.

EAST has set up a framework network structure to improve co-operation with industry, law enforcement, and in particular Europol, in order to achieve awareness and better results in the fight against organised cross-border crime.  EAST members represent 29 countries with a combined total deployment of 619,603 ATMs.  More information can be found at http://www.european-atm-security.eu

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The European ATM Security Team (EAST) is a ‘not-for-profit’ organisation that gathers information from, and shares outputs with, ATM deployers and networks. While the main focus is on ATMs, EAST also covers ATM related crime at all payment terminals.