Hunter Cat : Protect Your Credit Cards From Unknown Threats
Hunter Cat : Protect Your Credit Cards From Unknown Threats
You withdraw money from a dubious ATM while in a strange area of the city. You pay for gas the following day at a pump-side terminal that doesn’t seem quite right. A few days later, your bank calls to inform you that someone has been using your card at a nightclub across town.
It’s not a huge deal, but you will have to take some time to review your most recent purchases and wait a few days for the replacement card to arrive. In the meantime, you will be wondering which ATM stole your card information.
What options do you have against a problem that is so widespread? The Hunter Cat is here for the extra paranoid.
What is it?
The Hunter Cat is a tiny gadget that resembles a credit card in size and dimensions and is run on a coin battery. It’s not too complicated! Check for one of three lights when you swipe it into the vape shop or gas station ATM in question. If you see a “warning” or “dangerous” light, move on to another location.
To attempt again, simply press the reset button. To conserve battery life, the card even features a sleep feature that turns the device off after 15 seconds. The tiny ATMEL SAMD11 Arm Microcontroller that powers the Hunter Cat is produced by Salvador Mendoza and Electronic Cats.
How Does it Work?
- It works by detecting the number of magnetic heads in a given card reader.
- If everything’s kosher, you’ll only see one magnetic head – the head the ATM uses to read your card.
- If the Hunter Cat sees multiple devices, it will give you a warning light to let you know something’s off.
- Most likely, someone has added a second card reader on top of the ATM to steal your credit card information.
What can it do?
By locating malevolent card skimmers concealed within ATMs, the Hunter Cat can save you the trouble and time it would take to contact your bank. Though they have also released a product called the Hunter Cat NFC, it should be noted that as of right now, the Hunter Cat cannot prevent your NFC card data from being stolen.
While there is a chance of NFC skimming, tap cards typically have stronger security features than the card’s magnetic stripe, so it’s more of a hassle than having your information stolen online or just getting you at a gas station.
Apart from standard magnetic stripe skimmers, there exist gadgets referred to as “shimmers.” Card shimmers operate by getting in the way of the reader and your card’s EMV chip, in contrast to card skimmers.
Nevertheless, magnetic strips remain the most established and effective means of obtaining credit card information, and this phenomenon is not limited to the gas station pump.
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How much of a threat is it?
While many of the tools we have discussed are made specifically to be hacked, this one is meant to protect you from being hacked. It might be a blessing in disguise for the typical consumer.
To a con artist attempting to use the magnetic strip on your card? They won’t order a bunch of iTunes gift cards or anything else after they obtain your card information. Being them is awful! They will simply have to choose from among the countless other feasible options for obtaining your credit card information.
Could I use it myself?
Yes, it really couldn’t be simpler. This is probably a useful device if you travel a lot or are concerned about being skimmed. Although the Hunter Cat is larger than a credit card by design, it may not fit in your wallet. It is not extremely expensive or even obtrusive, so it can be easily stored in your car’s glove compartment or your bag when you’re on the go.
For those who are not hackers, this is a great option because the lights are also simple to use and read. However, keep in mind that magnetic stripes are specifically being phased out for EMV, tap cards, and other contactless payment systems in many locations, so don’t expect it to shield you from anything more advanced than a basic magnetic stripe reader.
About The Author
Suraj Koli is a content specialist in technical writing about cybersecurity & information security. He has written many amazing articles related to cybersecurity concepts with the latest trends in cyberawareness and ethical hacking. Find more about Suraj Koli.
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