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Hackers Target ATMs in US

JPMorgan Chase ATMs stand near a door as customers walk past a Duane Reade store in New York. Photo: Reuters
JPMorgan Chase ATMs stand near a door as customers walk past a Duane Reade store in New York. Photo: Reuters
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Hackers Target ATMs in US

JPMorgan Chase ATMs stand near a door as customers walk past a Duane Reade store in New York. Photo: Reuters
JPMorgan Chase ATMs stand near a door as customers walk past a Duane Reade store in New York. Photo: Reuters

Cyber criminals targeted US cash machines with tools that force them to spit out cash in hacking schemes known as “jackpotting.”

The two ATM makers Diebold Nixdorf Inc. and NCR Corp. did not identify any victims or say how much money had been lost.

Jackpotting has been rising worldwide in recent years, though it is unclear how much cash has been stolen because victims and police often do not disclose details.

Hackers who use this method drag the ATM to a trap in order to steal the money it stocks.

The attacks were reported earlier on Saturday by the security news website Krebs on Security, which said they had begun last year in Mexico. The companies confirmed to Reuters on Saturday they had sent out the alerts to clients.

NCR said in a Friday alert that the cases were the first confirmed “jackpotting” losses in the United States.

It said its equipment had not been targeted in the recent attacks, but that it was still a concern for the entire ATM industry.

The alert said: “This should be treated by all ATM deployers as a call to action to take appropriate steps to protect their ATMs against these forms of attack,”

Diebold Nixdorf said in a separate Friday alert that US authorities had warned the company that hackers were targeting one of its ATM models, known as Opteva, which went out of production several years ago.

Krebs on Security reported that a confidential US Secret Service alert sent to banks said the hackers targeted stand-alone ATMs typically located in pharmacies, big box retailers and drive-thru ATMs.

Reuters was unable to obtain a copy of the Secret Service report and an agency representative declined comment. Officials with the Federal Bureau of Investigation could not immediately be reached.

Russian cyber security firm Group IB has reported that cyber criminals remotely attacked cash machines in more than a dozen countries across Europe in 2016. Similar attacks were also reported that year in Thailand and Taiwan.

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28 Saudi Chefs Serve Pilgrims Meals with Local Flavor

Many pilgrims praise Saudi hospitality and warm welcome upon arrival - Asharq Al-Awsat
Many pilgrims praise Saudi hospitality and warm welcome upon arrival - Asharq Al-Awsat
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28 Saudi Chefs Serve Pilgrims Meals with Local Flavor

Many pilgrims praise Saudi hospitality and warm welcome upon arrival - Asharq Al-Awsat
Many pilgrims praise Saudi hospitality and warm welcome upon arrival - Asharq Al-Awsat

This year’s Hajj season was anything but ordinary for a group of 28 young Saudi chefs, whose childhood dreams and culinary talents found purpose in one of the holiest settings on earth.

Tasked with preparing meals for pilgrims in the sacred sites, these men and women brought a distinctly Saudi flavor to the Hajj experience, blending tradition with heartfelt service.

In the sprawling tents of Mina and Arafat, the aroma of food carried more than just spices - it told stories of ambition, culture, and devotion. What began as a passion for cooking has, for these chefs, become a noble calling: nourishing the faithful during their spiritual journey.

Launched by the Arab Pilgrims’ Services Foundation “Eshraqat”, the “Hajj Chef” initiative is offering young Saudi culinary talents the rare chance to prepare and serve meals for pilgrims during the annual Hajj pilgrimage - an experience that blends professionalism with national identity while raising the bar for mass catering under strict food safety and quality standards.

Among the 28 chefs selected is 24-year-old Shoaib Al-Attas, who beams with pride as he recalls how his culinary journey began.

“It started with me watching my mother cook,” he said.

“That daily scene turned into a passion, then a skill, then a dream I longed to fulfill. This initiative gave me the chance to do what I love.”

Shoaib was chosen from over 200 applicants to be part of the elite team entrusted with feeding pilgrims.

“When a pilgrim tastes my food and smiles in gratitude, I feel like I’ve done something truly meaningful.”

For Amal Rajeh, the sight of pilgrims performing Hajj once stirred a simple wish: to serve them, even if just with a cup of water. That longing has now turned into a life-changing opportunity.

Amal claimed first place in the Hajj Chef selection competition, becoming part of a pioneering initiative that fulfilled more than her passion - it sharpened her skills and opened unexpected career doors.

“I used to dream of being among them, serving in any way I could,” she said. “Now I’m part of something far greater. This project doesn’t just let you cook - it places you at the heart of the most honorable service there is: serving the guests of God.”

The “Hajj Chef” program, launched by the Eshraqat Foundation for Arab Pilgrims, attracted hundreds of applicants in its first year.

Only the top 28 chefs - both men and women - were selected, according to Lina Khosheim, deputy head of the initiative’s organizing committee.

“Participants underwent intensive training led by top Arab chefs,” Khosheim said. “The goal was to deliver meals that reflect authentic Saudi hospitality while meeting the nutritional needs of pilgrims.”

She added that the initiative goes beyond food preparation. It aims to equip young Saudis with the skills to enter the niche but vital field of “mass catering” - a sector still in its infancy, but brimming with potential for talented youth.