Latest Retail Security News

The Logic Group conducts forensic investigations on credit card or data breach anywhere in Europe
posted on 25/10/2010

The Logic Group has gained approval to practice as a Qualified Forensics Investigator (QFI) and can now conduct forensic investigations for merchants that have experienced or are suspected of a credit card or data breach anywhere in Europe. To achieve QFI status The Logic Group required approval by the two major card schemes; Visa and MasterCard. Approval followed a rigorous vetting process conducted independently over a period of several months. The forensics team at The Logic Group have already worked with the Forensics Science Service and the police to support investigations of credit and debit card fraud. Neil O’Neil, principal digital forensics investigator at The Logic Group comments, “Achieving QFI status represents a natural progression from our work in helping merchants to adhere to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. Although incidents of fraud are less frequently publicised in the UK than they are in the US, the unfortunate reality is that despite the industr... [more]

SelectaDNA Spray is designed to deter commercial burglaries and smash-and-grab raids
posted on 22/10/2010

Selectamark Security Systems plc has developed a security device that uses a forensic DNA spray to link burglars to the scene of their crime. Managing Director Andrew Knights said: "The SelectaDNA Spray is designed to deter commercial burglaries and smash-and-grab raids. It has already been successfully deployed in the UK, Europe and New Zealand to protect retail outlets, banks, jewellers, warehouses, petrol stations and other premises to protect their valuable stock and assets." The system consists of multiple spray heads that can be fitted above windows and doors of premises and as a burglar enters the property the system is triggered to emit a burst of SelectaDNA solution onto the offenders. The solution contains a UV tracer and a unique DNA code, linking intruders irrefutably to the crime scene. Police routinely scan for traces of SelectaDNA, and if found, it can help them to obtain a conviction. Traces of the DNA solution can be taken from the skin, hair and clothing of off... [more]

Global retail shrink rates decrease but one in three retailers report increased actual or attempted shoplifting
posted on 21/10/2010

According to the fourth annual edition of the Global Retail Theft Barometer, global retail theft totaled $107.3 billion in 2010, representing a 5.6% decrease from the prior year (6.8% in the U.S.). The study, sponsored by an independent grant from Checkpoint Systems, monitored the costs of shrink (loss from shoplifting/employee crimes and administrative errors) in the global retail industry between July 2009 and June 2010, and found that shrink decreased in all regions surveyed. The biggest decrease was in North America. Still, the proportion of global retailers that reported increased actual or attempted shoplifting in 2010 was 31.1% (36.7% in the U.S.). “Even with the shrink decrease, retail crime cost the average family in the 42 countries surveyed an extra $186 on their shopping bill,” said Professor Joshua Bamfield, Director of the Centre for Retail Research and author of the study. “In the U.S., that number was $422.68, a phenomenal figure.” The 2010 study also found that... [more]

New version of the Zeus financial malware adds sophisticated new mechanisms to commit online fraud
posted on 21/10/2010

The Zeus developers keep releasing new features - such as a highly granular browser injection facility - that allow them to stay one step ahead of the IT security community, as well as fixing bugs and other issues in previous versions. This level of commitment attracts the fraudsters' business and maintains interest in the Trojan amongst security vendors, banks and law enforcement officials. And this in turn re-enforces the security circle, with hacker coders constantly tweaking and improving the malware as time goes on. Trusteer has captured and analyzed a new version (2.1) of the Zeus financial malware and found that it has added sophisticated new mechanisms to commit online fraud and remain the Trojan of choice for criminals. Zeus has not only improved its business logic but also its ability to avoid detection and automatic analysis by antivirus vendors. Zeus is under the spotlight of security vendors, banks, and law enforcement, which forces its developers to continually improve it ... [more]

CISA Astral cylinders provide a flexible access control solution to Cape Town FIFA 2010 football stadium
posted on 20/10/2010

Almost 1,000 CISA Astral cylinders from Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies have been supplied for the Cape Town FIFA 2010 football stadium for the recent World Cup. Supplied by W&B Hardware, a member of the ILIAD Group SA, the CISA Astral cylinders were specified as they are a flexible solution for Masterkey locking systems with a possibility of up to 63,000 different cylinders on a single system. This makes them ideal for commercial applications and areas with large and complicated access control requirements. In addition, the reversible flat key with code card makes unauthorised duplication extremely difficult. The Astral cylinders form part of a wide range of CISA cylinder locks which includes the Astral S, Astral S 24, AP3 S, C2000, 7500 and Primus ranges. Each of these is designed with special applications in mind to offer basic security with good masterkeying capabilities, which are ideal for residential homes and commercial offices through to high security cylinders with a la... [more]

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