14 DAY TRIAL // We've talked about the FLIR One, the thermal imaging case for your iPhone. It's the perfect way to test if your house has energy leaks. However, not a month has passed and the same case is being used as a way to steal money. At least, it can be if you believe the following video. Good thing about it? The guy also explains how to make sure nobody gets the PIN from your Credit Card.
First of all, let's remember how cool the FLIR One case is. This new case has been promoted by the guys that are professionals in creating thermal imaging devices. They promised a case that comes with some sensors on the back.
You can use it in thermal imaging mode or in night view mode and the use cases are pretty awesome. The case detects the difference in temperature so you can use it to trace water spills, electrical shorts, even insects and rodents in your dry wall.
But, as awesome as this may be, the bad guys can use it to pick up your PIN Code off a regular POS machine at the corner shop. The idea explained by video blogger Mark Rober is simple: when you put your fingers on a surface for just a second, that area will take some of the heat from your palm or fingers. So when you key in your Credit Card's PIN number on the POS or ATM, you can actually see the heat map on that device for a few more seconds.
A device like FLIR One is the key here. The bad guys can steal your PIN Number and when they have your credit card, all your funds are gone. The good thing is that this doesn't usually work on a regular ATM with Metal Keys. But the plastic or rubber POS buttons will keep your heat map for a few seconds.
And just because that heat dissipates after a few seconds, you can actually see the order in which the buttons have been pressed.
The best solution to prevent this is also explained in the video and it is just as simple as the first hack. When you type your PIN number, make sure to keep two other fingers on other buttons. This will leave some heat marks behind so the thief will not be able to distinguish your PIN from all the keys that have been pressed.
Now, the thing that you want to learn from all of the above is not to go run your own FLIR One just for that, but rather learn how to protect your money.
