Tech Talk: Voice biometrics, video banking, cyber attacks, and more!

• Analysis of a big bank heist
• Warding off cyber attacks
• Benefits of video banking
• Banking on voice biometrics
• Keeping up with the Wells Fargos
• New mobile banking standards
• Bank-fintech mergers
• Virtual payment card
• Amazon cash service
• Spam, Scams & Breaches
• Updates, Patches & Alerts
• and on the lighter side...

Analysis of a big bank heist
During a weekend last October, hackers successfully compromised an unnamed 500-branch Brazilian bank, gaining control of its email server, removing security protections from its network, and serving up malware to online banking customers who visited any one of the bank's 36 domains. Researchers at security firm Kaspersky Lab have provided a detailed analysis of the comprehensive cyber attack, how the criminal operation was orchestrated, and what the bank could have done to mitigate the sweeping compromise of its core infrastructure. Threatpost has the details.

Warding off cyber attacks
With financial institutions around the world facing increased threats from sophisticated cyber attacks, banks need to take enhanced measures to combat these growing threats. Kaspersky Lab experts share five security strategies financial institutions can put in place to ward off future attacks, reports ATM Marketplace. When developing a cyber security strategy, arming your network with the right tools is a vital part of your defense. Gathering intel from other IT professionals on how they mitigate attacks can help you identify the people, processes and technology needed to adequately protect your institution. NetworkWorld has the details.

Benefits of video banking
While today's tech-savvy consumers appreciate the convenience of digital technology that affords them the ability to bank anywhere and any time, many still prefer personal interaction with bank staff when conducting more complex transactions. A 2017 Video Banking Report highlights the benefits of video banking as an alternative to branch visits for both consumers and banks.
ATM Marketplace has the details.

Banking on voice biometrics
Hard for consumers to remember and easy for hackers to crack, passwords and PINs are becoming obsolete as financial service providers deploy more secure technology to authenticate banking transactions. The first Australian bank to offer its customers voice print identification on mobile devices, ANZ bank has partnered with biometrics company Nuance to provide the convenience and security of high-value mobile banking transactions. Business Insider has the details and highlights from a recent report on biometric applications in the mobile market.

Keeping up with the "Wells Fargos"
In last week's Tech Talk, we reported on Wells Fargo's nationwide rollout of the bank's cardless ATMs. Cardless ATM access offers enhanced security, convenience, and an improved user experience. In today's evolving industry banks need to keep up with the latest technology (and the Wells Fargos) to remain competitive in the financial marketplace. ATM Marketplace has the details.

New mobile banking standards
Mobile phones have evolved from simple calling devices to handheld computers that help us navigate myriad functions, including travel, making payments, managing finances, and more. Mobile banking provides access to banking services for billions of people worldwide who are unbanked. To further the growth and expansion of the technology, independent standards group ISO has released new technical standards for mobile banking. Finextra has the details.

Bank-fintech mergers
Once hailed as a nascent revolution in the financial services space on track to disrupt traditional banking, fintech is becoming more friend than foe within the industry. In the spirit of the old adage "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em," a new PricewaterhouseCoopers report reveals that most global banks and financial firms plan to form alliances with fintech providers for operational efficiency and enhanced customer service. Bloomberg has the details.

Virtual payment cards
Consumer and corporate travel sales is a lucrative market. Travel agencies and online travel agents process reservations and payments between travelers and lodging/transportation providers, primarily through invoicing and check payments. Payment processing provider WEX offers a virtual card platform that expedites the payment process and eliminates the need for sending invoices or mailing checks – which is not only more convenient but also more secure. Banking Technology has the details.

Amazon cash service
Appealing to the millions of unbanked or underbanked consumers who don't have a debit or credit card, online retail marketplace giant Amazon has launched a new service that allows customers to shop with preloaded funds. With its new Amazon Cash service, customers can take cash to any one of more than 10,000 retail locations to have the funds loaded to their Amazon account to pay for their purchases. TechCrunch has the details.

Spams, Scams and Breaches

• Help Net Security: BECs targeted finance firms
• Security Week: Sophisticated evasive android malware
• Threatpost: Scanning services may compromise corporate documents
• Security Week: Corporate networks vulnerable to social media sharing
• Threatpost: Malware hiding in plain sight with bogus WordPress plugin

Updates, Patches and Alerts...

• US-CERT: Current activity
• SecurityWeek: Google patches 31 critical flaws in Android
• Help Net Security: Reinventing software patching, curing big security holes

See what other current hot cyber and technology topics affecting financial institutions BOL users are discussing in the Technology Forum.

And on the lighter side...

When PCs hit the market in the 1980s, those chunky desktops were placed in rec rooms, bedrooms, or tucked in a family room corner out of the way. Today, many employees telecommute from home and most families have home offices. If you're spring cleaning and thinking about jazzing up your office, check out these high-tech home offices.