Can risk assessments help protect ATMs and ITMs from hook and chain attacks?

Yes. ATM and ITM risk assessments are a proven method for countering hook and chain attacks and other physical threats. A proper risk assessment identifies vulnerabilities in placement, anchoring, and access control, and allows CSG to recommend targeted physical security measures — including under-counter steel, reinforced anchoring, and monitored perimeter alerts.

Hook and chain attacks involve thieves using a stolen vehicle to physically rip an ATM or ITM from its mounting — typically during early morning hours when the location is unoccupied. The effectiveness of this attack method depends heavily on how the machine is anchored and what perimeter security is in place. A risk assessment examines both factors: how the machine is currently secured and what environmental conditions make it more or less vulnerable to a physical attack.

CSG's recommended countermeasures go beyond simply adding physical barriers. A layered approach includes reinforced anchoring to deny easy removal, perimeter sensors and cameras to detect approach and trigger alerts, and in some configurations, low-cost IoT deterrence systems that respond to attack patterns in real time. CSG has successfully deployed these solutions at institutions that had experienced hook and chain incidents, with no repeat attacks following implementation.