ABN Amro replaced 430k bank cards for security leak
ABN Amro has replaced 430 thousand debit cards, because they did not meet the safety requirements. It was possible to remotely guess the PIN number of those cards, which are capable of making contactless payments.
According to a spokesperson for the bank, no money was stolen through abuse with the old cards. However the bank has decided to play it safe and replaced all cards issued between November 2013 and February 2014.
The spokesman said that it was theoretically possible to steal money. A "malicious person with an antenna" could use a device to make remote contact with a debit card with a NFC chip. If the person guessed the PIN code correctly, the device would indicate it. If the card in question was then stolen, or digitally copied from close by, money could have been stolen.
The bank has replaced about 8 percent of its cards in circulation. All debit cards now meet the safety requirements of the bank.