Case Study: a large gas station chain reduces credit card skimming impact with Palo Alto Networks Unit 42

Large Gas Station Chain limits credit card skimming to a few dozen cards with Palo Alto Networks Unit 42

A large gas station chain faced a significant threat to customer privacy and brand reputation after discovering a Bluetooth-enabled credit card skimmer installed on a point-of-sale terminal. They engaged Palo Alto Networks and its Unit 42 Digital Forensics and Incident Response service to assess the full extent of the attack and understand which customers were impacted.

Palo Alto Networks Unit 42 team built a custom device to forensically analyze the skimmer, extracting data to determine exactly which credit cards had been compromised. This precise analysis revealed that only a small number of customers were affected, allowing the retailer to confidently notify the appropriate banks without causing widespread alarm. The engagement provided the client with a clear understanding of the attack's scope and better prepared them to defend against future threats.