ATM safety: Here are a few suggestions from our readers

In the wake of the gruesome Bangalore ATM attack, a Firstpost report yesterday recommended that banks should explore technology-enabled solutions to provide more safety at ATMs. We also asked readers whether they had any suggestions on this. We have got a few responses. Among them some werevery creative, others simply common sense.

We agree that a few of them would work, but there are others that we are doubtful about. Here is a quick compilation of the suggestions we got.

[caption id=“attachment_1239935” align=“alignright” width=“380”]  Screengrab of the CCTV footage from the ATM in which the woman was attacked.[/caption]

Install loud emergency alarmsor switches which send strong signals to police stations or the public in case of such incidents, suggests Manoj. This seems like a good idea. A loud alarm alerting the law enforcers or the public outside will definitely help prevent an untoward incident.

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Provide inside ATMs a switch which can act as a door lock once a person enters in it to make a transaction, saysAjith.It should work like this; once you enter the ATM, the door shuts and cannot be open unless you press the switch form inside. Another person cannot enter the ATM behind your back (as was the case in the Bangalore incident) when you are doing you transaction.

**ATM card cabin entry:**Another reader who called himself KTKPS is of the view that the old systems in the SBI ATMs made them a bit more safe. “SBI long back had a good habit of letting in people with a swipe of the ATM card and unless you have a valid card or the person inside presses a switch the door doesn’t unlock - this is by far more safer way - but may be it costs more money for the banks”. This kind of ATM cabin entry exists with a few banks, certainly not many. Another reader Thupaki however has a few word to say about the card access, “First and foremost requirement, Get the those electronic access (card) locks working so that no anti-social element can gain access.”

Glass doors: Another suggestion from Thupaki is ATMs should have clean glass sheet to increase visibility by removing those bank advertisements. People outside the ATMs would be able to see what’s happening in the ATM. In this case, we think, when a person withdrawing cash ensure that he hides his PIN while punching in the ATM, shoulder surfing should not be an issue.

Twitterhad a few suggestions too, right from making virtual banking and eliminating need of going to banks and ATMs, to ATM embedded in building walls on busy side walk in open public views.

Certainly there is an urgent need to provide 24X7 security guards at ATM, but technology too can be used to make ATM safe.

You can read all the suggestions here.

We would like to thank all those who replied with their tips for the story, as always our readers rock!