Terminal Security

Terminal data security is a critical aspect of your fleet management. Without it, a malicious actor could steal or impersonate your Terminal and clean out your funds.

General Bytes views security as our most important function, and we’ve implemented many different tools to effect that end:

1 IP Whitelisting
2 Client Certificates
3 Hardware Pinning
4 Terminal VPN

IP Whitelisting

When a Terminal connects to CAS, you may save the IP and restrict that BATM to connect only via that IP. An attacker typically won’t be able to forge the IP that a Terminal connects from. In instances where a BATM will be consistently connected from a known IP, this is also a valuable tool to prevent a stolen BATM from operating.

See: https://generalbytes.atlassian.net/l/cp/uFZgVCC2

Client Certificates

Client Certificates ensure that an encrypted channel between your Terminal and CAS is intact. The certificate cannot be forged, and encrypted traffic between your Terminal and CAS cannot be established without that certificate. The certificate absolutely identifies the Terminal.

A Terminal offering an improper certificate won’t be permitted to connect to CAS.

See: https://generalbytes.atlassian.net/l/cp/HEdhrzv2

Hardware Pinning

Hardware pinning checks the serial numbers of various components within your BATM. It saves this data and checks it during every boot. It sends it to CAS to verify that nothing has changed. If something has changed, that Terminal won’t be permitted to conduct transactions until either the original components have been reinstalled -or- the list has been updated (by you).

Terminal >> Actions:

Also available via the batm-manage command: https://generalbytes.atlassian.net/l/cp/uvvAqRD1

See: terminal-hwconf-clear

Terminal VPN

Terminal VPNs are supported on firmwares 20221118 and newer.

A VPN is another specific hurdle for hackers. When enabled, the VPN establishes a secure tunnel between the BATM and CAS that cannot be intercepted or manipulated. A VPN ensures that all data traffic is encrypted end-to-end and builds out a bit further than a mere TLS connection.

Instructions: https://generalbytes.atlassian.net/l/cp/H2MzgMY8