Anomaly detection should be the weapon of choice against digital malfeasants

By Michael Kassner September 23, 2014
 
Anomaly detectors give digital crime fighters proactivity in a fight where bad guys seem to have the advantage. Show of hands, how many know to inform their bank that they will be traveling abroad?
I first learned why this was necessary several years ago in Copenhagen, when a polite car rental agent informed me my bank credit card did not work. Flustered and embarrassed, I tried a different credit card, that one worked. Already late, I put aside trying to figure out what happened.
That evening, I called my bank. A cheerful customer service representative reminded me it was my responsibility to inform the bank when I travel outside the US. I did not know it then, but that was my first encounter with an anomaly-detection system.
Why did the bank freeze my account? My credit card being used in a foreign country was considered a high-risk anomaly. With all the data breaches and stolen credit/debit card information traversing the internet, banks are being careful.
 
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