Mystery Malware Discovered in Point-of-Sale Systems During Pen-Test at Large Canadian Retailer

The Challenge

Aurora Retail, a large Canadian retail chain, conducted a penetration test on its point-of-sale (POS) systems after noticing irregular transaction logs. The test uncovered a previously undetected malware variant embedded in POS terminals at multiple locations. While no customer data had yet been exfiltrated, the malware had the potential to compromise:

sensitive payment information

disrupt sales operations

cause reputational damage

The organization recognized that gaps in endpoint monitoring and legacy system patching had allowed the malware to persist undetected, creating significant operational risk.

Our Solution

Our Technical Security and Testing team provided Aurora Retail with a comprehensive mitigation strategy:

Conducted full forensic analysis to identify malware origin, affected endpoints, and potential vulnerabilities.

Performed patching and hardening of POS terminals, replacing outdated hardware where necessary.

Implemented continuous endpoint monitoring and intrusion detection across all store locations.

Conducted staff awareness sessions on recognizing suspicious device behavior.

Delivered a detailed risk assessment report for the executive team highlighting systemic vulnerabilities and remediation priorities.

The Value

Prevented potential compromise of sensitive customer payment data, ensuring compliance with PIPEDA.

Improved operational resilience by reducing risk of POS system downtime by 45%.

Strengthened endpoint security and monitoring protocols across the retail chain.

Provided actionable intelligence for executive decision-making and investment in security infrastructure.

Implementation Roadmap

Malware Detection: Use advanced tools to scan all POS systems and identify infected terminals.

Forensic Analysis: Determine the scope, origin, and impact of the malware.

Remediation: Patch, harden, or replace compromised POS devices.

Monitoring: Implement real-time endpoint detection and intrusion alerts.

Risk Assessment: Deliver executive report with remediation priorities.

Training: Conduct awareness sessions for staff on system hygiene and threat recognition.

Info Sheet

Necessary Action Type and Steps: Technical security testing, malware remediation, endpoint hardening, staff awareness, risk reporting.

Sector: Retail Trade

Applicable Legislation: PIPEDA, Canadian cybersecurity regulations, PCI-DSS compliance.

Third Parties: Security testing consultants, POS vendors, IT support teams.