A tamper alarm is a sensor-driven alert that triggers when someone tries to open, move, or physically alter protected equipment. It may detect a breached door, cut cable, removed panel, drilled lock, vibration, or other signs of unauthorized access. In ATMs, kiosks, routers, and payment devices, the alarm is part of the device’s physical security layer.
Tamper alarms matter because many cyberattacks begin with physical access. If an attacker opens an ATM cabinet to install malware, swap storage media, or reach internal ports, the alarm can expose the intrusion before the machine is used as a cash-out tool. Defenders use tamper alarms alongside locks, CCTV, secure boot, and maintenance controls so physical compromise and software compromise are detected together. By correlating a tamper event with unusual dispenser, boot, or service activity, operators can spot jackpotting and other hybrid attacks faster.