ATM withdrawal hangs in a limbo

Almost all banks in the country have taken tight precautionary measures to prevent possible cyberattacks in the banking sector, according to bank insiders.

One of the banks have temporarily suspended transactions using cards of other banks except its own in its ATM (Automatic Teller Machine) booths. 

Banks have also taken precautionary measures against all types of online, Swift, National Payment Switches and foreign exchange transactions. This information has been known from the sources of the banks.

According to the bank sources, cyber hackers launched a cyberattack on the server of an Internet Service Provider (ISP) of the country using malware (malicious software).

At the same time, attempts are ongoing to block two more Internet Protocols (IPs) that contain the malware.

The Cyber ​​Incident Response Team (CERT) of Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) of the Information Technology Department of the government is working in this regard.

Cyber ​​experts in CERT hope that the malware will soon be removed.

In this regard, BCC Director Tareq M Barkatullah said they have done forensic analysis in the cyber lab and found that the malware virus was looking for information in the ATM booths and Point of Sale (POS) machines of the bank.

Malware viruses are designed in such a way that they stay hidden and look for information to perform harmful actions – in this case, to siphon money.

However, this malware has been detected and cannot spread further to cause hard since all banks have already been warned.

Even so, concerned organizations have been given guidelines to stay secured against any cyberattack and asked to inform the CERT in case of any suspicion.

According to sources, Sonali Bank, Islami Bank, One Bank, Dhaka Bank, United Commercial Bank, Mercantile Bank, Trust Bank and almost all other banks have taken precautionary measures against cyberattacks.

Dutch Bangla Bank has the largest network of ATM services in the country followed by BRAC Bank. Citibank has the most credit card services.

United Commercial Bank on Tuesday night sent SMS to their clients’ mobiles informing the bank’s precautionary measures.

ask/zn