Cyberattack in S. Korea hits banks, networks
Source: Agencies |
March 21, 2013, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
A CYBERATTACK caused computer networks at major South Korean banks and top TV broadcasters to crash simultaneously yesterday, paralyzing bank machines across the country.
Screens went blank at 2pm, the state-run Korea Information Security Agency said, and more than seven hours later some systems were still down.
Police and South Korean officials couldn't immediately determine responsibility.
The network paralysis took place just days after North Korea accused South Korea and the US of staging a cyberattack that shut down its websites for two days last week.
The South Korean shutdown did not affect government agencies or potential targets such as power plants or transportation systems, and there were no reports that bank customers' records were compromised, but the disruption froze part of the country's commerce.
Some customers were unable to use the debit or credit cards that many rely on more than cash. At one Starbucks in downtown Seoul, customers were asked to pay for their coffee in cash, and lines formed outside disabled bank machines.
Shinhan Bank, a major South Korean lender, reported a two-hour system shutdown, including online banking and automated teller machines. It said networks later came back online and that banking was back to normal. Shinhan said no customer records or accounts were compromised.
Another big bank, Nonghyup, said its system eventually came back online. Jeju Bank said some of its branches also reported network shutdowns.
Broadcasters KBS and MBC said their computers went down at 2pm, but that did not affect TV broadcasts. Computers were still down about seven hours after the shutdown began.
Last year, North Korea threatened to attack several news companies, including KBC and MBC, over their criticism of children's festivals in North Korea.
Screens went blank at 2pm, the state-run Korea Information Security Agency said, and more than seven hours later some systems were still down.
Police and South Korean officials couldn't immediately determine responsibility.
The network paralysis took place just days after North Korea accused South Korea and the US of staging a cyberattack that shut down its websites for two days last week.
The South Korean shutdown did not affect government agencies or potential targets such as power plants or transportation systems, and there were no reports that bank customers' records were compromised, but the disruption froze part of the country's commerce.
Some customers were unable to use the debit or credit cards that many rely on more than cash. At one Starbucks in downtown Seoul, customers were asked to pay for their coffee in cash, and lines formed outside disabled bank machines.
Shinhan Bank, a major South Korean lender, reported a two-hour system shutdown, including online banking and automated teller machines. It said networks later came back online and that banking was back to normal. Shinhan said no customer records or accounts were compromised.
Another big bank, Nonghyup, said its system eventually came back online. Jeju Bank said some of its branches also reported network shutdowns.
Broadcasters KBS and MBC said their computers went down at 2pm, but that did not affect TV broadcasts. Computers were still down about seven hours after the shutdown began.
Last year, North Korea threatened to attack several news companies, including KBC and MBC, over their criticism of children's festivals in North Korea.
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