August 15th, 2024

Iranian banks hit by major cyber attack, reportedly one of largest in history

A significant cyber attack has disrupted Iranian banks, including the Central Bank, stealing sensitive data and highlighting vulnerabilities in Iran's infrastructure amid regional tensions with Israel and the U.S.

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Iranian banks hit by major cyber attack, reportedly one of largest in history

A significant cyber attack has targeted Iranian banks, including the Central Bank of Iran, resulting in major disruptions to the country's banking system. This incident is reported to be one of the largest cyber attacks in Iran's history, with hackers allegedly stealing sensitive information from account holders at the largest bank in the country. The attack occurs amid heightened tensions in the region, with Iran blaming Israel and the United States for various provocations, including the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. In response to the attack, Iranian officials have expressed a commitment to retaliate against Israel, while the U.S. has increased its military presence in the region. The cyber attack highlights vulnerabilities within Iran's infrastructure, as activists have criticized the government for prioritizing military engagements over domestic needs, leaving citizens unable to access their funds. The last major cyber incident in Iran targeted its fuel infrastructure, further illustrating the ongoing cyber warfare challenges the nation faces.

- A major cyber attack has disrupted the Iranian banking system, affecting the Central Bank and other financial institutions.

- The attack is considered one of the largest in Iran's history, with sensitive data reportedly stolen from account holders.

- Iran blames Israel and the U.S. for various regional tensions, including the assassination of a Hamas leader.

- Activists have criticized the Iranian government for its military focus, impacting citizens' access to banking services.

- The incident underscores vulnerabilities in Iran's cyber defenses amid ongoing geopolitical conflicts.

Link Icon 11 comments
By @epgui - 8 months
Adding to other commenters' skepticism, I'm not sure this even makes sense.

I'm not an expert, but I know that regular people don't have accounts with the central bank, and I know central banks aren't responsible for operating ATMs. If there was a link between the two (eg.: interbank lending issues), it would need explaining, and I feel like it would be covered in financial news (Bloomberg, FT, etc).

There's either a lot of important detail missing, or this was written by someone who doesn't know how banking works.

By @underdeserver - 8 months
Twitter seems to think that the only source for this is Iran International, and there's been no corroboration, so take with a grain of salt.
By @xander158 - 8 months
It was reported as fake news. Someone taped a piece of paper to an ATM and suddenly its the largest cyber attack in history.
By @andyjohnson0 - 8 months
No mention of this on NYT/BBC/Guardian sites. Fake?
By @curiousllama - 8 months
Wildly speculating - could this be a response to Iran trying to hack both presidential campaigns?

https://www.wired.com/story/iran-apt42-trump-biden-harris-ph...

"Google says Iran-backed hacking group APT42 has targeted the Trump and Biden campaigns, as well as Israeli military, government, and diplomatic organizations"

By @Workaccount2 - 8 months
I'm inclined to think that this must be a state sponsored attack, yet I wonder the about the value of pissing off the public. Seems like it would just help to galvanize support of the Iranian government.
By @aa_is_op - 8 months
The source of this article is just two sentences from a Saudi-based outlet:

https://www.iranintl.com/202408144740

By @switch007 - 8 months
I don't find an Israeli source very convincing, given Iran is a belligerent in the 40 year proxy war against Israel.