Community Corner

Are You Worried About the Recent Cyber Attacks on U.S. Banks?

Several major bank websites have been attacked recently. A Middle East group claims responsibility.

Had trouble logging in to your bank website recently? You're not alone.

Several media reports have noted recently that several major U.S. banks, such as Wells Fargo, J.P. Morgan Chase, and Bank of America, have been hit with cyber attacks  to their websites. Several of these banks have branches in Peachtree Corners and Gwinnett County.

CNN.com reported that the attackers, who took aim at Bank of America first, went after their targets in sequence. Thursday's victim was PNC's website.

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The Los Angeles Times reported that a "Middle East hacker group" is responsible. A group identifying itself as Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Cyber Fighters attacked the websites.

The banks said account and personal information for their online and mobile customers were not compromised.

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But the federal government is concerned. The Times reported that a financial executive not authorized to speak publicly described a "war room" where bankers were coordinating efforts with the Department of Homeland Security.

There are indications that these attacks are also over the controversial anti-Islam film that provoked anti-American sentiment earlier this month.

The Times reported recently that the bank-hacker group posted a manifesto on the Internet saying attacks would continue until a video insulting the Islamic prophet Muhammad was removed from the Internet. That video, "Innocence of Muslims," has caused violent clashes in the Middle East, and led to the attack of the U.S. Embassy in Libya.

Do you think that this is just the tip of the iceberg and that more Internet attacks are inevitable?


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