Cyber Attack Hit Banks ; SBI Blocks 6 Lakh Debit Cards to Ward off Security Threat

India's largest commercial bank, State Bank of India, on Wednesday said it had blocked debit cards of 'certain customers' following a malware related security breach in a non-SBI ATM network.Around 6 lakh debit cards have been blocked.However, SBI also stated that it will re-issue them new cards.

"It's a security breach, but not in our banks' systems. Many other banks also have this breach — right now and since a long time," Shiv Kumar Bhasin, SBI's chief technology officer (CTO), told TOI, adding that customers who used their cards only at SBI-run ATMs have not been affected by this. "A few ATMs have been affected by a malware. When people use their card on infected switches or ATMs, there is a high probability that their data will be compromised," Bhasin said.

SBI has informed its branches about the cards being blocked and fresh cards would be issued to customers. "Customers need not panic. They can either approach their branch, call up phone banking or use the internet for 're-carding'. They can also set their PINs from their homes using internet banking," Bhasin said.[Source::Dy365]