Banks on high alert after SBI ATMs get hacked

 

 A suspected breach of data security at a private bank a few months back has led to a major pre-emptive clean-up by other banks.

 

 The steps taken by the bankers include asking customers to change the PINs of their ATM-cum-debit cards, which has now gone up one level to changing cards as well, if the customers do not comply.

 

 

According to bankers, the breach effected in such a way that anyone using the said bank's ATMs in the region might stand to get affected. When asked about alleged lapses on its ATM network, an Yes Bank spokesperson said, "Proactively undertaken a comprehensive audit of ATMs, and there is no evidence of a breach or compromise on ATMs. We continue to work with relevant stakeholders, including other public sector and private banks, and NPCI, to ensure utmost safety and security of ATM network and payment services which are completely safe to use."

 

 

HDFC Bank reportedly asked its customers to change their PINs and has also been asking them not to use any other banks' ATMs as a precautionary measure. After asking its customers who may be potentially hit, the largest lender State Bank of India has also started a process to block the cards of those who did not change the security code at its own cost, its spokesperson said.

 

 

 

"Card network companies NPCI, MasterCard and Visa had informed various banks about a potential risk to some cards owing to a data breach. Accordingly, we have taken precautionary measures and have blocked cards of certain customers identified by the networks," SBI said in a statement.

 

 

 

"We came to know about security breach and proactively recalled affected cards as we did not want our customers to be at any risk. There was no breach in our system. We are now issuing EMV-based debit cards which cannot be compromised," SBI deputy managing director and chief operating officer Manju Agarwal told PTI.

 

 

 

She, however, declined to give the number of debit cards the bank has recalled. SBI has nearly 20 crore debit cards.