Symantec Says SWIFT Malware Is Linked to Cyber Attack in the Philippines

Symantec Says SWIFT Malware Is Linked to Cyber Attack in the Philippines

by  Reuters  MAY 26, 2016, 2:08 PM EDT

Symantec suggests recent success could prompt more attacks
The malware that was used to steal $81 million from Bangladesh’s central bank has been linked to another cyber attack, this time on a bank in the Philippines, cyber security company Symantec said in a blog post on Thursday.

The company said it had identified three pieces of malware that were used in limited targeted attacks against financial institutions in South-East Asia.

The initial success of the group that attacked the Bangladesh Central Bank and the Philippines bank could prompt more attacks, Symantec  SYMC -0.23%  said in the post.

In February, thieves hacked into the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) payments system of the Bangladesh central bank, sending messages to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York allowing them to steal $81 million.

The emergence of new possible instances of compromise is not entirely surprising as banks conduct more reviews, SWIFT spokeswoman Natasha de Teran told Reuters.

“Many may turn out to be false positives, and or have nothing to do with SWIFT messages, but it is key that these reviews take place and banks’ environments are secured,” she added.




- wong chee tat :)