SBI website was shutdown due to attempt by hackers

On Saturday State Bank of India’s (SBI) website was shutdown due to attempted attack by hackers. A senior official confirmed “There has been an attempt to disrupt the system.” But he refused to reveal any further details. Bank’s internet banking site www.onlinesbi.com was operational, but its sites www.statebankofindia.com and www.sbi.co.in were down on Saturday.

Lately in the evening, officials stated that the bank was aiming to get its website operational by 9.00pm. Afterward the bank put up a message stating that site was under maintenance and directed online applicants to clerical positions to the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection site.

State Bank of India is the country’s largest bank and is having over three million online customers. There has been increase in the number of people with access to internet banking has increased dramatically after SBI has installed its core banking solutions in over 11,100 branches across the country. In the past also, government website was attacked by hackers who left behind anti-India slogans.

In the previous year Bank of India’s website was hacked by the hackers who planted malaware on the site that installs itself on the user’s computer and transmits sensitive information to the hacker. Moreover there have been phishing attempts on customers of various banks where the hacker puts up a website identical to that of a bank to steal passwords.

On Saturday, the bank has launched a railway ticket booking facility at internet kiosks at ATM centers located in railway stations. With this all online banking customers will be able to get printed electronic reservation slips instantly through the kiosks. The kiosk can also be used for other internet banking transactions as well.