TEHRAN – A computer specialist, who used to work for a PSP (payment service provider) company which offers a number of Iranian banks services for accepting electronic payments, has hacked accounts of three million bank customers to show the vulnerability of the banks to computer security threats, the Persian service of the Fars News Agency reported on Sunday.   

 

According to the report, the hacker had provided the managing directors of the targeted banks with information about the bank accounts of 1000 customers in the previous Iranian calendar year (ended on March 19) to warn them about the susceptibility of their computer systems and networks to cyber threats. 

 

The Central Bank of Iran issued a statement on Saturday advising the bank customers to change the passwords of their bank cards to prevent possible credit card fraud.   

 

An official at the Central Bank of Iran also told the Persian service of IRNA on Sunday that no one has illegally accessed people’s bank accounts.

 

“It is possible that certain individuals have some information… but they cannot use this information until the bank cards are not in their possession,” Nasser Hakimi said.   

 

The deputy chief of Iran’s cyber police, Mohsen Mirbahresi, also said on Sunday that there is no cause for concern because the hacker has not acquired important financial information, such as bank account numbers.