UK banks have been regularly targeted by cybercriminals, according to the latest research from BBC.
The report, compiled with data from multiple sources, revealed that spam, viruses and other malicious messages often appeared on devices used in the banks’ corporate networks.
It is possible computers in banks were attacked when staff and contractors opened malicious email attachments and visited sites laced with malicious codes.
In 2013, there were over 20 incidents involving UK banking networks that showed malicious activity. Some of the incidents involved addresses that have been delivering junk for months, while others delivered spam.
Another dataset reported that seven corporate bank networks have been often sending out junk; with five of them being home to machines that form part of Conficker botnet.
Sources from UK banks also said that they tackle about a dozen incidents involving machines getting infected with malware per month.
British Bankers’ Association financial crime director Matt Allen said that it’s a constant battle and the banks have employed some of the well-built systems and controls to shield against cybercriminals.
"The criminal use of cyber-techniques is an integral part of financial crime offending," Allen said.
"The challenge in this area is that as banks develop their controls in line with new criminal methodologies, new techniques will emerge.
"We’re not complacent.
"We know it’s changing and evolving quickly."
