The CITIBANK hacking traced via traffic on ISPs previously used by the Russian Gang

Though the CITIBANK and FBI are in denial mode, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) suggests that the FBI is supposedly looking into a computer-security breach targeting Citigroup Inc. that resulted into tens of millions of dollars being siphoned from the customers account. A Russian Business Network (RBN), a notorious gang behind several hacking incidents is suspected to be behind the heist. Apart from bank account hacking, the RBN is said to be involved in child pornography and spam also.

The Security breach at the CITIBANK came to light when traffic from Internet addresses formerly used by the RBN gang was noticed by the US investigators. The hackers have used a program called Black Energy, designed by a Russian hacker. The tool can be used to command a botnet, or a large group of computers infected by malware and controlled by an attacker, in assaults meant to take down target Web sites. This year a modified version of the software appeared online that could steal banking information, and in the Citi attack a version tailored to target the bank was used, the WSJ reported. What concerns Security officials that beyond stealing money, hackers could try to manipulate or destroy data, which could wreak havoc on the banking system and financial markets. When intruders get into one bank, officials say, they may be able to blaze a trail into others.

Why the bank authorities are denying the hacking incident of such a magnitude is not difficult to fathom, as it would put a question mark on their online security mechanism and create panic in the customers.

Joe Petro, managing director of Citigroup’s security and investigative services in a press release has denied any type of hacking incident and its probe by the FBI, he said “We had no breach of the system and there were no losses, no customer losses, no bank losses………. Any allegation that the FBI is working a case at Citigroup involving tens of millions of losses is just not true.”