SWIFT warns of malware attack on another customer

Financial transaction network SWIFT has renewed its warning to customers to be on their guard following the discovery of malware at another bank using its services.

The bank first asked customers to take steps to secure their systems in the wake of an attempt to steal US$951 million from Bangladesh Bank in February. Attackers there appear to have used custom malware installed on computers at the bank to send fraudulent messages over the SWIFT network seeking to transfer money from the bank's account with the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

That attack appears not to have been an isolated incident, as SWIFT said Friday it has now learnt more about a second instance in which malware was used. While SWIFT did not name the target, a report from security researchers at BAE Systems, also published Friday, pointed to a commercial bank in Vietnam as the latest victim.