Hackers breach Standard Bank, leak card data, demand 1 bitcoin ransom
Hackers breached Standard Bank's systems in March, accessing customer card numbers and expiry dates but not CVV codes, the bank confirmed in a Thursday statement to TechCentral. The attackers are now demanding 1 bitcoin (worth ≈₦62 million at current rates) to prevent data leaks.
This breach joins similar incidents affecting Nigerian payment processor Remita and tier-2 lender Sterling Bank in March, with Nigeria's Corporate Affairs Commission investigating all three entities. Banking experts link these attacks to upgraded AI tools that stress-test critical systems, exposing previously unknown vulnerabilities—though core transactional operations remain unaffected so far.
For Nigerian customers using Standard Bank or affiliated services, immediately monitor account statements for unauthorized transactions. While the bank says CVV numbers weren't compromised, exposed card details still enable fraud. The incident underscores why African financial institutions must treat cybersecurity as urgent infrastructure investment, not an afterthought, as AI empowers both attackers and defenders equally.