1LINK Dismisses Claims of Cyberattack on ATMs and Online Banking in Pakistan

KARACHI: 1LINK Limited, Pakistan’s leading payment and switch system, has strongly denied recent claims of a major cyberattack on ATMs and online banking in the Pakistan, calling them “fake rumors.”

The clarification from 1LINK Limited comes in response to a message that spread rapidly on WhatsApp and social media last week. The message warned that ATMs would be non-functional for two to three days due to ransomware attacks, and advised against conducting any online transactions during that time. It even falsely claimed that the report was aired on BBC Radio and cautioned against opening a video called “Dance of the Hillary,” claiming it contained a virus that could wipe out mobile devices.

They reassured that no cyber threats have been identified in relation to the ATM and online banking systems, and the financial industry remains vigilant.

Additionally, BBC Urdu dismissed the claims, clarifying that its last radio broadcast in Pakistan aired on December 31, 2022, and no reports of a cyberattack were made by the outlet.

1LINK Limited, owned by a consortium of 11 banks, plays a crucial role in Pakistan’s financial system, providing services such as ATM switching, bill payments, interbank funds transfers, and fraud risk management.

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