Massive cyber attack targets broadcasters, banks and government in South Korea
A series of cyber attacks Wednesday targeted major television stations, banks, government offices and police in South Korea.
An employee works near a computer screen with error message at the newsroom of the all-news cable channel YTN as the broadcaster’s computer network was paralyzed in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, March 20, 2013. Computer networks at major South Korean banks and top TV broadcasters crashed en masse Wednesday, paralyzing bank machines across the country and prompting speculation of a cyberattack by North Korea. (AP Photo/Yonhap) KOREA OUT
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A series of cyber attacks Wednesday targeted major television stations, banks, government offices and police in South Korea.
Servers were frozen and some banks reported that files were deleted, reports Reuters. “We sent down teams to all affected sites. We are now assessing the situation. This incident is pretty massive and will take a few days to collect evidence,” a police spokesperson said.
Banks were able to restore their service later Tuesday. But staff at the affected television stations — YTN, MBC and KBS — were still experiencing problems, though the were able to continue with broadcasts.
Officials were investigating the possibility that North Korea was behind the attack, but it was too soon to say for sure, officials said.
The hacker attack comes as North Korea continues to threaten South Korea over tighter UN sanctions placed upon it. North Korea is also protesting joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises.
Last week, North Korea blamed South Korea for cyber attacks that shut down web sites in the capital of Pyongyang, reports The New York Times.