The Pakistan National Telecom Computer Emergency Response Team (NTCERT) has refuted rumours of a nationwide shutdown of Pakistan’s ATMs and online banking applications.
In a statement released today, the national NTCERT clarified that there are no disruptions to the banking infrastructure or cyber threats targeting ATMs and online banking services. The advisory also cautioned against spreading misleading information on social media, which has led to undue public alarm.
The national NTCERT confirmed that all banking services, including ATMs and online banking, are operating as usual and emphasized that there is no cause for concern.
The team recommended that users logout of banking apps after use and regularly review their bank statements for unusual activities. Additionally, NTCERT reminded users to keep their ATM card PINs, OTPs, and passwords secure and avoid sharing them with others.
This clarification addresses recent false messages on social media in Pakistan. These messages wrongly claimed that ATMs would be closed for several days due to a ransomware cyber-attack, advised against online transactions and warned about a malicious video purportedly called the “Dance of the Hillary,” which could harm mobile devices.