GTBank Faces Cybersecurity Crisis as Website is Hijacked
GTBank, one of Nigeria’s leading financial institutions, is grappling with a major cybersecurity incident after its official website, gtbank.com, was compromised in a high-profile cyberattack. The breach, which occurred late Wednesday night, has left the bank’s website offline, raising concerns among customers and industry experts.
The attack came shortly after GTBank renewed its domain for an additional five years, extending coverage from August 13, 2024, to March 21, 2029. Despite this renewal, attackers managed to hijack the site just a day later, on August 14.
No hacker group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but experts suggest that sophisticated phishing tactics may have been employed to create a counterfeit version of the website. This fake site could be used to steal users’ login credentials, potentially compromising sensitive customer information.
Cybersecurity experts have warned that the breach could have far-reaching consequences. The incident has already sparked a strong reaction from GTBank’s customer base, with many taking to social media to express their frustration over the website’s inaccessibility. Currently, the site remains unreachable, adding to customer anxiety.
Adding to the turmoil, GTBank representatives have been criticized for their slow response to the crisis. The bank has since directed customers to a dedicated support channel for assistance, but the lack of immediate communication has only fueled speculation about the attack.
There is growing concern that the breach may have been an inside job, especially given perceptions about GTBank’s compensation practices for tech professionals. As the bank works to regain control of its website, the process of reclaiming the domain is expected to be both complex and time-consuming.
For now, the gtbank.com domain remains offline, leaving customers and industry observers anxiously awaiting further developments in this unfolding cybersecurity crisis.
