Security News > 2022 > December > Massive DDoS attack takes down Russia’s second-largest bank VTB

Russia's second-largest financial institution VTB Bank says it is facing the worse cyberattack in its history after its website and mobile apps were taken offline due to an ongoing DDoS attack.

"At present, the VTB technological infrastructure is under unprecedented cyberattack from abroad," stated a VTB spokesperson to TASS. "It is not only the largest cyberattack recorded this year, but in the entire history of the bank."

The bank says its internal analysis indicates the DDoS attack was planned and orchestrated with the specific purpose of causing inconvenience to its customers by disrupting its banking services.

The pro-Ukraine hacktivists have been very active in November, targeting over 900 Russian entities, including stores selling military equipment and drones, the Central Bank of Russia, the National Center for the Development of Artificial Intelligence, and Alfa Bank.

The first signs of disruption on VTB came on December 1, 2022, when the hacktivists posted complaints about VTB customers on social media that the bank tried to play down.

With the bank's service disruption more evident now, as the websites and mobile apps are no longer available, VTB had to publicly admit it is fighting a DDoS attack.

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https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/massive-ddos-attack-takes-down-russia-s-second-largest-bank-vtb/