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Thursday, 28 April 2016

Qatar National Bank won’t confirm “social media speculation” on alleged data breach, says no impact on customers

Qatar National Bank (QNB) is investigating an alleged security breach of 1.5GB of customer data posted online this week, Reuters reported on Wednesday. The leaked data includes account information for Al Jazeera journalists, members of the ruling Al Thani family, and government officials, among others. Some files had pictures of account holders from Facebook and LinkedIn, according to the report. Currently there’s no word on the exact scope of the beach and whether it impacts clients at the bank’s Egyptian unity QNB Al Ahli.

… Hackers have reportedly already attempted to exploit the financial data leaked from QNB, according to the International Business Times. “There has already been three failed attempts to login to my [bank] account since yesterday,” an anonymous source was quoted as saying. “I know this because I get a text message every time it happens.” The source was instructed by the bank to change their username and password, and no money was lost, according to the report. A number of public figures in government and media confirmed to Reuters their leaked account details were accurate. “Referring to social media speculation in regard to an alleged data breach, it is QNB Group policy not to comment on reports circulated via social media,” according to a statement from the bank on Tuesday, saying “there is no financial impact on our clients or the Bank.

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