In late December 2024, the Banque de l’Habitat du Sénégal (BHS) found itself at the center of a cyberattack that left its information systems crippled for nearly a week. The breach resulted in the shutdown of several essential services, including email communication, the Bank to Wallet option, and ATM access. Customers were left in limbo, unable to perform basic banking functions, creating significant inconvenience for individuals and businesses alike. The attack has brought into sharp focus the vulnerability of financial institutions to cyber threats and the devastating impact such breaches can have on daily operations.
Among the affected customers, Assane shared his frustrations, unable to check his account balance after his December salary was transferred. Without the usual notification or access to online banking services, he was forced to consider a visit to the bank in person. Similarly, Abdoulaye, a customer reliant on the Wave platform’s Bank to Wallet option, found himself abandoning the service and going to a branch to withdraw cash. Saïbo Danfakha, facing similar difficulties, had to resort to ATMs from other banks to access his funds, showcasing how far-reaching the disruption was across various banking services.
IT security experts have deemed the attack particularly serious, with one expert describing it as an “extremely serious” event for the banking sector. This assessment highlights the growing frequency of cyberattacks targeting banks, institutions that manage vast amounts of sensitive data. The breach occurred on Tuesday, December 24, 2024, and while an internal source within BHS has confirmed the incident, the bank has yet to provide an official statement on the attack or its current recovery efforts. This delay in communication only intensifies customer concerns about the safety and future stability of their accounts and the bank’s ability to prevent similar attacks.
This incident underscores the critical need for financial institutions to bolster their cybersecurity measures. Banks must implement robust defenses and remain vigilant to the evolving threats posed by cybercriminals. Transparency and effective communication are also crucial when handling such crises. While customers await further updates from BHS, the hope is that the institution will not only recover swiftly but also introduce preventive measures to safeguard against future breaches, ensuring that their financial data remains secure.
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