Banks, telcom networks on alert as hackers hit government websites.

Banks, telecoms networks, e-payment among other critical service providers weekend swung into action to secure their Internet assets following threats by a group that launched series of cyber attacks on Federal Government websites in protest against the alleged spending of N1 billion on President Goodluck Jonathan’s inauguration.

NaijaCyberHactivists launched a spate of attacks that either defaced or completely brought down websites of Federal Government institutions including the National Assembly, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and NAPEP.

Banks, telecoms and e-payment service providers tend to depend more on their websites as vital channels to deliver services to their customers or provide the first information resource on their products and services. Hence, they can hardly afford to suffer downtime or outright shutdown of their website.


“Most banks now offer Internet banking services through their websites and an intrusion into their site or outrightly crippling them as being threatened by the group is not something they can afford to happen”.

“Hacktivisms are motivated by revenge, ideology, protest and a desire to fight a cause using the best tool at your disposal- The Internet”.

Hitherto, it was a sustained battle between Web administrators of two Federal Government agencies, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP) that came under coordinated attacks from the group late last week when their websites were hacked into and defaced with gibberish codes to replace the original content.

“The Nigerian General Elections of April 2011 have come and gone. But, yet again, like all important functions of the Nigerian political system, they have provoked violent uprisings in parts of Nigeria – this time, mostly in the Northern States of Nigeria – and they have left a legacy of blood and tears, and of inter-group animosity and hate".


 Their attacks are targeted at all financial institutions, e-payment bodies, networks and telecoms companies in a bid to cripple their services.  “all” government websites have been planned to be taken down.