Shabak (or Shin Bet), the Israeli counter-intelligence service, has launched an administrative process that should enable it to control the computer system of every bank operating on the territory of the Jewish state.
According to Haaretz [1], the spy agency has already started sending for bank managers on a more or less voluntary basis and is swamping them with instructions.
The Shabak would like the computer systems of commercial banks to be recognized as a critical infrastructure for national security. Officially, the aim is to prevent cyber attacks. However, this device will also allow intelligence service to access all banking data in the country.
Under state of emergency provisions in force since 1948, the Shabak has prohibited bankers from speaking about it publicly.
[1] "Shin Bet steps up supervision over Israeli banks’ computers to prevent future cyber attacks," by Sharon Shpurer, Haaretz, 30 May 2012.
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