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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Group-IB assessed that the cybercriminal group Silence was likely responsible for a 2019 cash-out at Dutch-Bangla Bank ATMs in Bangladesh. Local media reported a $3 million loss, but Group-IB said the actual amount could have been higher. The researchers did not establish exactly how the cash was dispensed, and their attribution was a security-research assessment—not a court finding or public confirmation by Bangladeshi authorities.
What happened at Dutch-Bangla Bank?
Group-IB’s July 3, 2019 report said an attack that had begun months earlier culminated in Dhaka on May 31, 2019. The company cited CCTV footage showing two Ukrainian cash mules, their faces covered, withdrawing money from Dutch-Bangla Bank (DBBL) ATMs and making phone calls before withdrawals. Group-IB’s incident account described the cash withdrawals as the final stage of the operation.
The $3 million figure was reported by local media and cited by Group-IB; it was not presented as an independently audited total. Group-IB cautioned that the actual amount might have been higher. The company’s report does not establish a final verified loss figure.
Why did researchers point to Silence?
Group-IB said DBBL hosts with external IP addresses had communicated with a command-and-control server that the company associated with Silence since at least February 2019. It assessed that the group likely used Silence.Downloader, also known as TrueBot, along with Silence.MainModule and Silence.ProxyBot in the operation. Those malware and infrastructure details were part of Group-IB’s analysis, rather than a public determination by Bangladeshi authorities. Group-IB’s technical account outlines the indicators it cited.
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The group is described in the reporting as Russian-speaking or Russian. That description does not establish Russian state sponsorship; the reviewed accounts do not substantiate a state link. CyberScoop also reported that local law enforcement had previously considered a possible Lazarus Group connection, but that was a separate reported suspicion—not Group-IB’s conclusion. CyberScoop’s coverage distinguishes those accounts.
How might the ATMs have dispensed the cash?
The public account did not resolve the cash-dispensing method. Group-IB described two possible routes, both still theories in its reporting:
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| Possible route | What it would involve | Status in the reporting |
|---|---|---|
| Card-processing compromise | Access to the bank’s card-processing system to alter transaction limits. | One possibility outlined by Group-IB; not confirmed. |
| ATM jackpotting | Use of the Atmosphere toolkit to make ATMs dispense cash. | Another possibility outlined by Group-IB; not confirmed. |
Group-IB discussed these alternatives in its report, and BleepingComputer reported them as possibilities conveyed by the company’s Rustam Mirkasymov. Neither account confirms which mechanism, if either, was used. Group-IB’s report; BleepingComputer’s coverage.
Was this the 2016 Bangladesh Bank SWIFT heist?
No. The 2019 report concerns a cash-out involving Dutch-Bangla Bank ATMs and Silence’s alleged role. The 2016 Bangladesh Bank incident involved the central bank and a SWIFT transfer scheme. CyberScoop explicitly warned readers not to conflate the two events. CyberScoop’s report explains the distinction.
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What was reported about other banks?
NCC Bank and Prime Bank were also reportedly attacked, but both said they suffered no financial losses. The reviewed reporting did not establish that Silence was responsible for those incidents. CyberScoop’s account reports the banks’ statements and the limits of the attribution.
Group-IB said it was aware of at least four other Silence attacks in Asia, but its report did not publicly detail all of those targets. The company’s Rustam Mirkasymov said the group had developed confidence and skill by testing its tools and techniques in Russia, and that Asia drew cybercriminal attention. Group-IB’s report.
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