Read: More troubles for ATM users as Microsoft Window 8 deadline expires

Tensions continues to mount over the high level risk exposure of banks in the country following the end of support for the vulnerable Microsoft Windows XP operating system which ended April 8.

With the expiration deadline set by Microsoft for users of Windows XP to migrate to Windows 8 Operating System (OS), there are fears that the automated teller machines (ATMs) of most of the lenders in the country may no longer function as most of them failed to comply with the deadline.

Indications emerged that Nigerian banks and many of the world’s cash machines are stilled to be running Window XP, as it is believed that any institution or business using the 13-year-old software would be at risk of infection and compromise by cyber thieves.

While raising concern over the dangers that await banks and financial institutions in the country, the General Manager Microsoft Nigeria, Kabelo Makwane, in a phone interview stated that non-migration to the Windows 8 can open the banks up for potential security vulnerability and threats.

He disclosed that the company has the capacity to migrate all the banks that are willing and ready for the project. He said Microsoft has over 2,500 partners involved in the migration process, one of which is Zinox Technologies.

Makwane, however, said several banks have identified migration to the new technology as a priority for them and are taking steps to address the challenge.

He said: “We have the capacity to migrate all the banks to the Windows 8. We have no capacity challenge at all and have been advising the banks on the need to migrate to the new technology,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Chairman, Committee of e-Banking Industry Heads (CeBIH), Chuks Iku has said that non-compliant ATMs might not be able to carry out improved service delivery.

He noted that Microsoft Nigeria had directed banks to migrate to the improved platform, which would allow for enhanced banking benefits and security.

Iku, who is the Head of E-Business at Skye Bank, said Microsoft remains the owner of the licence and banks are taking steps to ensure co pliance. “CeBIH has engaged Microsoft Nigeria to fashion out means of creating a uniform approach to compliance with the need for migration of ATM operating system from Windows XP to Windows Embedded 8.1 which is the new operating system designed to run on ATMs. This step ensures security of ATM transactions and helps to prevent attacks on ATM terminals,” he said.

The CeBIH boss said the group was also looking at what happens next if the banks fail to comply, including extension of the deadline.

“There is really no cause for alarm, the important thing is that we should do it quickly to ensure that our ATMs are in top performing levels,” he advised.

Also, a certified Microsoft technology associate confirmed that the situation may have been blown out of proportion.

He explained, “True, but do you know that governments of UK, Germany and others have paid Microsoft millions of dollars to keep their systems including ATMs running on XP and receive security updates that excludes them from the vulnerability of the old OS.

No African country has been able to develop its own ATM, so the ones in use at the moment in Africa and developing countries were supplied by UK, Germany and the likes, so they are covered and will remain so until they are upgraded.”

Report showed that some of those existing XP users have struck deals to get security fixes from Microsoft while they complete their migration away from aging code, as UK government signed a 5.5million pounds deal for extended support and Dutch government also signed “multi-million euro” deal to obtain help for the 40, 000 PCs running XP used by the nation’s civil servants.

SUN NEWSPAPER