EXCLUSIVE: Global Banking System Infiltrated by Chinese State Hackers

Hackers employed by the Chinese state are making a profit selling access to breached banks to organized crime groups

Chinese paramilitary police wear masks in Tiananmen Square on Dec. 9, 2015, in Beijing, China. Chinese state hackers are at the root of recent cyberattacks on the global banking system. Kevin Frayer/Getty Images

A group of cybercriminals has breached and mapped the global banking system, and in a series of attacks has so far stolen $81 million from the central bank of Bangladesh. Experts believe the attacks were done using fraudulent messages on a money transfer network connected to the banking system.

Investigations into the ongoing attacks are still underway, and related attacks on other banks are still being uncovered. Some experts are pinning the attack on hackers from North Korea, since the tools they used share similarities to the November 2014 hack of Sony Pictures Entertainment.

According to an insider with direct knowledge of the recent attacks, however, the culprit behind the digital bank robberies is much larger. The insider requested to remain anonymous due to security concerns, and was able to provide evidence to support his claims.

A screenshot provided by an insider shows the hackers having "root" administrative access to UniTeller's systems. The insider added notations showing the timestamps.