Bank of America's Website Slows Amid Cyberattack Threat

Bank of America (BAC) saw its website bog down Tuesday amid threats from self-described digital warriors out to avenge a film that has set off a fury across the Muslim world.

The nation's second-biggest bank said some customers who tried to use the site experienced intermittent delays.

"The website is, and has been available throughout the day, although some customers may have experienced occasional slowness," bank spokesman Mark Pipitone said.  "Customers were able to use other channels such as ATMs and banking centers to conduct their business, if necessary."

The slowdown occurred the same day someone threatened to attack both the bank and the New York Stock Exchange (NYX) in retaliation for the "Innocence of Muslims," an American-made, anti-Islamic film.

"We, Cyber fighters of Izz ad-din Al qassam will attack the Bank of America and New York Stock Exchange for the first step," the self-described Cyber fighters of Izz ad-din Al qassam on Pastebin.com, a website used by programmers. "These Targets are properties of American-Zionist Capitalists. This attack will be started today at 2 pm. GMT. This attack will continue till the Erasing of that nasty movie."

Asked whether the bank was the target of a cyberattack, Pipitone said, "I can assure you we continuously take proactive measures to secure our systems."

The NYSE did not comment.

The U.S. government has denounced the film repeatedly since a riot in Libya last week killed the U.S. ambassador to the country and three other Americans.

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