FARMINGTON – The Web site for Franklin Savings Bank was shutdown again Wednesday for the second time in less than a week due to a malicious code that is now affecting a much larger number of Internet sites, bank officials said.

“The malicious code that hit our page last week appears to be widespread on the servers of the company that hosts our Web page,” said Tim Thompson, a senior vice president. “We again took down our Web page to block the threat from reaching our customers. We are in the process of changing web hosting companies and will have our new page up and running as soon as possible.”

Thompson would not name the company, but noted that it hosts hundreds of thousands of Web pages globally.
The banks computer security shut the website down as a protective measure when it detected the unusual code. The intention of the code is not known but directs users to a site in China where more instructions would be given to the infected computer.

Customer information is safe because the affected Web site  is separate from bank operations, Peter Judkins, president and CEO, said last Friday. Online transactions are separate from the affected webpage which carries a link to online transactions.

Customers will not be able to perform online transactions until the Web pages FranklineBranch.com, fsbme.com and WesternMountainFinancial.com are back online under the new Web host.

Questions about making transfers or check clearances can be directed to customer service or done through the bank’s telephone system, Telebanker.

The bank has branches in Farmington, Jay, Mexico, Rangeley, Rumford, Skowhegan and Wilton.