Russia allegedly launched a wide-scale phishing attack through the Signal app targeting Germany’s high-profile politicians, diplomats and military officers.
While the exact number of victims is unclear, German media estimates that at least 300 accounts belonging to political figures were targeted, with even several cabinet members affected, according to the German Press Agency, dpa.
“The number of unreported cases will continue to rise in the coming days,” said Konstantin von Notz, an MP who serves as deputy chief of the intelligence oversight committee, to AFP.
“At present, no one can say with any certainty whether the integrity of MPs’ communications is still guaranteed,” he ssaid.
Germany believes that the cyberattack, which also targeted Berlin’s high-profile journalists, was orchestrated by Russia, government sources told Reuters.
Berlin has served as one of Ukraine’s biggest providers of military aid, with Germany frequently targeted by suspected Russian espionage and sabotage plots.
The hackers allegedly sent messages to the targets posing as “Signal Support,” where they would ask the officials to enter their PIN, click on a link or scan a specific QR code.
Once the targets complied, the hackers gained access to the victim’s chats and address books, dpa reported.
German federal prosecutors said they have been investigating the phishing attack since mid-April, while declining to provide further details.
Germany’s domestic intelligence service BfV and its cybersecurity office BSI had warned earlier this year that state-sponsored actors could launch attacks on messaging apps such as Signal in the near future.
Moscow has repeatedly denied allegations of spying and sabotage in other countries.
With Post wires
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