Russian cyber-attack on German ministries

© naftemporiki.gr Russian cyber-attack on German ministries

Russian APT28 attacked the German Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Defense and the German Federal Government and obtained data, sources of security services said today at the German news agency and in the German media.

According to sources, German security agencies discovered cyber-attacks in December and were trying to determine how far the organization could penetrate into government networks. Cybercrime probably lasted more than a year.

Members of the organization used malware to hit ministries by stealing data, sources told the German news agency.

The computer networks of the Chancellery and the Federal Audit Congress are included in the services whose systems have been compromised.

The Federal Bureau of Security (BSI) and the Federal Bureau of Internal Security (BfV) are leading the investigation with the assistance of intelligence services.

The Ministry of Interior said it was investigating a cyber incident that affected government computer networks, noting that it was under the control of German government systems.

Many security experts believe that APT28, also known as Fancy Bear, is associated with the Russian government.

The German authorities have blamed APT28 for a cyber-attack in Bountenstangk and Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative party in 2015.

The organization has also been accused of attacking NATO and the US Democratic Party during the presidential elections in 2016.

Source: AMNA

Source: www.naftemporiki.gr