The German Foreign Ministry has accused Russia of orchestrating cyberattacks against Berlin in 2022. The ministry summoned the Russian charge d’affaires over the allegations, stating that Germany and its allies will not tolerate such attacks and will take all necessary measures to prevent, deter, and retaliate against Russia’s aggressive behavior in cyberspace.
The German Interior Ministry revealed that the APT28 hacker group, linked to the Russian Military Intelligence Agency (GRU), exploited security vulnerabilities in Microsoft Outlook to breach the email accounts of German officials. These attacks targeted the ruling Social Democratic Party (SPD) and various sectors including defense, space, information technology, and logistics.
In response to these allegations, Russia denied any wrongdoing and accused Germany of taking unfriendly steps to provoke anti-Russian sentiment. However, Germany is working quickly to close security gaps and coordinate with the European Union (EU) and NATO to address the threat of Russian cyberattacks. The upcoming elections in European countries have only increased tensions between Russia and its neighbors.
APT28, also known as Fancy Bear, is considered one of the most dangerous hacker groups globally. The group specializes in cyber reconnaissance and has been accused of targeting various organizations and government agencies in several countries. These attacks often occur before significant events such as elections and referendums.
