Germany Blames Russia for Cyberattacks
German officials have accused Russia of carrying out cyberattacks, including targeting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s party Social Democrats (SPD) last year. The Russian Embassy in Germany has denied these allegations.
Attribution of the Cyberattack
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock stated that a recent government investigation attributed the cyberattack to the Russian group APT28, controlled by the Russian military intelligence service GRU.
APT28 – The Alleged Cyber Attacker
APT28, also known as Fancy Bear or Pawn Storm, has been linked to numerous cyberattacks worldwide. Last year, the SPD reported cybercriminals targeting email accounts of its executives.
Consequences and Response
Baerbock emphasized that the state-sponsored cyberattack on Germany is unacceptable and will have consequences. In response, Germany summoned the acting charge d’affaires of the Russian embassy.
Czech Republic also Accuses Russia
Officials in the Czech Republic have also accused Russia of cyberattacks on state institutions, attributing them to APT28. The attacks exploited vulnerabilities in Microsoft Outlook.
Threat to Democracy and National Security
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and Czech counterpart Vit Rakusan highlighted the threat posed by such cyberattacks to democracy and national security. Rakusan mentioned that the Czech Republic has been targeted by numerous cyberattacks.
Russia’s Denial
The Russian Embassy in Germany denied the allegations, stating that Russian state structures were not involved in the incident. The accusations were deemed unsubstantiated and groundless.
