GERMANY’S government IT network is under an “ongoing” cyberattack, the parliamentary committee on intelligence affairs said yesterday, without confirming a media report that Russian hackers were behind the assault.
“It is a real cyberattack on parts of the government system. It’s an ongoing process, an ongoing attack,” said Armin Schuster, chairman of the committee, adding that no further details could be given to avoid passing crucial information on to the attackers.
Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said the hacking was “a technically sophisticated attack that had been planned for some time”, adding that it had been brought under control. The highly professional assault had been monitored by the security agencies in order to gain insights into the mode of attack and its targets, said de Maiziere.
German news agency DPA had reported Wednesday, quoting unnamed security sources, that the group of Russian hackers blamed for hitting the German parliament’s IT system in 2015 had now infiltrated a broader government network that includes the foreign and interior ministries.