Investigation Into Phishing Attacks on German Top Politicians
Germany’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into phishing attacks reportedly targeting politicians, diplomats and journalists. The move followed a warning from the domestic intelligence agency, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), which said the campaign was ongoing and appeared to be intensifying.
The investigation on suspicion of espionage has been under way since mid-April, though no details have yet been released about the perpetrators or specific targets.
According to media reports, the attackers gained access to the Signal account of parliament speaker Julia Klöckner and also attempted to target Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Security authorities said the operation may have been carried out by a state-backed actor.
Rather than exploiting classic technical vulnerabilities or malware, the attackers reportedly combined legitimate app functions with social engineering. The aim was to gain covert access to communications and contact lists.
Experts say similar risks also exist on other platforms, including WhatsApp.