German police investigate fake messages to politicians
Introduction
German police started an investigation. They look at fake messages on the Signal app. The messages try to get secret information. The targets are politicians, government workers, diplomats, and journalists. The police think it is spying.
Main Body
The investigation started in mid-April. The police did not give many details. But media reports say many politicians from different parties were attacked. Attackers hacked the Signal account of Julia Klöckner. She is the head of the German parliament. They tried to hack the Chancellor's account, but it did not work. The attack uses fake messages. The messages look like they come from Signal's support team. They ask for account information. The attackers do not use computer viruses. They use the app's own security features. They trick people to give them passwords. Once they get in, they can see chats, files, and photos. They can also pretend to be the user. German security agencies warned about this since early 2024. Who did it? Dutch intelligence said Russian state actors. German authorities did not name anyone, but they think Russia. Russia says it did not do it. A German lawmaker called the attack a 'wake-up call'. Another lawmaker worried about the safety of parliament communications. The government says it uses secure channels for important talks. This happens because Germany gives a lot of military help to Ukraine. German security services found Russian hackers before. They attacked internet routers and air traffic control. They also spread false information before the 2025 elections. Many people now use Signal instead of WhatsApp for privacy. This may give attackers more chances to attack.
Conclusion
The investigation continues. German authorities want to know how many people were affected and who did it. The attacks show that German political groups need to be careful about online safety.