On the subject of the Signal hack and the potential involvement of the Chancellor, the federal government has remained guarded. At the dts Nachrichtenagentur on Friday, Deputy Government Spokesperson Sebastian Hille stated that they could not comment on “the manner in which we communicate within the federal government”. He added that while this applied generally, it was particularly true regarding specific communication methods and telecommunication channels. However, Hille assured the public that all communication involving the federal government, the Chancellor, and the federal ministers occurs exclusively on secure channels.
When questioned about the extent of the government’s concern given reports of compromised mobile phones, Hille acknowledged the fundamental dangers inherent in the digital sphere. He urged everyone to exercise the highest level of sensitivity in their personal communications, cautioning against clicking on or uploading data to unsecured directories.
Media reports indicated that a sustained wave of phishing attacks-which has been ongoing for months-has reportedly affected various SPD parliamentarians and also Bundestagspräsidentin Julia Klöckner (CDU). Allegedly, Klöckner is a participant in a Signal group that includes the Chancellor, meaning potential attackers might have had the ability to read chats with the Chancellor or attack him directly.
Meanwhile, according to the latest findings from the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), phishing attacks are being carried out via messaging services, particularly Signal, by what the agencies deem a “likely state-controlled cyber actor”. The primary targets identified are high-ranking figures in politics, the military, and diplomacy, as well as investigative journalists in Germany.
