Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger, a member of the CDU, has confirmed that members of the German Bundestag and various government officials were targeted in a hacking attack. According to ARD, the CDU politician stated that the incident relates to a notice from Apple indicating that certain devices may have been compromised by what is known as spyware.
The Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) responded quickly, notifying all affected individuals in writing. In the communication reported by ARD, iPhones have received a threat notification from Apple dating back to October 29, 2026. This alert reportedly signifies the detection of an attack using what is termed Mercenary Spyware, with the intent of compromising the device.
The BSI noted that it currently lacks further detailed information regarding the specific circumstances or background of these notifications. Apple describes its threat notifications as highly reliable warnings, suggesting that the person is the target of a specific attack. However, the notification itself does not indicate whether the attack was successful. Consequently, the BSI advised affected parties to proactively assume that their devices could be compromised.
During the “Report from Berlin,” Minister Wildberger expressed deep concern over the reports but declined to provide any further specifics concerning the details of the incident.
For context, spyware refers to surveillance software that transmits user data to unauthorized third parties without the user’s knowledge or consent. Such programs can install themselves automatically without any user interaction. According to the BSI, attackers utilizing spyware could gain access to messages, including encrypted ones, as well as calls, contacts, calendars, location data, and can activate the device’s microphone and camera.
