Berlin 28 April 2026 (The Capital Post) – Germany believes Russia may be behind a large-scale phishing campaign that targeted senior politicians, military personnel and journalists through the encrypted messaging app Signal, according to government sources and ongoing investigations.
Authorities said the attacks involved deceptive messages posing as official Signal support, tricking users into revealing sensitive credentials such as PINs or scanning malicious codes. Once compromised, attackers were able to gain access to private conversations, contacts and shared data.
Federal prosecutors have been investigating the incident since early 2026 under suspicions of espionage, although Berlin has yet to formally attribute the operation to any specific country.
The campaign is believed to have affected hundreds of individuals, including high-ranking officials, diplomats and members of the security services, raising serious concerns over the integrity of government communications and data security.
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German intelligence and cybersecurity agencies, including the BfV and BSI, had earlier warned of potential state-sponsored phishing attacks targeting messaging platforms, highlighting the growing threat of social engineering tactics rather than technical vulnerabilities.
Analysts noted that the suspected operation reflects a broader pattern of cyber activities linked to geopolitical tensions, particularly following Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine and increased scrutiny of digital espionage across Europe.
Moscow has consistently denied involvement in cyberattacks and espionage activities abroad, while investigations in Germany continue as authorities assess the full scope and impact of the breach.-The Capital Post