Germany\u2019s domestic intelligence agency has issued a fresh warning about cyber espionage activity linked to Russia, saying hackers have compromised internet routers to spy on sensitive targets. <\/p>\n
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The alert came from the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), which said the attacks were carried out by APT28, a group widely associated with Russian military intelligence, News.Az<\/a> reports, citing Reuters<\/a>.<\/p>\n According to German authorities, the hacking group, also known as Fancy Bear, exploited vulnerabilities in routers made by TP-Link.<\/p>\n The campaign reportedly affected thousands of devices worldwide, including around 30 in Germany. In some cases, authorities confirmed that systems had been compromised, prompting operators to replace the affected hardware.<\/p>\n The attacks were aimed at a range of sensitive sectors, including:<\/p>\n
Officials warned that such access could allow attackers to monitor communications or gather intelligence from key organizations.<\/p>\n The warning was issued in coordination with multiple intelligence partners, including Germany<\/a>\u2019s foreign intelligence service, the Federal Intelligence Service (BND), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States.<\/p>\n APT28 has long been linked by Western governments to Russia\u2019s GRU military intelligence agency, although Moscow has repeatedly denied involvement in cyberattacks.<\/p>\n German officials noted that the group has previously targeted major institutions in the country, including:<\/p>\n
The latest warning highlights ongoing concerns about vulnerabilities in widely used consumer and enterprise hardware, especially devices like routers that can serve as entry points into larger networks.<\/p>\n Authorities are urging organizations to update firmware, replace outdated equipment, and strengthen cybersecurity measures to guard against similar attacks in the future.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n
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\nMilitary networks
\nGovernment institutions
\nCritical infrastructure systems
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\nThe national parliament
\nThe Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)
\nAir traffic control systems
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