German government and business computers are “coming under increasing cyber attack every day from other states’ spy agencies, especially those of Russia and China”, Germany’s domestic intelligence (BfV) chief said on Tuesday.
The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (German: Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz (BfV)) is the Federal Republic of Germany‘s domestic security agency. Together with the Landesämter für Verfassungsschutz (LfV) at the state level, it is tasked with intelligence-gathering on threats concerning the democratic order, the existence and security of the federation or one of its states, and the peaceful coexistence of peoples; with counter-intelligence; and with protective security and counter-sabotage.
See website: http://www.verfassungsschutz.de/en/index-en.html
“We have seen that there are ever more frequent attacks by foreign intelligence agencies on the German government IT infrastructure,” he said.
“These occur most frequently”, Maasen said, “before major international meetings such as a G20 conference, where government advisers might receive a virus email purporting to be from another country’s negotiators.”
He described Berlin as the capital of “political espionage”, saying Germany’s economic, defense, foreign and arms policies were all targets for hackers, as well as major firms for their cutting-edge high technology.
“Germany is Europe’s economic powerhouse, a major United States and NATO ally, and many of its manufacturers are industry leaders”, Maassen said.
Source: Top German spy says Berlin under cyber attack from other states http://www.todayonline.com/…/top-german-spy-says-berlin-und…
Note: According to section 3 of the Act Regulating the Cooperation between the Federation and the Federal States in Matters Relating to the Protection of the Constitution and on the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (Bundesverfassungsschutzgesetz, BVerfSchG), the domestic intelligence services, that is, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz, BfV) and the intelligence services of the federal states, have been tasked with the collection and the analysis of information on
1. efforts
- directed against the free democratic basic order or
- against the existence and the security of the Federation or one of its States or
- aimed at unlawfully hampering constitutional bodies of the Federation or one of its States or their members in the performance of their duties or
- jeopardizing foreign interests of the Federal Republic of Germany by the use of violence or the preparation thereof or
- directed against the idea of international understanding (article 9, para. 2 of the Basic Law (Grundgesetz, GG)), especially against the peaceful coexistence of peoples
2. intelligence activities carried out on behalf of a foreign power (counter-intelligence).
3. Moreover, in conformity with section 3 (2) of the BVerfSchG, BfV contributes to counter-sabotage and personnel/physical security.
The BfV collects by far the biggest part of its information from overt and generally accessible sources, that is, printed material such as newspapers, flyers, programmes and appeals. BfV staff members attend public events and also interview individuals who are in a position to give pertinent information. In these conversations held on a voluntary basis, BfV staff members identify themselves as such.
For the collection of information, the use of intelligence means is an indispensable instrument, too. This includes the handling of trusted contacts (individuals recruited from the extremist scene, no domestic intelligence staff) in extremist circles, covert surveillance, and, if necessary, mail and telephone interception, which is subject to authorization and control by a parliamentary body.