The head of the German internal security agency has publicly accused the Russian government of a large-scale cyber attack that allegedly targeted German energy suppliers. The allegations follow an announcement on June 13 by the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), tasked with protecting the German government's electronic communications. According to the BSI, a widespread and systematic attack on Germany's energy grids has been underway for at least a year. The attack, codenamed BERSERK BEAR, consists of various attempts by hackers to compromise the computer networks used by German companies that supply electricity and natural gas to consumers across the country.
The attacks were mostly unsuccessful, BSI said, as they only breached some office computer networks. Energy grids have remained largely unaffected by BERSERK BEAR, BSI said. But the agency refused to disclose information on the extent of the alleged cyberattacks and the companies that had been targeted. The situation is now "under control". On Wednesday, Hans-Georg Maassen, director of the German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), said in an interview that the Russian government was most likely responsible for the attacks. There were "numerous clues pointing to Russia," Maassen said, including the method by which the attack was carried out.
Earlier this month, the US first imposed economic sanctions on Russian companies working on undersea communications cables used by Western countries. One of the companies was identified by the US Treasury Department as Digital Security, which Washington says has helped Russian intelligence agencies develop their offensive cyber capabilities. Two of Digital Security's subsidiaries, Embedi and ERPScan, have also been placed on the US Treasury Department's sanctions list. But the Kremlin strongly denies these allegations. On Wednesday, a spokesman for the Russian presidential office said Moscow had no idea what Maassen was talking about. A spokesman for the Russian foreign ministry told reporters that Germany and other countries "should provide facts" to justify the allegations.
