German Federal Government suspects Russia behind large Signal phishing attack targeting government ministers

Starting in February 2026, a wave of phishing attacks targeting Signal messenger accounts of prominent German politicians, military personnel, diplomats, and journalists has been identified. The attackers pose as Signal support staff to trick users into revealing their PINs, allowing unauthorized access to sensitive chats including messages, documents, and photos. Bundestag President Julia Klöckner and ministers Karin Prien and Verena Hubertz were reportedly compromised, although official confirmations were withheld. German security agencies and the Federal Prosecutor are investigating these attacks under espionage suspicions. MP Konstantin von Notz and sources from German, US, and Dutch intelligence attribute the cyber espionage effort to Russian state actors. Although data exfiltration has been stopped for confirmed victims, authorities warn many more may remain unaware of ongoing surveillance. The attacks reveal significant vulnerabilities in digital security of German government communications, placing Moscow's intelligence services in the spotlight.