German Security Agencies Investigate Suspected Russian Cyber Attack on East European Studies Association
The German Association for East European Studies (DGO) reports significant intrusion, linking it to notorious hacking group APT 29.
German intelligence agencies are currently investigating a suspected cyber attack linked to Russia on the German Association for East European Studies (DGO).
The Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) have both confirmed their involvement in analyzing this significant security breach.
The attack, initially reported by local media, is attributed to the hacker group APT 29, also known as 'Cozy Bear', which is believed to operate under the auspices of the Russian intelligence service.
This group has been implicated in various cyberattacks targeting numerous organizations, including several political parties in Germany.
The DGO disclosed the breach at the end of March 2025, revealing that unauthorized individuals had accessed their email communications.
The intrusion was detected when security experts observed multiple access attempts from an IP address previously associated with a similar cyber attack that occurred the previous year.
The DGO spokesperson noted that in addition to cyber threats, there have been incidents of physical harassment towards personnel affiliated with various organizations focusing on Russia and Belarus.
These include stalking behaviors and break-ins that resulted in the theft of data storage devices from their offices in Berlin.
In response to these persistent threats, the DGO has enhanced its IT security measures following last year's attack.
However, the spokesperson acknowledged the challenges faced by smaller organizations in defending against such sophisticated cyber intrusions.
In recent weeks, the BfV warned approximately 70 academic institutions and organizations about the increasing risks posed by Russian cyber activities.
The DGO has been marked as 'undesirable' by Russian authorities since February 2024, effectively banning its operations within the country.
This designation has severe implications for collaborations with Russian experts, who could potentially face legal repercussions for engaging with these organizations.
The designation of being 'undesirable' aligns with a broader crackdown by the Russian government on foreign political foundations and institutions, especially following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict.
Various German political foundations, the German Historical Institute in Moscow, and the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) have also been classified as 'undesirable' entities in recent years.
The Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) have both confirmed their involvement in analyzing this significant security breach.
The attack, initially reported by local media, is attributed to the hacker group APT 29, also known as 'Cozy Bear', which is believed to operate under the auspices of the Russian intelligence service.
This group has been implicated in various cyberattacks targeting numerous organizations, including several political parties in Germany.
The DGO disclosed the breach at the end of March 2025, revealing that unauthorized individuals had accessed their email communications.
The intrusion was detected when security experts observed multiple access attempts from an IP address previously associated with a similar cyber attack that occurred the previous year.
The DGO spokesperson noted that in addition to cyber threats, there have been incidents of physical harassment towards personnel affiliated with various organizations focusing on Russia and Belarus.
These include stalking behaviors and break-ins that resulted in the theft of data storage devices from their offices in Berlin.
In response to these persistent threats, the DGO has enhanced its IT security measures following last year's attack.
However, the spokesperson acknowledged the challenges faced by smaller organizations in defending against such sophisticated cyber intrusions.
In recent weeks, the BfV warned approximately 70 academic institutions and organizations about the increasing risks posed by Russian cyber activities.
The DGO has been marked as 'undesirable' by Russian authorities since February 2024, effectively banning its operations within the country.
This designation has severe implications for collaborations with Russian experts, who could potentially face legal repercussions for engaging with these organizations.
The designation of being 'undesirable' aligns with a broader crackdown by the Russian government on foreign political foundations and institutions, especially following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict.
Various German political foundations, the German Historical Institute in Moscow, and the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) have also been classified as 'undesirable' entities in recent years.
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