Germany names China as source of attack on government geospatial agency

Germany names China as source of attack on government geospatial agency

August 1, 2024 at 02:04AM

Germany has accused China-controlled actors of perpetrating a cyber attack on the Federal Office of Cartography and Geodesy in 2021. Minister Nancy Faeser strongly condemned the attack, warning of China’s ongoing cyber offensive. Meanwhile, the US considers further sanctions on tech exports to China, particularly related to high-bandwidth memory, citing concerns about China’s military advancements.

From the provided meeting notes, the key takeaways are:

1. Germany has accused China-controlled actors of perpetrating a cyber attack on the Federal Office of Cartography and Geodesy (BKG).
2. The Ministry of the Interior and Home Affairs has asserted that China infiltrated the Office’s systems for espionage purposes, with the minister issuing a strong condemnation of the attack as a threat to Germany’s sovereignty.
3. Germany has expressed its displeasure to China through a stern conversation with the Chinese ambassador, but also anticipates further cyber operations from China as a threat to its security.
4. While the attack compromised a part of BKG’s network, no damage was detailed, and the attacker was not able to maintain a presence after German authorities rebuilt the networks.
5. The United States is considering sanctions on tech exports to China, specifically targeting high-bandwidth memory (HBM) makers like Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron. This action is driven by concerns that China might use such hardware to advance its military capabilities.

These takeaways reflect the escalating tensions between Germany, the United States, and China over cybersecurity and tech exports.

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