In view of the situation in Ukraine, the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) continuously assesses the situation related to information security. It also assesses the cyber security situation in Germany.
Furthermore, the BSI recognizes an abstractly increased threat situation for Germany. For the BSI, however, there is currently no acute immediate threat to information security in Germany in connection with the situation in Ukraine. According to the BSI, this rating can change at any time.
Continued increased danger for Germany
The BSI therefore continues to call on companies, organizations and authorities to increase their IT security measures. The BSI provides further information on its website and as part of the Alliance for Cyber Security.
Since the start of the Russian attack on Ukraine, there have been few unrelated IT security incidents in Germany, but these have only had isolated effects. Furthermore, several media reports on increased activities by so-called trolls, e.g. in the comment columns of their websites or in the associated social media appearances.
Phishing emails related to the Ukraine war
The first phishing emails related to the Ukraine war are now also circulating in German. Advance payments are scammed in which the mail recipients are asked, for example, to transfer money to supposed victims of the war to flee. In addition, there is also classic phishing, which is intended to tempt the mail recipients to click on a "Read more" button with sensational reports, for example. Scam emails spreading fraudulent appeals for donations are also in circulation. The current phishing emails use the war against Ukraine for criminal purposes. According to the BSI, the volume of phishing emails should also continue to increase in German-speaking countries.
The BSI also points out that attacks on IT systems, such as hacking websites or participating in DDoS attacks, are prohibited and pose a significant risk. Reasons for this include unforeseeable consequences of cyber attacks of any kind, for example with regard to existing dependencies of the attacked systems. In addition, retaliatory measures are just as conceivable as possible phishing attempts in connection with calls for participation.
News update on the security situation
As the federal cyber security authority, the BSI is constantly in close contact with the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Homeland and numerous national and international partner authorities. The BSI regularly updates the news on the current situation of cyber security in Germany on its website.
More at BSI.Bund.de
About the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) The Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) is the federal cyber security authority and the creator of secure digitization in Germany. The guiding principle: As the federal cyber security authority, the BSI designs information security in digitization through prevention, detection and reaction for the state, economy and society.