Germany suspects Russia is responsible for a series of phishing attacks targeting Signal accounts of high-ranking politicians, including two government ministers, military personnel, and journalists. Federal prosecutors initiated a preliminary investigation into the alleged cyberattacks in mid-February 2026, including an initial suspicion of espionage.
Details of the Attack
Around 300 Signal accounts were reportedly compromised, with victims tricked by fake security chatbot messages into linking their accounts to hacker-controlled devices. This allowed attackers to access past and ongoing chats, address books, and other data stored by the users.
Broader Concerns
Dutch intelligence services also issued a warning about a large-scale global cyber campaign by Russian state hackers targeting dignitaries and government employees on Signal and WhatsApp. The attack highlights ongoing cybersecurity threats posed by state-sponsored actors.
