German Cyber Security Chief Sacked

Germany's cyber security chief has been sacked after a TV satire show accused him of having ties to the Russian intelligence services.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser dismissed Arne Schönbohm as head of the BSI agency, following reports which "damaged the necessary confidence of the public in the neutrality and impartiality" of his management, the ministry said on Tuesday 18th October.

Schönbohm co-founded a cyber security group ten years ago that brought together experts from government and the private sector. 

Schönbohm, who was the boss of the agencies overseeing the government’s computer and communication security, came under scrutiny after his links to a Russian company in a previous job. This was  highlighted by Jan Böhmermann, a German comedian, in a late-night satire show.

The German government said more than a week ago that it was investigating the reports comprehensively.

"These accusations must be decisively investigated," Konstantin von Notz, the head of the parliamentary oversight committee for Germany’s intelligence agencies, said recently.

There is a growing concern in Germany that the country's critical infrastructure might be targeted by Russia because of Berlin's support for Ukraine, something that BSI has warned about in recent times.

The accusations against Schönbohm came as German police were probing an act of “sabotage” on the country’s rail infrastructure, with some officials pointing the finger at Russia in the wake of the Nord Stream pipeline explosions.

Important communications cables were cut at two sites on 8 October, forcing rail services in the north to be halted for three hours and causing travel chaos for thousands of passengers.

It further emerged that even though Schönbohm had been urged to distance himself from the Cyber Security Council Germany he had co-founded, the cyber security chief had appeared at the lobbying association’s 10th anniversary party as recently as early September.

Germany has in recent years repeatedly accused Russia of attempting cyber espionage.

The most high-profile incident blamed on Russian hackers to date was a cyberattack in 2015 that paralyzed the computer network of the lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, forcing the entire institution offline for days while it was fixed.

Russia denies the allegations but tensions between Russia and Germany have increased since Russia began the war with Ukraine.

Euronews:     Guardian:     Telegraph:    Moscow Times:    DW:     FT

You Might Also Read: 

Germany Accuses Russia Of Electoral Interference:

 

« Singtel’s Australian Subsidiary Dialog Breached
Indian Energy Company Hit By Cyber Attack »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

Jooble

Jooble

Jooble is a job search aggregator operating in 71 countries worldwide. We simplify the job search process by displaying active job ads from major job boards and career sites across the internet.

North Infosec Testing (North IT)

North Infosec Testing (North IT)

North IT (North Infosec Testing) are an award-winning provider of web, software, and application penetration testing.

Alvacomm

Alvacomm

Alvacomm offers holistic VIP cybersecurity services, providing comprehensive protection against cyber threats. Our solutions include risk assessment, threat detection, incident response.

CSI Consulting Services

CSI Consulting Services

Get Advice From The Experts: * Training * Penetration Testing * Data Governance * GDPR Compliance. Connecting you to the best in the business.

Resecurity

Resecurity

Resecurity is a cybersecurity company that delivers a unified platform for endpoint protection, risk management, and cyber threat intelligence.

SSLGURU

SSLGURU

SSLGURU bring all of the major SSL certificate vendors to one market place in order to create the world's largest SSL store with the most competitive prices.

Protegrity

Protegrity

Protegrity is an enterprise and cloud data security software for data-centric encryption and tokenization to protect sensitive data while maintaining usability.

AML Solutions

AML Solutions

AML Solutions offer a full range of Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) services.

MetaFlows

MetaFlows

MetaFlows’ SaaS malware detection & prevention software passively analyzes the behavior and the content of Internet traffic.

IMS Networks

IMS Networks

IMS Networks specializes in the design and management of high criticality networks and telecoms services including network security and Managed Security Services.

Boldon James

Boldon James

Boldon James are market leaders in data classification and secure messaging software.

CIO Dive

CIO Dive

CIO Dive provides news and analysis for IT executives in areas including IT strategy, cloud computing, cyber security, big data, AI, software, infrastructure, dev ops and more.

SEPPmail

SEPPmail

SEPPmail is a patented e-mail encryption solution to secure your electronic communication.

Tokio Marine HCC

Tokio Marine HCC

Tokio Marine HCC is a leading specialty insurance group with a Financial and Professional product line including Tech and Cyber.

DisruptOps

DisruptOps

Built for today’s cloud-scale enterprises, DisruptOps’ Cloud Detection and Response platform automates assessment and remediation procedures of critical cloud security issues.

PNGCERT

PNGCERT

PNGCERT is the national Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) for Papua New Guinea.

Sify Technologies

Sify Technologies

Sify is the largest ICT service provider, systems integrator, and all-in-one network solutions company on the Indian subcontinent.

Security BSides Cayman Islands

Security BSides Cayman Islands

Security BSides is a non-profit, community-driven event built for and by information security community members. Our aim is to help build an Information Security community in the Cayman Islands.

Trojan Horse Security

Trojan Horse Security

Trojan Horse Security are specialists in corporate security. Our services include: Comprehensive Cyber Security Analysis, Penetration Testing, Network Security and Security Audits.

Infoline Tec Group Berhad

Infoline Tec Group Berhad

Infoline Tec Group Berhad is principally involved in providing IT infrastructure solutions, cybersecurity service provider and solutions, managed IT and other IT services.

StepSecurity

StepSecurity

StepSecurity provides a comprehensive security platform for GitHub Actions.