Germany names China as source of attack on government geospatial agency

Germany has officially identified China-controlled actors as responsible for a cyber attack on its Federal Office of Cartography and Geodesy (BKG) that occurred in 2021. The Ministry of the Interior and Home Affairs stated that the attack involved infiltrating the agency's systems for espionage purposes, initially compromising devices belonging to private individuals and businesses. Federal Minister Nancy Faeser condemned the attack, labeling it a significant threat to national sovereignty and urging China to cease such activities. The ministry's announcement included a warning that German security authorities anticipate an increase in Chinese cyber operations aimed at gathering information to bolster China's industrial development. Although a portion of the BKG's network was compromised, no malware was found in other parts of the agency's systems, and the networks have since been rebuilt. Concurrently, reports emerged that the United States is considering further sanctions on technology exports to China, particularly concerning high-bandwidth memory (HBM) used in AI-capable hardware. This potential ban would affect major HBM manufacturers and is part of the U.S. strategy to prevent advanced technology from enhancing China's military capabilities. The Biden administration is also focusing on strengthening ties with South Korea, a key player in the semiconductor industry, to support these export restrictions.