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Hacker: Cyber attack on Berlin's Justice Senator Badenberg
Published on August 19, 2025
Berlin's Justice Senator Felor Badenberg (CDU) has been the victim of a cyber attack.According to the current state of knowledge, there was a targeted attack on a job calculator in the management area of the house, the Senate Department for Justice said.Personal data was also stolen.This included e-mails from and to people who have been in contact with the leadership staff of the Senate Administration since February 1, 2023.
According to information from the “Spiegel”, the hackers have captured the digital calendar of Badenberg, in which their appointments and interlocutors are noted.This also affects private data, the news magazine reported, citing security circles.
Computer may be infected with malware
According to the “Spiegel”, the attackers in emails are said to have mistakenly pretended to be the senior representative of the Central Council of Jews in Germany.Apparently, an employee of the Senate Department clicked on a link in an email that was aimed at Badenberg.This is said to infect a computer with malware.
Data outflow from a computer
According to the Senate Justice Administration, the cyber attack is affected by a single computer, from which data has been completed."So far, no further cases of harmful data traffic have been found," said a spokeswoman."Even external IT systems are not affected according to the current status."The Senate Administration is still fully able to work.
As it said, investigations into the type, scope and background of the crime were initiated.The State Criminal Police Office and various other places are involved.The Berlin data protection officer and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution were also informed.The affected computer and possible correspondence devices were separated directly from the network.
Other Senate administrations were apparently not attacked."We are currently assuming that only the judicial administration is affected," said Senate spokeswoman Christine Richter.At the Senate meeting, the cyber attack was not an issue.
Iranian hackers at work?
According to the Senate Justice Administration, it is believed that Iranian hackers could be behind the attack.Badenberg, which Iranian roots, assumes a state background: "The targeted attack, apparently professionally prepared and presumably initiated by a foreign secret service, shows what the means is trying to intimidate critical voices," she told the "Spiegel".
According to information from the news magazine, the first knowledge of an investigation indicates a hacker group that is supposed to act on behalf of the Iranian government.In specialist circles it is called "Charming Kitten" ("charming kitten").The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution warned two years ago about specific attempts to spy on the group in Germany.
Badenberg worried
"Access to personal data and calendar information shows how serious the threat from cyber attacks is," said Badenberg to the "Spiegel"."And he worries me especially with regard to the security of my family."
Badenberg was born in Tehran and came to Germany as a child.She has been a senator in Berlin since April 2023. Before that, she has been with the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution in various positions since 2006, including from 2022 to 2023 as a vice president.
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