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German Interior Ministry warns of cyber attacks on energy centers

German Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faser has warned against attacks on energy infrastructure in Germany on 14th-August2022. "We must be prepared against possible attacks on gas terminals and other critical infrastructure," said the SPD Politician". Against the background of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, she referred to protection against cyber attacks. But there would also be new tasks: "We have to control the movements of Russian ships in the North and Baltic Seas and guard the new liquid gas terminals."
The German subsidiary of the Russian energy company Rosneft has reported 13th- March 2022 a hacker attack, citing the country's BSI cyber security watchdog. The BSI had offered support to overcome the problem, and had issued a cyber security warning to other companies in the energy sector. So far, there had been no effect on Rosneft's business or the supply situation even though the company's systems had been affected.
Concern that extremists could exploit protests
Representatives of security authorities had repeatedly expressed concern that extremists could try to exploit protests for their own purposes, such as Reichsbürger in the corona pandemic. Brandenburg's head of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Jörg Müller, warned that extremists could take advantage of the energy crisis and high inflation. But there are also warnings against infiltrating organizations.
Hamburg's The head of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Torsten Voss, said recently that he was concerned about a change in strategy in the post-autonomous scene, which was trying to sneak into organizations on widely discussed issues. "There is the violence-oriented interventionist left in the front line, which exploits popular topics such as sea rescue, commitment to environmental destruction, right-wing extremism or high rents for themselves."
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Measures include ramping up the powers of Germany s national Federal Cyber Security Authority (BSI), bringing the IT systems of Germany's domestic intelligence agency up to date, and setting up a center where companies providing elements of Germany's critical infrastructure can learn how to better protect their systems. Some of the measures still need to pass parliament before taking effect.
Reforms to Germany's cyber security
Reforms to Germany's cyber security apparatus have long been overdue. For years, experts have warned that both public institutions and private firms across Germany are falling behind when it comes to protecting themselves against hackers. An eye-opening moment was when, a year ago, a ransom ware attack paralyzed the entire administration of the rural district of Anhalt-Bitterfeld for weeks.
Germany security
Interior Ministry warned that no budget cuts were expected in the area of homeland security. On the contrary, the federal police created 1,000 new jobs this year, she added. The head of the German Interior Ministry also pointed out that the threat from the Russian Federation, waging a full-scale war against Ukraine, led to changes in German internal security policy. “We must protect ourselves from large-scale disinformation campaigns and cyber attacks by Russia,” she stressed. The successful work of the German security forces in this area: since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, there has not been a single successful major Russian cyber attack on German systems.
Conclusion
It is expected that energy centers in Germany and some European countries will witness cyber attacks; it could be by Russia, or other countries exploiting the Ukraine crisis. Extremist groups, including the Far Right and jihadists, could take advantage of Ukraine War and launch cyber attacks that would disrupt the energy infrastructure, and make further complicate situation in Germany: the energy crisis and the Ukraine war.
By: Jassim Mohamad - Bonn
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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