Cyber spies target German party think-tanks ahead of election

The group, dubbed Pawn Storm by security firm Trend Micro, used e-mail phishing tricks and attempted to install malware at think tanks tied to Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party and coalition partner, the Social Democratic Party (SPD).

FRANKFURT: Two foundations tied to Germany’s ruling coalition parties were attacked by the same cyber spy group that targeted the campaign of French presidential favourite Emmanuel Macron, a leading cyber security expert said on Tuesday. 

The group, dubbed Pawn Storm by security firm Trend Micro, used e-mail phishing tricks and attempted to install malware at think tanks tied to Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party and coalition partner, the Social Democratic Party (SPD), Feike Hacquebord said.