A significant cyberattack on Germany's Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy (BKG) in 2021 has been attributed to Chinese state actors, as confirmed by an investigation by German officials.

This announcement comes three years after the attack, which had long been suspected to be orchestrated by China.

The incident marks a notable diplomatic action, as it directly attributes responsibility to official Chinese entities for a cyberattack on a state institution.

In response to the findings, the German government summoned the Chinese ambassador to Berlin, filing a formal protest, which is the first such action since 1989.

This summoning is particularly significant as it recalls the diplomatic tensions following the Tiananmen Square protests.

The investigation revealed that the attackers aimed to conduct espionage against public institutions, utilizing obfuscation networks to disguise their activities.

The attackers employed consumer-grade devices from private households and businesses to cover their tracks during the operation.

German officials have stated that they possess reliable intelligence linking the cyberattack to Chinese state actors.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser emphasized the seriousness of the cyberattack, highlighting the significant threat posed by Chinese cyber activities.

The German government condemned the cyberattack in the strongest terms and urged Beijing to prevent similar actions in the future.

In light of the attack, measures have been implemented to prevent a recurrence, as confirmed by Interior Ministry spokesperson Maximilian Kall.

The attribution of the attack involved a thorough technical analysis conducted by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and the Federal Office for Information Security.