Hack exposes German politicians' data, but spares far-right party
/ CBS/AP
Berlin — Data and documents belonging to hundreds of German politicians have been hacked and posted online via Twitter, a German broadcaster reported Friday. The leak, which saw the data posted in daily batches before Christmas on a Twitter account that has been active since mid-2017, affects all parties in parliament except the far-right Alternative for Germany, public broadcaster RBB reported.
It said there appeared to be no system to what was posted. Although it reportedly includes personal information such as cellphone numbers, addresses, internal party communications and in some cases bills and credit card details – some of the data years old – there seem to be no politically sensitive documents.
Germany's daily newspaper Bild reported Friday, citing sources in the national security agency, that the government's secure internal computer network was not affected by the breach. The security source told Bild that the government's networks were not fending off any sustained attack.
A Defense Ministry official told the Reuters news agency that Germany's military networks also remained unaffected by the hack.
There was no immediate information on who was responsible or on the source or sources of the data, and whether they were all authentic. News agency dpa reported that the information included a fax number and email address belonging to Chancellor Angela Merkel and several letters to and from Merkel.
Alexander Dobrindt, the conservative Christian Social Union's top lawmaker in Berlin, said that authorities were working to establish "what data are affected and to what extent."
First published on January 4, 2019
© 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Doris Kearns Goodwin: True leadership is about character
Goodwin discussed great presidents of the past such as Abraham Lincoln
updated 11M ago 
Under Haspel more agency vets and women take top jobs at CIA
CIA director Gina Haspel has named Cynthia "Didi" Rapp to the agency's senior-most position atop the Directorate of Analysis
updated 13M ago 
Video shows Miami-area police sergeant kicking handcuffed suspect
Officer is also seen dropping his knee on suspect's neck; he's been criminally charged
updated 46M ago 
Fiery crash on Florida interstate kills at least 7
Several others critically injured when two big rigs, sedan and van collide, spilling diesel fuel that fed flames
1H ago 
UConn women's regular season winning streak ends at 126 games
The Huskies' last regular-season loss was 88-86 in overtime at Stanford on Nov. 14, 2014
3H ago
Doris Kearns Goodwin: True leadership is about character
Goodwin discussed great presidents of the past such as Abraham Lincoln
updated 11M ago
Under Haspel more agency vets and women take top jobs at CIA
CIA director Gina Haspel has named Cynthia "Didi" Rapp to the agency's senior-most position atop the Directorate of Analysis
updated 13M ago 
"Dreamer" Rhodes Scholar fears inability to return to U.S.
Trump policy bars DACA recipients from traveling abroad and Jin Park worries he'd be kept out of U.S. if he goes to London to study
updated 22M ago 
House votes to reopen government but no end in sight to shutdown
Democrats are taking the majority in the House of Representatives after eight years out of power
2H ago 
DHS to ask Pentagon for more troops on the border
In late October, the government deployed more than 5,000 troops to the U.S.-Mexico border to support Border Patrol and National Guard units
9H ago 
Hack exposes German politicians' data, but spares far-right party
Data from hundreds of officials reportedly includes cellphone numbers, addresses, party communications, bills and credit card details
updated 2M ago 
New info on senior North Korean diplomat hiding out in Italy
A previous defector explains why the Rome office, recently held by acting Ambassador Jo Song Gil, is so important to Kim Jong Un's regime
updated 37M ago 
Olivia Newton-John says health rumors "greatly exaggerated"
The Australian singer is squashing tabloid rumors that she has just weeks to live
10H ago 
U.S. urges "increased caution in China" in travel advisory
The advisory says authorities in China "have asserted broad authority" to prevent Americans from leaving the country by using "exit bans"
13H ago 
Indian state paralyzed amid protests over women's entry into temple
Hindu hard-liners shut shops and businesses and clashed with police
17H ago 
Season of Neil deGrasse Tyson's show put on hold
The National Geographic channel said new episodes of the science-based talk show won't air until an investigation involving Tyson is completed
1H ago
Olivia Newton-John says health rumors "greatly exaggerated"
The Australian singer is squashing tabloid rumors that she has just weeks to live
10H ago 
Daryl Dragon, "Captain" of The Captain and Tennille, dies at 76
"Love Will Keep Us Together," the title track from his debut album with his then-wife, Toni Tennille, reached the top of the Billboard chart in July 1975
16H ago 
"Bird Box" Challenge: Blindfolded copycats post risky stunts inspired by film
Netflix is warning fans about the risks of a new social media challenge inspired by its film, "Bird Box"
18H ago 
Coachella 2019 headliners include Ariana Grande, Childish Gambino
Just-announced lineup also includes Tame Impala, Janelle Monae, DJ Snake, Diplo, Solange and Weezer
Jan 3 
Ambitious effort to clean up Great Pacific Garbage Patch faces major setback
Inventor Boyan Slat wants to clean up more than 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic in the water between California and Hawaii
10H ago 
Apple's "darkest day" raises doubts about iPhone's future
Waning demand for the tech giant's flagship product has some analysts asking where the company goes from here
14H ago 
First meteor shower of 2019 peaks Thursday
It's the first meteor shower of 2019 – and it's not the only astronomical phenomenon taking place this month
17H ago 
Chinese spacecraft landed on the far side of the moon
The unmanned spacecraft, the Chang'e 4, touched down at 10:26 a.m., China Central Television said in a brief announcement
18H ago 
Does artificial intelligence put our power grid at risk?
"There's more risk than we have ever had before," says cybersecurity expert Rob Lee
20H ago 
Do sugar-free sweeteners really help you lose weight?
Researchers reviewed more than 50 studies and found little evidence of any health benefits
15H ago 
"Sicker, Fatter, Poorer": The cost of hormone-disrupting chemicals
"We found that these exposures cost the United States $340 billion a year. That's 2.3 percent of our gross domestic product," says Dr. Leonardo Trasande
14H ago 
Sunflower butter recalled after customer finds listeria
Oskri Organics said it was informed by a customer that they "randomly" sent its product in for testing
18H ago 
The best overall diets for 2019
If getting healthy is one of your New Year's resolutions, check out this ranking of the top overall diets for 2019
Jan 2 
Big Pharma raises prices of more than 1,000 drugs
Consumers may have to pay more for a range of medications in 2019 as drugmakers boost their costs
Jan 2 
Herb Kelleher, Southwest Airlines' co-founder, dead at 87
He left a major mark on the airline industry by making air travel more accessible to the masses
11H ago 
China targeting Canadians since Huawei exec's arrest: report
Chinese authorities said to have detained 13 Canadian citizens since telecom supplier's CEO was arrested in Vancouver
11H ago 
Toys R Us workers set to get paid — months after bankruptcy
Thousands of employees laid off without severance are eligible for checks ranging from $200 to more than $12,000
11H ago 
Burger King accused of reneging on lifetime meals to man stuck in bathroom
An Oregon man is suing, claiming he was promised endless burgers after enduring a foul-smelling experience
14H ago 
Apple not the only one hurting from U.S. trade war with China
Analysts say both countries are suffering, pointing to signs of a manufacturing slowdown in the U.S.
14H ago 
Video shows Miami-area police sergeant kicking handcuffed suspect
Officer is also seen dropping his knee on suspect's neck; he's been criminally charged
updated 46M ago 
Boy charged with murder after egg prank leads to woman's death
Harris County Sheriff's Office says SUV was filled with teens who were throwing eggs at other cars when another driver began chasing them
21H ago 
LAPD arrest man who allegedly stole millions from celebrities
Police are calling it one of the most brazen and sophisticated string of burglaries they've ever seen
22H ago 
Driver of bus that flipped over, injuring 22, charged with DUI
Greyhound bus overturned on entrance ramp to interstate in Mississippi
Jan 3 
Many departments report decline in murders in 2018 — but not these cities
Many of the country's most populous cities saw murders decline from 2017 to 2018, with a few key exceptions
12H ago
