War is not fought only on land, sea and air; fighting also takes place in cyberspace. Defense Minister Lambrecht has now visited the Bundeswehr cyber warriors.
Hacking on behalf of the state: the center for cyber operations of the Bundeswehr
The idyll doesn't quite fit the topic of digital warfare. The analogue world is showing itself from its most beautiful side: A blue sky, swept clean by the remains of clouds, arches over the Tomburg barracks in the south of the small town of Rheinbach, not far from Bonn. A mild early summer sun warms the bathers in the nearby amusement park. However, dark service limousines and lots of cameras indicate high-ranking visitors: Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht has announced a visit to the Bundeswehr's Center for Cyber Operations, in military abbreviation: ZCO.
From the outside, the two blocks of buildings look harmless like apartment buildings in a mild yellow. But on the screens, with the computers in the center for cyber operations, the fight in cyberspace is being rehearsed. The servicewomen and men practice hacking into other people's computer networks, siphoning off information and manipulating data for their own benefit or even shutting down entire computer networks. They do what is commonly referred to as “hacking,” which is highly criminal and punishable by law. And they do it on behalf of the government.
“Excellently trained, highly motivated and very creative”
During her visit, Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht also spoke of “good hackers”. And that means two things: First, that you are on the right side and second, that you are “excellently trained, highly motivated and very creative”.
Around 200 specialists in Rheinbach look for weak points in enemy systems or attempt attacks on the IT infrastructure of the Bundeswehr itself in order to find gaps in their own defence. And as if to confirm the computer nerd cliche, there are only three women among the cyber warriors.
The ZCO is part of the Cyber and Information Space Command, which was set up in 2017 and has around two dozen locations throughout Germany – with a cluster of locations around Bonn. This is where the Bundeswehr's IT is operated, and this is where these systems are to be protected. In Bonn, the physical proximity to the Federal Office for Information Security and also to the Cyber Defense Center operated by the Telekom Group is helpful.
Flecktarn, laptop and a logo in black, red and gold with keyboard – and sword: soldier of the ZCO
Low effort, big damage
Even before Russia attacked Ukraine, cyber security was high on the political agenda in Berlin. Ultimately, the growing intertwining of the analog and digital world allows attackers in cyberspace to cause massive damage with comparatively little effort – for example in the power or water supply, in flight security or in traffic control. The three parties of the ruling traffic light coalition already stated in the coalition agreement: “The Bundeswehr must also be put in a position to be a successful player in cooperation with other federal authorities in the cyber and information space.”
The Ukraine war has further fueled the issue – and increased concern about the danger of cyber attacks in particular from Russia. The law passed at the beginning of June on the Bundeswehr's EUR 100 billion special fund states right at the beginning: “The federal government is presenting a strategy to strengthen security in the cyber and information space.” A total of a good 20 billion euros from the special fund are to be spent on the “leadership/digitization dimension” in the next few years. Only a fraction of that will go to the cyber warriors. The list of planned expenses ranges from the purchase of digital radios with encryption functions, battle management systems and satellite-based information systems to a data center network.
Minister of Defense Lambrecht and her chief cyber soldier: Inspector Daum
Hacking License
After all, the hackers in uniform do not need expensive hardware. “We don't need 60 tons of steel like for a battle tank,” says a ZCO official who wishes to remain anonymous. Conversely, one of the dangers of the digitized information society is that cybercriminals with little more than a laptop can shut down hospitals or district administrations, for example, in order to extort ransom money for their data.
The keyboard specialists are expensive – and hard to come by. During her visit, Minister Lambrecht promoted the Bundeswehr as a good employer. And by that he means, among other things, good pay even during training, career opportunities and social security. A soldier here in Rheinbach is motivated for other reasons, namely the opportunity for digital adventures. When asked why he is serving in the Bundeswehr, he says: “Here I'm allowed to do on behalf of the state what I would otherwise have to count on the police for.” Screen spy James Bond may have a license to kill. Rheinbach's cyber warriors are licensed to hack. But only if they have permission to do so. Any operation involving intrusion into foreign networks required, must be approved by DoD management, at least at the Secretary of State level. Nobody in Rheinbach wanted to reveal how often this happens.
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