Tags
Arne Schönbohm, critical infrastructure, Cyber Security Council Germany lobbying group, cybersecurity, FSB, German cybersecurity chief, German Federal Office for Information Security, Germany, Infotecs, KGB, listed entity, malicious cyber actors, Protelion, Russia, Russian security circles
“German cybersecurity chief sacked following reports of Russia ties: Arne Schönbohm was under scrutiny after comedian highlighted his links to a Russian company in a previous job“ (See Guardian article below).
The company in question is Infotecs:
According to an investigation “German’ IT company #Protelion is in fact a cover entity of the RUSSIAN company #Infotecs, founded in 1991 by ex-KGB officer Andrey Chapchaev. Andrey received an Order for Merit to the Fatherland this year from: Vladimir Putin.” https://twitter.com/berlin_bridge/status/1579189032684515328
“German natl security is such a joke we need comedians to help dig up Russian moles…” https://twitter.com/berlin_bridge/status/1579189019589902336
In 2018, the US Dept. of Commerce listed it as a malicious Russian cyber actor: “The ERC also determined that four commercial companies—Joint Stock Company Scientific-Research Institute ‘‘Vektor”, Open Joint Stock Company Information Technology and Communication Systems, Federal State Unitary Enterprise Scientific Production Enterprise ‘‘GAMMA”, and Syrus Systems—located in Russia be added to the Entity List. These entities have enabled the activities of malicious Russian cyber actors.” https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2018-09-26/pdf/2018-20954.pdf
Yet two years later: “Infotecs Americas joined The German American Chamber of Commerce English NEW YORK, Nov. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Infotecs, a leading international cybersecurity and threat intelligence platform provider, reports Infotecs became a member of The German American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (GACC NY).”https://web.archive.org/web/20201208164605/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/infotecs-americas-joined-the-german-american-chamber-of-commerce-301178000.html
All the Prussians love the Russians and all the Russians love the Prussians?
“German cybersecurity chief sacked following reports of Russia ties: Arne Schönbohm was under scrutiny after comedian highlighted his links to a Russian company in a previous job By Philip Oltermann in Berlin @philipoltermann
Tue 18 Oct 2022 14.36 BST https://www.theguardian.com
Germany’s interior minister has sacked the country’s cybersecurity chief, after allegations he had turned a blind eye to a firm with links to Russian security circles.
Arne Schönbohm, the president of the German Federal Office for Information Security, was released from his duties with immediate effect on Tuesday, the news magazine Der Spiegel reported, citing security sources.
A spokesperson for the interior minister, Nancy Faeser, confirmed that Schönbohm would be barred from his office, as “necessary public trust in the neutrality and impartiality of his leadership as president of the most important German cybersecurity agency has been damaged”.
Schönbohm, who has since 2016 been in charge of the agencies overseeing the government’s computer and communication security, has come under scrutiny after his links to a Russian company in a previous job were highlighted by Jan Böhmermann, a German comedian, in a late-night satire show.
Before heading up the government’s cybersecurity agency, Schönbohm had helped found the similarly named Cyber Security Council Germany, a lobbying group registered as a voluntary association.
Among its membership roster, the Cyber Security Council Germany has since 2020 listed a Berlin-based cybersecurity firm, Protelion, previously known as Infotecs, a subsidiary of a Russian company founded by an ex-KGB employee who has received a medal of honour for his services from the Russian president, Vladimir Putin.
“The Russian company Infotecs that wants to protect our critical infrastructure from Russian cyber-attacks works with Russian intelligence services,” Böhmermann said in his programme, expressing incredulity. “Russian agents use Infotecs, which under the name Protelion GmbH sells German companies security software.”
While the programme did not allege that Schönbohm had continued to keep close ties with Protelion after becoming the government’s security chief, the revelation raised questions about a key official’s judgment at a time when concerns about the vulnerability of Germany’s critical infrastructure run high.
After Böhmermann’s programme, the Cyber Security Council Germany expelled Protelion from its list of members but rejected allegations of undue Russian influence as “absurd”.
Nonetheless, several companies, including the software firm TeamViewer and energy company E.ON, cancelled their membership of the group.
It further emerged that even though Schönbohm had been urged to distance himself from the Cyber Security Council Germany he had co-founded, the cybersecurity chief had appeared at the lobbying association’s 10th anniversary party as recently as early September”. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/18/germany-cybersecurity-chief-sacked-russia-arne-schonbohm Guardian Open Licence Terms: “Up to 500 words in a personal blog along with a link back to theguardian.com”http://syndication.theguardian.com/open-licence-terms/
“Appointed by Minister of the Interior Thomas de Maizière, Schönbohm became president of the German Federal Office for Information Security in 2016” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arne_Schönbohm
Thomas de Maizière “belongs to a noble family originally from Maizières-lès-Metz[4] who, as Huguenots, had fled France for asylum in Prussia in the late 17th century”. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_de_Maizière
Click to access 2018-20954.pdf
“Infotecs Americas joined The German American Chamber of Commerce
NEW YORK, Nov. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Infotecs, a leading international cybersecurity and threat intelligence platform provider, reports Infotecs became a member of The German American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (GACC NY).
GACC NY was established more than 70 years ago in New York City as an impartial promoter of commerce between Germany and the United States. The organization has distinguished itself as an innovative and relevant service provider and a reliable partner in German-American business inquiries. Comprised of a highly qualified team of professionals, the GACC NY supports companies by facilitating the following: market entry & business development, legal services, intern visas, recruitment and startup guidance.
Infotecs Americas plans to actively participate in GACC NY marketing events to establish useful contacts and expand Partner Networks. These steps will help expand Infotecs brand recognition and sales channels.
“We plan to develop cooperation with The German American Chamber of Commerce in New York with their various current publications providing insight into business relationships between Germany and the United States. These sources of information will help to better identify the needs of our customers and offer them effective solutions”, stated Alexander Tkachev, General Manager of Infotecs Americas, Inc.
About Infotecs
A leading international security solutions provider and pioneer of software-based VPN solutions, Infotecs developed its Peer-to-Peer ViPNet technology to deliver greater security, flexibility, and throughput than other solutions on the market.
ViPNet Security and Threat Intelligence Platform provide complete multi-layer security in one cost-effective solution. ViPNet is the only solution that supports true endpoint-to-endpoint security and delivers robust security that is scalable, flexible, easy to deploy, manage and maintain. The ViPNet solutions seamlessly integrate into existing networks enabling customers to achieve the right balance of high security with low complexity and low risk. ViPNet solutions are backed up by unparalleled world class support, development, technical team and a strong network of partners”. https://web.archive.org/web/20201208164605/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/infotecs-americas-joined-the-german-american-chamber-of-commerce-301178000.html
Mining Awareness + 