VW: Massive cyber attack on Volkswagen

“Spiegel” and ZDF had previously reported on the cyber attack, citing internal VW documents. According to reports, the Chinese embassy in Berlin reacted angrily to people suspected of having ties to China and emphasized that the country condemns any form of cyber espionage.

According to media reports, the attackers were targeting the areas of “gasoline engine development”, “transmission development” and “dual clutch transmission”. Concepts for alternative drive technologies such as electric power or fuel cells were also considered. Up to 19,000 files are said to have been stolen in total, with the reports narrowing the time frame of the crime to 2010 to 2014 or 2015.

Volkswagen announced that the digital security of the company’s systems, processes and products was as important as ever. “We continue to work to keep our IT environment, products and digital ecosystems secure and functional,” said a spokesperson. According to him, this includes new technological options and frequent exchanges with partners, associations and authorities.