German justice investigates GCHQ hack on satellite provider

The German Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into the alleged hack of a German satellite internet provider. It was allegedly committed by the British secret service GCHQ. The hack came to light last week.

Little is known about the investigation, except that the Public Prosecution Service has started it, writes Der Spiegel. In March, it was announced that the British secret service, the Government Communications Headquarters, had broken into the German satellite internet company Stellar.

Two other German satellite internet providers, Cetel and IABG, were also victims. The providers focus on providing internet in areas where the fixed internet is unreliable or absent.

It is unknown whether the German investigation only focuses on the Stellar burglary. This may be due to the company’s customers: Stellar’s customers include large international companies, telecom and internet providers and even governments.

Last week, it was announced that the three satellite Internet providers could be found in GCHQ and the NSA’s Treasure Map program, a sort of “Google Earth for Internet traffic.” Devices connected to the internet could be visualized; the secret services would use the program to schedule surveillance.