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German Green MEP Files Criminal Complaint Naming Orbán Over Alleged Spyware Attempt

Prosecutors in Krefeld received the case after a May 2024 phishing email was tied to state-grade Candiru malware.

Overview

  • Daniel Freund submitted the complaint with civil-rights group GFF, naming Viktor Orbán and unknown persons, to the Krefeld prosecutor and cybercrime units in Cologne and Düsseldorf.
  • Freund says attackers sent a forged email from a purported Ukrainian student containing a manipulated link that would have installed spyware with a single click, which he did not open.
  • The tool involved is identified as Candiru, described as sophisticated spyware typically sold to governments and previously reported as used by Hungarian authorities.
  • EU Parliament IT experts assessed that Hungary could be behind the attempt, though attribution remains an allegation under investigation with no judicial findings announced.
  • Freund, a frequent critic of Orbán and advocate of freezing EU funds to Hungary, says the complaint seeks to uncover the incident and prevent spyware attacks that violate privacy and telecommunications secrecy.