Hackers Use Signal QR Codes to Spy on Military and Political Leaders

Security experts in Germany are on high alert following a wave of digital attacks aimed at high-ranking officials and public figures, according to Dissent’s report dated 9 February 2026. They have been warned by the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) that state-backed hackers are actively trying to get into the private lives of military leaders, diplomats, and investigative journalists across Europe.

What marks the case is the use of social engineering rather than traditional malware; the attackers are exploiting the regular settings and features of the Signal messaging app to watch private chats without detection. The piece notes that these spies are seeking access by leveraging Signal rather than employing complex computer bugs. Read more at HackRead.