Communication with foreign intelligence services increases the risks for large corporations.
In recent years, cyberattacks have become a serious threat to German companies, and their number is growing rapidly. According to a recent study by the digital association Bitkom, published in Berlin, China became the largest source of cyberattacks on the German economy in 2023. 45% of affected companies said they were able to trace the attacks back to China, up 3% from last year.
One of the most striking examples of such attacks is the espionage activities of hackers, presumably from China, against the automaker Volkswagen, which continued for several years. According to investigators, the attackers sought to gain access to the company's technological developments. Bitkom President Ralph Winterhurst noted that these figures demonstrate tensions and conflicts in the modern world, where cybercrime is becoming a tool of struggle.
While the number of attacks from China has increased, the number of cyberattacks with suspected Russian origins, on the contrary, has decreased. So, this year, 39% of the surveyed companies believe that they have been attacked from Russia, which is 7% less than a year earlier. However, about a third of those surveyed could not identify the source of the attack at all, and some believe that the hackers operated from Germany or the United States.
Companies are most concerned about organized crime, which they believe is responsible for 70% of attacks. The threat from foreign intelligence services is also growing: 20% of attacks are attributed to them, which is significantly more than a year earlier, when this figure was only 7%. In addition, a significant number of attacks, about 27%, are related to the retaliation of current or former employees of companies, which is also alarming for businesses.
A study by Bitkom found that 81% of companies in Germany have experienced data theft or sabotage in the last 12 months, and the total cost of such actions is estimated at 267 billion euros, which is 29% more than in the previous year. In addition, the report notes that cyberattacks are increasingly accompanied by similar physical crimes, such as theft of IT equipment and espionage in enterprises.
The level of threat to German companies continues to grow. Two-thirds of businesses believe that cyberattacks threaten their existence, and this number is constantly increasing. The president of Bitkom stressed that businesses need to strengthen protection measures, covering both digital and traditional security methods.
Sinan Selen, Vice President of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, added that in relations with China, it is important to take into account not only opportunities, but also risks. In his opinion, it is necessary to soberly assess the partner, understanding that close ties with the state structures of China pose certain threats to security.
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In recent years, cyberattacks have become a serious threat to German companies, and their number is growing rapidly. According to a recent study by the digital association Bitkom, published in Berlin, China became the largest source of cyberattacks on the German economy in 2023. 45% of affected companies said they were able to trace the attacks back to China, up 3% from last year.
One of the most striking examples of such attacks is the espionage activities of hackers, presumably from China, against the automaker Volkswagen, which continued for several years. According to investigators, the attackers sought to gain access to the company's technological developments. Bitkom President Ralph Winterhurst noted that these figures demonstrate tensions and conflicts in the modern world, where cybercrime is becoming a tool of struggle.
While the number of attacks from China has increased, the number of cyberattacks with suspected Russian origins, on the contrary, has decreased. So, this year, 39% of the surveyed companies believe that they have been attacked from Russia, which is 7% less than a year earlier. However, about a third of those surveyed could not identify the source of the attack at all, and some believe that the hackers operated from Germany or the United States.
Companies are most concerned about organized crime, which they believe is responsible for 70% of attacks. The threat from foreign intelligence services is also growing: 20% of attacks are attributed to them, which is significantly more than a year earlier, when this figure was only 7%. In addition, a significant number of attacks, about 27%, are related to the retaliation of current or former employees of companies, which is also alarming for businesses.
A study by Bitkom found that 81% of companies in Germany have experienced data theft or sabotage in the last 12 months, and the total cost of such actions is estimated at 267 billion euros, which is 29% more than in the previous year. In addition, the report notes that cyberattacks are increasingly accompanied by similar physical crimes, such as theft of IT equipment and espionage in enterprises.
The level of threat to German companies continues to grow. Two-thirds of businesses believe that cyberattacks threaten their existence, and this number is constantly increasing. The president of Bitkom stressed that businesses need to strengthen protection measures, covering both digital and traditional security methods.
Sinan Selen, Vice President of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, added that in relations with China, it is important to take into account not only opportunities, but also risks. In his opinion, it is necessary to soberly assess the partner, understanding that close ties with the state structures of China pose certain threats to security.
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