Germany to lose 206 billion euros in 2023 due to cybercrime

A survey of more than 1,000 companies by Bitkom found that for the third consecutive year, Germany's losses from cybercrime exceeded 200 billion euros. Bitkom Chairman Ralf Wintergerst said the German economy was a highly attractive target for cybercriminals and hostile countries.

About three-quarters of businesses surveyed suffered digital attacks in the past 12 months, down from 84% a year earlier. It's a positive sign and suggests that defensive measures are working.

When asked if cyber attacks threaten the survival of their businesses, for the first time in history, 52% said yes. A year ago, the figure was 45%, two years ago it was 9%, according to the survey.

Of the companies that were attacked, 70% reported having sensitive data stolen, up 7% from the same period last year. Similarly, 61% reported having their digital communications monitored, up 4% over the same period.

According to Sinan Selen, Chairman of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the way to deal with the growing threat is to significantly increase cooperation between partners, detect and respond more quickly to attacks, and constantly adjust defense mechanisms.