Germany under constant digital attack

The threat from the internet is no longer science fiction - it's part of everyday life. According to the current cybercrime situation report, attacks on Germany are not only more numerous, but also more dangerous than ever. With over 330,000 known cases in 2024, cybercrime in Germany has reached an alarming level - and the trend is rising.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt sounds the alarm. Particularly explosive: More and more attacks are coming from abroad - and often from politically sensitive regions such as Russia. At the same time, the boundaries between cyber theft and digital sabotage are becoming blurred. This not only makes the perpetrators difficult to pin down - it also makes their motives incalculable.

178 billion euros in damage - and that's just the tip of the iceberg

178.6 billion euros - this is the estimated damage caused by cyberattacks in 2024, an increase of 30 billion compared to the previous year. Every day, companies are blackmailed, administrations paralyzed, account data tapped or sensitive information encrypted - often with ransomware, the most dangerous of all cyber weapons.

In addition, there are DDoS attacks that deliberately overload networks - and, according to the authorities, increasingly originate from Russia. Political attacks in connection with the Middle East conflict have also been identified. Even messenger services such as Telegram are now becoming a platform for the digital underground, where the "cybercrime-as-a-service" business - i.e. hacking to order - is flourishing.

Police make progress - but perpetrators are often based abroad

There have also been successes: for example, the BKA has been able to shut down illegal online marketplaces for weapons. But the statistics show: Only 32 percent of cases are solved. By comparison, the rate for conventional crimes is 58 percent. Why is that? Because the attackers usually operate outside of German law enforcement - anonymously, encrypted and quickly.

BKA chief Holger Münch therefore warns of a rising number of unreported cases. The actual number of attacks is likely to be far higher than what the authorities are able to record. What's more, artificial intelligence makes it even easier for perpetrators to deceive their victims - for example with deceptively real phishing emails.

The state strikes back - with technology and new laws

Interior Minister Dobrindt is now announcing a major upgrade in the digital defense campaign. More powers for the police and security authorities, better technology, the use of AI by investigators and stricter security standards for authorities should help to stem the flood of attacks.

But all this comes at a price - and not just financially. Civil liberties could also be restricted if the state goes too far. Dobrindt is already calling for new legal powers - a hot potato in the political debate.

Not only "upgrade", but also "rethink"!

Of course the state must arm itself against cyber attacks. But the reflex to demand more surveillance every time there is a threat is not enough. Cyber security is not just a problem for the police - it is a social responsibility.

Where are the mandatory security standards for companies? Why are corporations not also being made responsible for hardening their systems instead of just pointing the finger at the state?

Germany does not need a digital fortress, but an intelligent defense system - with transparency, technical education and consistent international law enforcement. Everything else is digital window-dressing.