German digital technology association "Bitcom" stated that it reports an increase in cyberattacks by Russia and China, BTA reported.
Within two years, the attacks from Russia have doubled, the director of the Association, Bernhard Rohleder, told the German TV station Zet De Eff today.
A 50% increase in incidents related to China was also registered, he added.
In 80% of attacks against companies, it is a question of draining data, espionage or sabotage, said the director of “Bitcom”.
German Interior Minister Nancy Feser and Federal Criminal Office (BCA) Chairman Holger Münch will later today present a “National Report on the State of Cybercrime” for 2023
In particular, the number of crimes committed from abroad or from an unknown location has been increasing for years, the Federal Criminal Service said before the report was released. This also applies to the amount of damage caused by cybercrime against businesses in Germany.
„Damage amounts to 148 billion euros ($159 billion) annually from cyber attacks alone, i.e. digital attacks”, Rolleder said. “This is a very significant amount,”, he added.
Organized crime, as well as foreign intelligence services, are often behind these attacks, Roleder said.
„Some of them (cybercriminals) are looking for money,” he pointed out, adding that other perpetrators want to cause as much damage as possible, for example to critical infrastructure such as the power supply or hospitals.
„And there are those, especially private individuals, who just want to have fun,” said Roleder.