Cyber ​​threats at record high: consumers on alert!

Cyber ​​threats at record high: consumers on alert!

In recent months, the topic of cyber security has increasingly come into the spotlight. A current study by the “Germany Safe on the Internet” initiative shows frightening developments for Internet users in Germany. The threats from cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns are constantly increasing, and the numbers speak for themselves. A whopping 33.5 percent of consumers reported experiencing a phishing incident in the past 12 months, while 27.8 percent of respondents received infected emails. This was confirmed by the study, based on data from 1,000 consumers over 16 years old and carried out in collaboration with ARIX. The overall Digital Security Threat Index is steady at 55.7 points, the worst since 2014, just 5.7 points above the critical tipping point of 50.

Of course, this is not the only worrying development. According to Bafin, cyber incidents are increasing rapidly worldwide, and the fallout from digitalization and geopolitical tensions are further driving these dangers. These incidents are particularly serious for the financial sector: almost 20 percent of all global cyber attacks in the last 20 years have been related to this area, resulting in a total loss of almost $12 billion since 2004. The worrying finding that 65 percent of companies fear cyber attacks that threaten their existence is a sign of the alarming situation.

Decreased risk perception

But as the threat continues to rise, users seem to be getting used to the dangers online. A paradoxical finding: increasing digital threats are countered by decreasing risk awareness. Particularly in groups with low protective behavior, a division could soon arise between sovereign and vulnerable user groups. Let’s get consumers on board here! There is an acute need for targeted skills development, education and support for digital self-protection.

The Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) estimates the threat in cyber space to be “higher than ever before”. What is particularly noteworthy is that cyber criminals and companies are increasingly using generative AI, which enables new and sophisticated forms of attack. The increase in DDoS attacks and ransomware attacks also shows that increasingly sophisticated methods of data spying and disrupting IT systems are on the rise.

Need for protective measures

The importance of the topic is also underlined by BaFin. From January 2025, payment service providers will have to report their payment incidents, while currently 67 percent of these reports can be traced back to incidents at service providers and not directly at the institution itself. These developments also highlight the need to sharpen crisis management in companies and conduct more intensive emergency exercises. More and more companies are therefore seeing the need to insure their cyber risks.

In the wake of these developments, it is crucial that society as a whole is made aware of the dangers on the Internet. Given the ever-growing threats, we must work together to ensure that users know how to protect themselves and what measures to take to ensure their own security in the digital space. The time to act is now!