In 2024, the number of cybercrimes in Germany reached a record high of 131,391 cases, and more than 200,000 attacks were carried out from abroad or from unidentified locations. This was reported by the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), Reuters reports.
The main sources of attacks were pro-Russian and anti-Israeli hacker groups, which mainly targeted government and federal institutions.
“Cybercrime is a growing threat to our security. It is becoming more aggressive, but our strategies to counter it are becoming more professional,” said German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt during the presentation of the annual report.
According to the report, ransomware poses a separate threat: in 2024, 950 companies and organisations reported such incidents. Criminals encrypted or copied data, demanding a ransom to unlock it.
According to the digital association Bitkom, total losses from cyberattacks in Germany last year amounted to €178.6 billion, which is €30.4 billion more than in 2023.
The German government has already announced its intentions:
- to expand the legal powers of law enforcement to combat cybercrime;
- introduce higher cybersecurity standards for businesses;
- intensify international cooperation to identify threats.
