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Economic sabotage and spying activities drain the economy by an estimated €300 billion

Cyber attack economic harm soaring by 8% to 289 billion euros in 2025, primary culprits frequently identified as Russian and Chinese entities.

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Economic sabotage and espionage activities are estimated to cost the economy approximately €300...
Economic sabotage and espionage activities are estimated to cost the economy approximately €300 billion

Economic sabotage and spying activities drain the economy by an estimated €300 billion

In a recent study published by the industry association Bitkom, it has been revealed that the threat of cyberattacks continues to be a significant concern for German companies. The study, conducted over the past twelve months, found that nearly nine out of ten companies (87%) were affected by attacks.

The damage caused by these attacks has reached a record high of around 289 billion euros, with the share of cyberattacks in the total damage increasing to 70%. Organized crime is the most frequent perpetrator, accounting for 68% of cases.

Hybrid attacks from Russia and economic espionage from China are on the rise, with the number of attacks attributed to foreign intelligence services significantly increasing. According to the study, 28% of the affected companies were able to attribute at least one attack to a foreign intelligence service, up from 20% the previous year. Of these, 46% were able to identify at least one attack from Russia, and the same number detected an attack from China.

Ransomware attacks are particularly prevalent, with 34% of companies affected. Shockingly, about one in seven companies paid the ransom in these attacks.

The Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) and Bitkom recommend allocating one fifth of the IT budget to security measures. Ralf Wintergerst, Bitkom President, suggests adding another layer to the security budgets. He warns that hybrid warfare by foreign states is a daily occurrence in Germany.

Sinan Selen, deputy head of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, stated that Russia is increasingly carrying out hybrid attacks, while China is focusing on economic espionage. The specific cooperation between Russia and China in cyber-operations remains unclear, according to Selen.

Companies are investing more in their security, with the share of IT security in the total IT budget increasing to 18%. The need for further investment is emphasized, as the threat situation is perceived as extremely serious. Almost 60% of companies feel threatened in their existence by cyberattacks.

The two states most frequently linked to cyberattacks on German companies according to the Bitkom study are Russia and China. This alarming trend underscores the urgent need for increased cybersecurity measures and cooperation between governments and private sector entities to protect against these threats.

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