The German digital association "Bitkom" reported today, Friday, that theft of IT equipment and data, as well as acts of digital and industrial espionage and sabotage, will cost Germany 206 billion euros (224 billion dollars) in 2023. A survey conducted by the association, which included more than a thousand companies, concluded that damages will exceed the 200 billion euro mark for the third consecutive year.
Association President Ralph Wintergerst stated, "The German economy is a highly attractive target for criminals and hostile states. The lines between organized crime and actors operating under the sponsorship of governments are blurred."
About three-quarters of the companies surveyed reported that they had been subjected to digital attacks in the last 12 months, a decrease from 84 percent in the previous year. The survey indicated that when companies were asked whether "cyber attacks threaten the existence of your activities," 52 percent responded affirmatively, marking the first time this percentage has reached this level. A year ago, this figure was 45 percent, and two years ago, it was nine percent.
