Sabotage and data theft: Companies observe more attacks of foreign intelligence services
German companies have noticed significantly more attacks by foreign intelligence agencies in the past twelve months than in the previous year
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Summary
German companies have noticed significantly more attacks by foreign intelligence agencies in the past twelve months than in the previous year. For its current business protection report, the industry association asked around 1,000 executives and IT managers this spring whether their company was affected by theft, industrial espionage or sabotage within a year or not. 62 percent of those affected experienced attacks by criminal gangs, a decline of six percentage points from 2025.
Furthermore, Probably also for this reason, the damage amount for the German economy due to attacks in the digital and analogue space with at least 211 billion euros is lower this time than in previous years. According to the IT industry association Bitkom, of the companies that have experienced sabotage, espionage or theft, 37 percent saw a foreign intelligence service at work, up from 28 percent in the previous year. 67 percent of respondents reported such incidents; A further 29 percent said that their own company was "probably affected".
In addition, In 49 percent of cases, the companies assume that the attacker was in Russia. Most attacks came from perpetrators in Russia and China. 52 percent of those affected said the attack was launched from China.
Cross-referenced from 5 sources.
Factual coreconfirmed by several independent voices
German companies have noticed significantly more attacks by foreign intelligence agencies in the past twelve months than in the previous year.
reliability low1/3 sourcesFor its current business protection report, the industry association asked around 1,000 executives and IT managers this spring whether their company was affected by theft, industrial espionage or sabotage within a year or not.
reliability low1/3 sources62 percent of those affected experienced attacks by criminal gangs, a decline of six percentage points from 2025.
reliability low1/3 sourcesProbably also for this reason, the damage amount for the German economy due to attacks in the digital and analogue space with at least 211 billion euros is lower this time than in previous years.
reliability low1/3 sourcesAccording to the IT industry association Bitkom, of the companies that have experienced sabotage, espionage or theft, 37 percent saw a foreign intelligence service at work, up from 28 percent in the previous year.
reliability low1/3 sources67 percent of respondents reported such incidents; A further 29 percent said that their own company was "probably affected".
reliability low1/3 sourcesIn 49 percent of cases, the companies assume that the attacker was in Russia.
reliability low1/3 sourcesMost attacks came from perpetrators in Russia and China. 52 percent of those affected said the attack was launched from China.
reliability low1/3 sources
Disputedincompatible versions — to verify
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No notable framing divergence.
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No blind spot detected: every side covers the same facts.
Sources4 sources cross-checked
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