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Cyber attacks against the German industrial sector have escalated dramatically, resulting in immense financial losses and production disruptions. In 2023, industrial companies globally paid approximately €25 billion in ransomware to cybercriminals, more than double the costs faced by other industries. Overall, the damage caused by these attacks is estimated to reach €243 billion each year, factoring in both ransom payments and lost production.
Notably, nearly half of all industrial firms worldwide reported being targeted by cybercriminals last year, making the manufacturing sector the most attacked industry. Germany alone witnessed 107 significant cyber incidents involving industrial companies in 2024, although experts suggest the actual number of attacks is significantly higher.
Security expert Ewald Munz warns that most industrial firms lack adequate protection against cyber threats. He attributes many attacks to simple employee errors, such as clicking on infected emails, which can lead to catastrophic operational shutdowns. Besides halting production lines, such breaches can manipulate critical processes, for example, altering medication dosages in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
The German cybersecurity authority, BSI, is monitoring over 100 cybercriminal groups active in the country, with a handful responsible for half of the reported attacks. As the industry pushes forward with digitalization, experts emphasize the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures to protect manufacturing operations.