Archive · 27 Aug 2026
Foreign Espionage Attacks on German Companies Rise Sharply
A German technology group surveyed 1,003 companies about attacks and theft.
Many companies said criminals or foreign governments tried to steal data or damage their businesses.
More companies are now connecting these attacks to foreign intelligence agencies.
The number rose to 37 percent from 28 percent the year before.
China and Russia were the countries most often identified by affected companies.
Reports linked fewer incidents to Iran, but that number more than doubled from the previous year.
Most of the money lost came from online attacks.
German intelligence officials said Russia and the growing use of artificial intelligence make the threat more serious.
Thirty-seven percent of targeted German companies attributed at least one attack to foreign intelligence services in the past year.
The share rose from 28 percent the previous year and 7 percent in 2023, according to Bitkom.
Among affected companies, 52 percent linked incidents to China, 49 percent to Russia, and 9 percent to Iran.
Cyberattacks caused 76 percent of the total financial damage reported in the survey.
German intelligence chief Sinan Selen warned that Russia, artificial intelligence, and the security industry pose major challenges.
- Who
- Bitkom surveyed 1,003 German companies, while German domestic intelligence chief Sinan Selen commented on the findings.
- What
- The survey found a sharp increase in German companies attributing attacks to foreign intelligence services, alongside significant cyber-related financial damage.
- When
- The findings were released Wednesday, August 26, covering incidents during the previous 12 months.
- Where
- Germany; the surveyed companies had at least 10 employees.
- Why
- Foreign intelligence services, organized criminals, and other attackers are targeting company data, systems, and strategically important industries.
- Survey sample
- 1,003 German enterprises with 10 or more employees
- Foreign intelligence attribution
- 37% of targeted companies traced at least one attack to foreign intelligence services
- Previous rates
- 28% the prior year and 7% in 2023
- Main reported origins
- China: 52%; Russia: 49%; Iran: 9% among affected companies
- Financial damage
- Cyberattacks accounted for 76% of total financial damage
- Primary overall threat
- Organized crime remained the main source of data theft, industrial espionage, and sabotage
- Particularly attractive target
- Germany’s security and defence industry, according to Sinan Selen