Germany is one of the top 3 countries in the world most frequently affected by ransomware. The blackmail software blocks access to systems or data and a ransom is then demanded to release them. The manufacturing industry (19%), the IT sector (12%), banking and finance (11%), healthcare (9%) and the education sector (6%) are particularly affected. In 2023, there was also an increase in physical attacks carried out using new hacking techniques and easy-to-use tools at company sites.

An alarming trend is the increase in compromised credentials through Infostealer malware, a type of malware that steals confidential credentials and then spreads them. Germany ranks second in Europe with over 47,000 compromised devices and a total of 193 million compromised credentials - an increase of 180% compared to 2022.

The Y-Report: Method and results

Yarix, the Var Group's cyber security division, analyzes the data from its Security Operation Center's customer services on an annual basis and summarizes these results in the Y-Report. This gives the company an insight into the current cyber threat situation and the effectiveness of its protective measures.

According to Yarix's latest Y-Report, the sectors most affected by cyber attacks are manufacturing (15%), fashion (14%) and energy and utilities (10%). According to Yarix, the increase in the number of detected attacks is also due to the use of advanced monitoring technologies such as machine learning and artificial intelligence. The efficiency of threat detection has generally increased.

"Our results clearly show that the threat situation has become more complex and dangerous. The continuous development of our protection measures and the sensitization of employees are essential to meet these challenges," explains Mirko Gatto, CEO of Yarix, the Var Group's cyber security division. "A comprehensive cyber security strategy for companies, including SMEs, will become essential in the coming years."