According to the Cyber Security Monitor 2026, published by the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) and the Police Crime Prevention Program (ProPK), one in ten citizens in Germany experienced cybercrime last year. The most frequently reported crime was fraud related to online shopping.
Experts highlighted the urgent need to simplify and clarify cyber security for everyday consumers. Claudia Plattner, President of the BSI, stressed that security information must become more easily digestible to help people feel safe online. She noted the necessity of providing low-threshold guidance for daily digital safety measures, encouraging schools to integrate these topics into their curriculum, and requiring manufacturers and providers of digital devices and applications to make secure products and services the industry standard.
Stefanie Hinz, the State Police Commissioner and chair of the ProPK, added that cybercrime is now deeply embedded in mainstream society. To counter criminal methods, the police are working to make these tactics visible and transparent. She stated that a combination of prevention, education, and determined action by law enforcement is crucial for making the digital space safer.
Victims in the past year were particularly targeted by issues such as online shopping and banking fraud, unauthorized access to accounts, and phishing scams. Despite these risks, the report revealed significant gaps in protective behavior. Only 14 percent of people regularly keep themselves informed about cyber security, while 40 percent deal with the topic only occasionally. Furthermore, basic protective measures are poorly known, with strong passwords and antivirus programs only known to over half of the respondents (55% and 54%, respectively). For those affected, the consequences are often serious: a significant 88 percent report sustaining some kind of damage, with one-third (33 percent) reporting financial losses.
