Germany to Launch ‘Active Cyber Defence’ Amid Surge in Online Attacks
Germany says it is preparing new “active cyber defence” measures as cyberattacks targeting companies, government institutions and critical infrastructure continue to rise.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced on Tuesday that the government plans to introduce legislation later this month allowing security agencies to strike back against servers used in cyberattacks.
Speaking in Berlin, Dobrindt said the proposed law would enable authorities to “disrupt and destroy” infrastructure linked to attackers, many of whom are believed to operate from Russia.
According to the minister, the move would prevent foreign-based systems from being repeatedly used to target German organisations, including energy companies and other sensitive sectors.
Germany recorded about 334,000 cybercrime cases in 2025, with nearly two-thirds traced to foreign or unidentified locations. Authorities believe many incidents still go unreported.
The Interior Ministry said cybercrime caused more than €200 billion in economic losses last year, warning that artificial intelligence is making attacks faster, more sophisticated and harder to detect.
“AI-based tools are becoming increasingly important in cybercrime,” the ministry said, noting that criminals are now able to carry out operations with greater speed and precision.
Dobrindt also pointed to what he described as a sharp rise in cyber-related activism originating from Russia since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022.
Germany reported more than 1,000 ransomware attacks in 2025, marking a 10 percent increase from the previous year. The attacks reportedly resulted in more than $15 million (€12 million) in extortion payments.
The number of denial-of-service attacks also rose by 25 percent to 36,706 cases.
Meanwhile, Mark Branson warned that AI-powered cyber threats pose growing risks to financial institutions.
Branson said newer AI models can quickly identify and exploit weaknesses in IT systems, urging companies to improve how rapidly they patch vulnerabilities.
“Cybersecurity is an urgent and essential investment,” he said.
