On the World Consumer Day, the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) presented its report on Digital Consumer Protection 2022. The results show a constantly tense cyber security situation that has recently been exacerbated by the Russian war of aggression on Ukraine. Consumers are also indirectly affected by cyber-attacks, which have recently been increasingly directed against municipalities, counties, and other public institutions, such as schools or hospitals.
These are further details for consumers:
- Among criminal cyber activities, the main threats include identity theft, sextortion (blackmail under threat of posting compromising nude photos or videos online), as well as fake stores on the Internet and other attempts at deception when using digital services.
- 69 percent of all spam e-mails in the reporting period were cyber-attacks, for example in the form of phishing e-mails or mail extortion.
- 90 percent of mail fraud was finance phishing – mails that fraudulently gave the impression of having been sent by banking institutions and via which cyber criminals obtain passwords and other personal information.
- Meanwhile, many phishing e-mails are so professionally designed that it is difficult to distinguish them from legitimate e-mail communication.
Gerhard Schabhüser, BSI Vice President, said: "Consumers are particularly vulnerable to data theft and phishing attacks. We must not leave consumers to fend for themselves when it comes to protection against cybercrime! Digital consumer protection is a joint task. It is the responsibility of companies, IT manufacturers and public institutions to inform and exchange information when security incidents occur. They must use defensive methods and think about and implement IT security from the very beginning."
Christiane Rohleder, State Secretary at the BMUV, added: "Cyber security and digital consumer protection go hand in hand. BSI and BMUV are pursuing the same goals here. We welcome the BSI's commitment to protecting consumers in the digital space. Together, we are working to ensure that consumers can act in a self-determined and secure manner in the digital space. To this end, we are creating the legal framework for more security on the Internet and also strengthening consumers' digital literacy. Companies, too, must assume significantly more responsibility. Digital offerings and products must be consistently designed to be secure from the outset."
Source: BSI & Bitkom
More information and report on Digital Consumer Protection 2022