Sicherheit: Verfassungsschutz erwartet mehr Geheimdienstangriffe auf Firmen

German intelligence agencies expect an increase in covert operations against German companies, according to the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV). Behördenpräsident Sinan Selen presented the 2026 Economic Protection Report in Berlin, which surveyed 1,003 companies with at least ten employees and a yearly turnover of one million euros or more.

Over one-third of the affected firms attributed at least one attack to foreign intelligence services, rising from 28% in 2023 to 37% in 2024. The report highlights the growing threat of espionage and sabotage to Germany's economy, which can disrupt production facilities, supply chains, and steal technical knowledge. A recent incident involved the Russian Defense Ministry publishing addresses of German and European defense companies, prompting concerns about Russia's list of potential targets.

The attack on Leipzig/Halle Airport earlier in August 2026 involved a drone equipped with explosives and a detonator, found near Ukrainian transport planes, deemed a "serious attack on Germany's transport and logistics infrastructure." BfV acknowledges that state and non-state actors increasingly target Germany's economy, with China and Russia leading the attacks.

Bitkom's study shows that 52% of affected firms attribute at least one attack to China, followed by Russia at 49%. Osteuropäische Staaten and the US constitute 34% and 27% of the attacks, respectively. The economic damage due to data theft, industry espionage, and sabotage is estimated at 211 to 271 billion euros in the past year.

German and state agencies are working closer together to track down attackers, with half of the firms able to identify the perpetrators receiving tips from authorities. However, a growing reliance on AI could fundamentally change the nature of cyberattacks, as powerful AI models could generate malware and enable autonomous attacks. AI also poses new challenges in detecting and preventing attacks.