In view of the increase in cyber attacks on companies and authorities, Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) has announced an expansion of the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI).
"We are currently doubling the staff at the BSI," said Seehofer to the editorial network in Germany.
“And this process will and must continue because crime in cyberspace is constantly growing.
Then the BSI also has to grow. "
The CSU politician added: "This is the greatest challenge of the next few years and the greatest challenge of all." Last week, a cyber attack on the IT system of the Anhalt-Bitterfeld district caused a sensation.
The attackers demanded a ransom for the data encrypted during the attack.
The federal security authorities are also preparing for the increasing number of cyber attacks for the federal election from Germany and abroad.
According to the BSI, possible attacks include cyberstalking, abuse in the network as well as disruptive and sabotage actions.
In addition, it is about identity and data theft.
So far, no significant increase in hacker attacks has been observed, said BSI President Arne Schönbohm last Wednesday during an appearance with Seehofer at the federal press conference. However, he is worried about the spread of malware, known as malware, which can be used to attack third-party mail accounts. There are hundreds of thousands of new programs of this kind every day, said Schönbohm. Such attacks can be criminal in nature, in which case it is all about stealing money. It becomes politically explosive when the attack is only a means to an end by spreading false information.