Crime: Survey: Majority of the population has experienced cyberattacks

According to an international survey, the globally rampant cybercrime now affects the majority of the population in 15 countries. On average, 57 percent of the 7,500 respondents from Australia to Germany and the USA have experienced cyberattacks, according to the reinsurer Munich Re. This includes five different forms of cybercrime: computer viruses, fraud in online trading, fraud in online transfers, identity theft and theft of other personal data.

Germany severely affected

The results of the survey differ considerably from country to country: In Japan, 72 percent have never been the victim of a cyberattack, making the East Asian country the safest in this respect. In Germany, on the other hand, only 38 percent have been spared so far, according to the survey, which puts them in tenth place out of fifteen countries. China is at the bottom of the list, with only 19 percent saying they have never been the victim of an online perpetrator.

Accordingly, a majority internationally are also worried: On average, 53 percent of the 15 countries said they were worried or even very worried about feared cyber attacks. When it comes to fear of online crime, however, it is not China that is at the top, but India. According to the survey, 80 percent there fear a cyber attack. According to the survey, the Dutch are the least worried, at 27 percent.

The statistics portal Statista surveyed the participants online in January and February on behalf of the DAX group; according to Munich Re, the results are representative of the individual nations.

High number of unreported cases

There are very different estimates of the extent of cybercrime and the damage caused by cyber criminals due to the high number of unreported cases. However, most experts agree that the damage is growing almost continuously from year to year. Only a few perpetrators are convicted or caught.