Consumers in Germany are increasingly affected by cyber attacks and IT security incidents - even without being directly attacked. Successful cyber attacks on local governments , hospitals , companies or other institutions sometimes have a significant impact on many people who live in these communities, are customers of the companies or otherwise use the institutions' services.
This emerges from the second “Report on Digital Consumer Protection”, which the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) has now published. In the report, the BSI annually analyzes the IT security situation for consumers as well as possible measures for better digital consumer protection.
BSI President Arne Schönbohm emphasizes:
“The report presented reveals a dynamic risk situation for consumers. Manufacturers and providers of digital offerings in particular have a duty: administrative institutions, companies and other institutions must live up to their responsibility. They must ensure that the personal or customer data entrusted to them cannot be lost or misused. And they must – also in their own interest – ensure that their digital services are secure and products are fully available.”
Consumers should pay particular attention to information security when selecting service providers and products. The BSI's new IT security label is an important anchor point because it enables greater transparency of the security properties of IT products and services.
Cyber attacks such as phishing and smishing
The report on digital consumer protection also pays particular attention to the risk of phishing and smishing attacks as well as alleged customer service calls . These attacks are carried out with the aim of obtaining access data from those affected. The BSI is observing increasing individualization in order to outwit recipients with information that is personally tailored to them. Consumers should always keep themselves informed about current trends and practice recognizing such attempted attacks. The BSI offers current information and assistance.
One focus of the report is dedicated to the digital challenges of connected driving. The BSI's aim is to design the mobility of the future from the perspective of information security in such a way that consumers can move around safely in their vehicle even in the age of digitalization. For future vehicle generations that use artificial intelligence for automated driving, for example, criteria for checking safety still need to be developed. But vehicles already generate, transmit and use a large amount of data that needs to be secured.
Source: BSI
To the report on digital consumer protection
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