Cybercrime Overview: Key Points

• Cybercrime involves using computers or the internet for illegal activities, like hacking, phishing, or ransomware.
• Small businesses are often targeted because they have weaker security and fewer resources.
• Cybercrime can be expensive, leading to financial losses, stolen data, and damage to a company's reputation.
• Preventing cybercrime requires strong passwords, keeping software updated, making backups, and training employees regularly.
• ByteSnipers offers security services to help businesses protect themselves from cyber threats, get in touch today.

What Is Cybercrime?

Cybercrime means using computers, networks, or online devices to do something illegal.

This can include hacking, phishing, identity theft, ransomware attacks, malware, scams, and extortion.

The unique thing about cybercrime is that criminals can work from anywhere in the world and hide their identity well.

They adapt quickly to new technology and changes in society.

Cybercrime has become very advanced, it is its own industry.

Cybercrime: An Example Scenario

It’s a regular Monday morning at Bäckerei Müller.

Orders are coming in, customers are arriving, and employees are getting ready for a busy day.

But something is wrong—the cash registers aren’t working. Instead, a message appears on the screens:

“Your data has been encrypted. Pay €5,000 in Bitcoin within 72 hours, or your data will be lost forever.”

This is an example of cybercrime—crimes done using the internet, networks, or computers.

Unfortunately, for many small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) like Bäckerei Müller, cybercrime is becoming more common.

According to a survey by the digital association Bitkom, 69% of German companies were affected by data theft, spying, or sabotage in 2022.

The threat is very real...

Cybercrime in Germany: 2024 Trends and Stats

According to the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), cybercrime is rising sharply in Germany.

In 2024, the number of cybercrime cases is expected to increase by over 20% compared to the previous year, continuing the trend of recent years.

A big concern is the increase in ransomware attacks, which are up by more than 30%.

Ransomware is currently the biggest threat to companies and public institutions in Germany, causing damages worth billions of euros.

Private individuals are also being affected more often.

Another growing cyber threat is identity theft and fraud.

According to Statista, cases of identity theft increased by over 40% from 2021 to 2024.

Stolen identities are often used for online banking and shopping scams.

The overall economic damage from cybercrime in Germany in 2024 is estimated at over €120 billion—an increase of nearly 30% compared to 2021.

Many cases are not reported due to victims' shame, so the real number is probably much higher.

Experts are calling for more investment in cybersecurity and better cooperation between the government, businesses, and universities to fight the trend.

Despite some progress, cybercrime is still a major challenge for Germany.

Cybercrime as a Service: Professional Hacking for Hire

A worrying trend is the rise of “Cybercrime as a Service” (CaaS).

Professional hackers offer their services for rent on the dark web.

They provide everything from malware to complete digital extortion services.

According to a study by Bromium from 2018, there is a well-developed underground market for cybercrime tools and services.

This allows criminals without technical skills to easily get access to advanced hacking methods.

Common offerings include phishing kits, botnets, exploit codes, and malware.

Cybercrime providers operate like startups: they offer free trials, various pricing plans, support teams, and even money-back guarantees.

This makes it easier for criminals to get started online.

To fight CaaS effectively, law enforcement and IT security companies need to work closely together.

By joining underground forums, they can identify trends early and take action.

However, it’s hard to control this area, and it’s growing quickly—with potentially serious consequences for everyone online.

Challenges for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses (SMEs)

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are especially vulnerable to cybercrime.

Compared to large companies, they often lack the resources and knowledge to protect their digital systems and data effectively.

According to a 2022 survey by Bitkom, two-thirds of German SMEs don’t have their own IT department.

Instead, managers and employees handle IT security, often without special training.

Only one in five companies uses outside experts for IT security.

SMEs also spend much less on cybersecurity.

More than 50% spend less than €10,000 per year, leaving many security gaps that criminals can exploit.

Common weaknesses in SMEs include outdated software, weak passwords, no backups, and lack of employee training on threats like phishing.

Simple tricks, like fake invoices sent by email, allow attackers to steal bank and customer data.

The consequences of data theft, extortion, and spying can be severe for small businesses.

According to Bitkom, the average loss per incident is over €10,000.

More than 60% of SMEs see cyber risks as a threat to their survival.

To address this threat, SMEs need to increase their spending on cybersecurity.

This means buying modern software, training employees, and using outside experts.

Only then can they achieve proper protection.

The Different Types of Cybercrime

To understand the full threat, it helps to look at the most common types of cybercrime:

• Hacking
• Phishing
• Identity theft
• Ransomware attacks
• Malware attacks
• Scams and extortion

These examples show that cybercriminals are clever and have no limits.

They use new versions of malware and social engineering to get around even the best security systems.

It’s hard for SMEs to keep up with these methods.

The Impact of Cybercrime: Loss of Data, Money, and Trust

Cyberattacks can cause big problems for companies:

• Direct Costs: Downtime, ransom payments, and recovery efforts can cost up to €50,000 per attack, according to Bitkom.
• Stolen Data: Customer data in the wrong hands can lead to identity theft and fraud, breaking data protection laws and losing customer trust.
• Reputation Damage: Cyberattacks make a company look insecure and unprofessional. Even if an attack is stopped, there is often long-lasting loss of trust among customers and partners.

Even a single attack can threaten the survival of a small company.

It’s important to take cyber risks seriously and take steps to reduce them.

How to Prevent Cybercrime: Steps You Can Take

As an SME, IT security can feel overwhelming or expensive.

But with the right partners and some training, even non-technical business owners can improve their defenses.

Here are some easy first steps any company can take:

• Passwords: Use strong, unique passwords and change them regularly. Train employees about password safety.
• Software Updates: Keep all software and operating systems updated to close security gaps.
• Backups: Regular data backups help you recover from an attack. Store backups offline.
• Staff Training: Train employees regularly on risks like phishing and make clear guidelines.
• External Support: IT security providers offer professional solutions for every need and budget.

These simple measures form the first line of defense against cybercrime.

ByteSnipers: Your Partner for Cybersecurity

ByteSnipers is a specialized provider of cybersecurity solutions, helping companies set up strong digital defenses.

Our experts provide personalized advice, analyze your systems and processes, and identify weaknesses.

Based on this analysis, we create a custom action plan with the right technologies, effective controls, and ongoing monitoring.

We specialize in awareness training and penetration testing, and we offer a free IT security audit if you want to take the next step in securing your business.

Benefit from our team of experienced ethical hackers, certified analysts, and technical specialists.

We protect your company with a complete approach:

• Awareness Training: Campaigns to raise security awareness.
• Assessment: Comprehensive risk and vulnerability analysis.
• Protection: Modern defense technologies and security solutions.
• Response: Immediate help and forensic analysis after incidents.
• Compliance: Guidance on regulatory requirements.
• Threat Intelligence: Real-time alerts about new threats.

Renowned companies and organizations such as the European Central Bank, Vodafone, and Airbus rely on our expertise in IT security.

Take the next step to protect your company from digital threats—request a free IT security audit today.

We will give you non-binding advice on the next steps for your company.

Common Cyber Threats in Detail

Cybercrime changes as fast as technology.

What was secure yesterday may be outdated today.

To keep up, it’s important to understand common attacks and trends.

Here’s an overview:

• Social Engineering — The Human Factor: Cybercriminals often use human weaknesses. Phishing emails, phone calls, or fake websites trick employees into clicking harmful links or sharing private data.
  • Protection: Raise awareness through regular campaigns and have clear reporting channels for suspicious activities.
• Ransomware — Extortion Despite Backups: Bäckerei Müller’s example shows a typical ransomware attack, where malware encrypts data and stops business operations. Even offline backups aren’t always enough, as some ransomware can reach external storage.
  • Protection: Use next-gen antivirus with behavioral analysis, divide networks, and keep software updated.
• DDoS Attacks — Crippling Online Presence: Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks flood websites with too many requests until servers crash. These attacks are hard to trace and can cause significant losses for online businesses.
  • Protection: Use geo-distributed infrastructure, DDoS protection services, and do load testing.
• Insider Threats — Breaches of Trust: Insider threats can come from mistakes or malicious acts, like stealing data during job changes or tricking colleagues.
  • Protection: Limit privileged access, monitor unusual activities, and keep production and test environments separate.
• Vulnerability Management — The Race Against Software Bugs: Unpatched software vulnerabilities are common entry points for attackers. Regular scans and quick updates are essential, but managing patches is challenging for complex IT systems.
  • Protection: Use automated vulnerability scans, patch management tools, and outside support.

How Cyber Attacks Affect Your Business

The immediate effects of a cyber attack are usually obvious:

• Business Interruption and Revenue Loss
• Extortion Payments
• Forensic Analysis and Recovery Costs

But the long-term consequences can be just as serious:

• Reputation and Loss of Trust: Cyber attacks can destroy the trust and reputation a company has built over the years. Customers lose confidence in a company’s ability to keep their data safe or maintain reliable services.
• Psychological Stress: The human impact of cybercrime is often underestimated. Attacks can create a lot of stress for business owners and employees, including fears of lost sales, extra work hours, and mistrust within the team.

Building Resilience: How to Defend Against Cyber Attacks

Faced with these threats, many business owners may feel overwhelmed and think cybercrime is impossible to stop.

But there are ways to protect your business—you just need to learn the right lessons.

• Invest in Security: Cybersecurity should be a top priority, especially after an incident. Prevention is key.
• Staff Training: Regular awareness campaigns and attack simulations can improve security behavior over time.
• Emergency Management: A professional response plan can help contain damage and speed up recovery.
• External Support: Internal IT teams can be overwhelmed by defense needs. External experts can be an important support.
• Continuous Improvement: Cybersecurity is not a one-time fix. Regular tests, updates, and training are crucial.

By following these strategies, companies can build stronger defenses.

With a trusted partner like ByteSnipers, you don’t have to face cyber threats alone.

Talk to one of our experts today to learn how we can make your company stronger against cyber threats!