Spying and cyber attacks ‘costing Germany billions’

Germany is a big target of spying and cyber attacks by foreign governments such as Turkey, Russia and China, a government report has said, warning of “ticking time bombs” that could sabotage critical infrastructure.

Industrial espionage costs German industry billions of euro each year with SMEs often the biggest losers, the BfV domestic intelligence agency said in its annual report.

The report mapped out a range of security threats including Islamist militancy and increased far-right violence, but highlighted the growing incidence of cyber espionage.