The Bottom Line: Germans view cyberattacks as a greater threat than terrorism or natural disasters, yet show less determination in investments and taking personal responsibility.
A representative survey by TechnikRadar 2026 shows: 85 percent of Germans see cybercrime and AI-enabled fraud as a serious threat — stronger than terrorism, military conflicts or natural disasters. This shift in perception signals a new understanding of security that reassesses digital risks.
Fear of digital threats has reached unprecedented levels in Germany. According to a representative forsa survey commissioned by acatech – the German Academy of Science and Engineering – more than eight out of ten respondents rate cybercrime as a serious danger. 85 percent express concern about attacks on private individuals and fraud attempts using artificial intelligence. Nearly as many (82 percent) fear attacks on state institutions and critical infrastructure such as power grids, mobile networks or drinking water supply. By comparison: terrorism and violent crime are seen as a threat by 72 percent, climate change and military attacks each by just over half of those surveyed.
A significant gap exists between perception and concrete experience. Only nine percent of respondents report having experienced a cyberattack in the previous twelve months; for violent crime it is just two percent. Despite this discrepancy, 56 percent of German citizens feel safe overall — with marked differences between population groups. Men and West Germans rate their security situation more positively than women and East Germans respectively. People with university degrees feel noticeably safer than those without an academic background.
Questions about investments reveal another contradiction: in a hypothetical scenario with 100 billion euros in additional security budget, the highest funds would flow to technical infrastructure, the Bundeswehr, and police and security forces — cyber defense ranked last despite high threat perception. Priorities differ depending on political orientation: CDU and CSU supporters place greater emphasis on military defense, the Left on infrastructure and extreme weather protection, and AfD sympathizers on police and security authorities.
Acatech President Claudia Eckert interprets the high sensitivity to digital risks as a clear signal to policy, business and research to consistently strengthen cybersecurity and reduce technological dependencies. At the same time, willingness to take personal responsibility is limited: only 15 percent would accept higher taxes to finance additional security measures. Restrictions on personal freedoms or expanded state surveillance powers find approval only among minorities.
Source: www.it-daily.net · Published 27 June 2026
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