The BSI, the Federal Office for Information Security, publishes the second report on digital consumer protection. According to the BSI, the report shows a dynamic risk situation from cyber attacks for consumers in Germany.
Consumers in Germany are more and more frequently affected by cyber attacks and IT security incidents - even without having been directly attacked. Successful cyber attacks on local government, 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 services of the institutions. This is the result of the second "Report on Digital Consumer Protection" that the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) has now published. In the report, the BSI analyzes the IT security situation for consumers and possible measures for better digital consumer protection every year.
Report on digital consumer protection
BSI President Arne Schönbohm emphasises: “The report presented reveals a dynamic risk situation for consumers. In particular, the manufacturers and providers of digital offers have an obligation: administrative bodies, 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 available without restrictions.”
When choosing service providers and products, consumers should pay particular attention to information security. The new IT security label of the BSI is an important anchor point, because it enables more transparency of the security properties of IT products and services.
Focus on phishing and smishing
BSI report on digital consumer protection (Image: BSI).
The report on digital consumer protection also pays special attention to the risk of phishing and smishing attacks as well as supposed 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 outsmart recipients with information that is personally tailored to them. Consumers should always find out about current trends in this regard and practice recognizing such attempted attacks. The BSI offers up-to-date information and assistance.
One focus of the report is dedicated to the digital challenges of connected driving. The aim of the BSI is to shape the mobility of the future from the point of view of information security in such a way that consumers can move around safely with their vehicle even in the age of digitization. For future vehicle generations, which use artificial intelligence for automated driving, for example, criteria for checking safety still have to be developed. However, vehicles today already generate, transmit and use a large amount of data that needs to be secured.
More at BSI.bund.de
About the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) The Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) is the federal cyber security authority and the creator of secure digitization in Germany. The guiding principle: As the federal cyber security authority, the BSI designs information security in digitization through prevention, detection and reaction for the state, economy and society.