Due to the large number of vulnerabilities in software, the continuous stream of cyber attacks and the conflict in Ukraine, the threat situation in cyberspace is higher than ever before, according to the German government in a new management report for 2022. The annual report of the Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik (BSI), part of the German Ministry of the Interior, looks back at the period from June 2021 to June 2022. In 2021, more than 20,000 vulnerabilities in software were assigned a CVE number, an increase of ten percent compared to the previous year. “Any vulnerability in software or hardware products is a potential gateway for attackers and endangers the information security of governments, businesses and society,” the BSI said. According to the German government agency, ransomware is the biggest threat at the moment. As a solution to the current problem, the BSI mainly looks at preventive IT security measures, as these are the most effective measures, according to the annual report. “In a digitized world, the well-being of the population depends more than ever on how well we are prepared for IT security incidents. Every computer system that cannot be hacked, every digital service that cannot be disrupted, contributes to a functioning digitally networked network society. With the right measures, we can counter the threat situation. We must not slacken when it comes to cybersecurity,” said BSI Vice President Gerhard Schabhüser. Earlier this month the head of the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) was sacked with immediate effect from his duties after recent media reports alleged he had links with people involved with Russian intelligence services.
