A study commissioned by the Directorate for State Protection and Intelligence Service (DSN), the Chamber of Commerce, and the Federation of Austrian Industries shows that Austrian companies are increasingly targeted by foreign intelligence services. According to the study, reported by the press, nine percent of the companies surveyed stated that they had already been the target of an espionage incident. However, only three percent were sure they had actually been spied on, while six percent only expressed a suspicion.

High Number of Unreported Cases and Focus on IT Sector

A total of 510 companies were surveyed at the beginning of 2024. According to DSN, the result was expected, as espionage actors deliberately ensure that no traces are left behind.

Walter Unger, former cyber chief of the Defense Ministry, believes the number of unreported cases is much higher. He points to Germany, where according to current studies, eight out of ten companies are affected by data theft, espionage, or sabotage. The IT sector is particularly at risk, as it represents an attractive target for foreign intelligence services.

Russia and China as Main Players

According to DSN, Russia and China are considered the central players in the field of economic espionage. While Russia is classified as a "relevant risk actor," China is "the most challenging state actor for constitutional protection." Particularly problematic for Austrian companies operating in China is the local legal situation: their data is easily accessible to the Chinese state.

(APA/Red)

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