G DATA study shows: The greater the IT security expertise, the higher the confidence

Ahead of the German federal election on February 23, 2025, many citizens lack confidence in protection against cyber attacks by German authorities. One third of those surveyed doubt the security measures in the run-up to the elections, as the current study “Cybersecurity in Figures” by G DATA CyberDefense, Statista and brand eins shows. The study reveals: The higher the personal competence in the area of IT security, the greater the trust.

With the upcoming federal election in mind, citizens have little confidence in German authorities to protect them adequately from cyber attacks. While one-third of respondents express doubts, another third are unsure. Only one in three respondents trusts the security measures of the authorities. This is the conclusion of the recent study “Cybersecurity in Figures” by G DATA CyberDefense, Statista and brand eins.

“It is worrying that people have no confidence in the security measures of the authorities before the federal election,” says Andreas Lüning, co-founder and board member of G DATA CyberDefense AG. ”In my view, a large proportion of this is due to numerous attacks on local authorities, which have shown how vulnerable the digital structures of the federal, state and local governments are. However, false reports also cause doubt. What is needed here are confidence-building measures such as education or information campaigns.”

More expertise = more trust

The study also shows that trust is closely related to personal IT security skills. For example, 44 percent of respondents with a high level of IT security know-how have confidence in the security measures of the authorities, but only 23 percent of respondents with little expertise. Only a quarter of people with high IT security skills doubt the official measures. Among those with little knowledge, the figure is 45 percent. When it comes to a complex topic such as IT security, technical skills are needed to improve trust in security measures. Those who have or develop knowledge in this area can protect themselves from a variety of risks, such as identity theft. And then they also trust protective measures, whether they are from authorities for the federal election or from employers to protect critical data.

Cybersecurity in Figures for Download

“Cybersecurity in Figures” is now in its fourth edition and is characterized by a high density of information and a special methodological depth: Statista’s market researchers have compiled figures, data and facts from more than 300 statistics into a unique compendium. More than 5,000 employees in Germany were surveyed as part of a representative online study on cybersecurity in a professional and private context. Statista’s experts closely monitored the survey and, thanks to a sample size that far exceeds the industry standard, are able to present reliable and valid market research results in the magazine “Cybersecurity in Figures”.

The magazine “Cybersecurity in Figures” in German language is available here for download.