The Implementation of Protective Measures and Communication of Cybersecurity Alerts in Germany - A Representative Survey of the Population

Abstract

Despite the merits of digitization in private and professional spaces, critical infrastructures and societies are increasingly exposed to cyberattacks. We conducted a representative survey with German citizens (N=1,093) to examine how they assess the current and future cyber threat situation as well as possible protective measures in cyberspace. Furthermore, we asked what information and channels citizens need to be aware of cyber threats. Our findings indicate that large proportions of the German population feel inadequately informed about cyber threats and tend to only apply enforced security measures by programs (e.g., updates) and services (e.g., two-factor authentication). Furthermore, institutions such as state-level Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) are relatively unknown among the population and respondents showed little confidence in German security authorities to cope with largescale attacks and ultimately protect citizens. Still, our participants prefer to receive cybersecurity information via installed security applications, television channels, or emergency warning apps.