Germany’s Bundesbank Faces Unprecedented Cyberattack Surge as Government Vows Counterstrikes Germany’s central bank, the Bundesbank, is under relentless cyberattack, with officials reporting an average of 5,000 attacks per minute totaling over 2.5 billion annually. Joachim Nagel, the bank’s president, described the situation as a “never-ending race,” emphasizing the severity of the threat. To bolster defenses, the Bundesbank has implemented stricter employee vetting, enhanced IT security, and improved business continuity measures. The surge in attacks coincides with a broader escalation in Germany’s cyber warfare strategy. Alexander Dobrindt, Germany’s Federal Interior Minister, announced plans for aggressive counterstrikes, including disrupting and destroying attacker infrastructure abroad. The response will be led by intelligence services and the Federal Criminal Police Office, with a new hybrid-threat defense center set to launch later this year coordinating national cyber defenses. The financial toll of cyberattacks on Germany has been staggering, with €300 billion ($354.99 billion) in losses reported in 2024. A survey revealed that most identified attacks originated from China and Russia, while only a quarter came from the U.S. or other EU states. Neighboring Poland has also faced severe disruptions, including a recent cyberattack that nearly crippled its power grid, prompting a €1 billion cybersecurity budget increase and accusations against Russian-linked groups. The UK has similarly strengthened its defenses, introducing the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill to enhance national cyber resilience amid rising threats. The developments underscore Europe’s growing vulnerability to state-sponsored cyber warfare and the shift toward more aggressive defensive postures.