Cybercrime is a growing threat to businesses, especially SMEs. In Austria, 28,439 crimes were reported in 2019, an increase of 44.9 % compared to the previous year. SMEs are particularly affected - 80% of them report having been the target of cyber attacks in recent years, mainly phishing (77%) and malware (51%). Damage per incident ranges from €130,000 to €150,000. For the economy as a whole, the damage is estimated at several hundred million euros.

The CyberSec project therefore develops methods and tools for simulating cybercrime, with a focus on strengthening employees' expertise. To this end, the Internet Watchlist, the ÖIAT's prevention platform against Internet fraud, will be further developed for the SME target group. In addition to a reporting system for cybercrime pitfalls relevant to SMEs and an information feed on current threats, a prototype of a phishing simulator will be developed for use in ACR institutes and other interested companies.