Switzerland saw a significant increase in the number of reported cyber-crime incidents last year. In the same period, the rate of murders and burglaries fell, while e-bikes became one of the favourite targets of thieves.
This content was published on
1 minute
swissinfo.ch/mga
Português
pt
Crimes cibernéticos na Suíça aumentam em um quarto
The Federal Statistical Office on Monday reportedExternal link that cyber-crime had increased by 24% last year compared to 2020. The most common digital crime was the fraudulent sale of non-existent goods online that tricked people into paying for products that were never delivered.
There was also an uptick in the number of reported offences involving fraudulent payment systems and the abuse of personal digital identification data to commit crimes.
Some 30,351 crimes were reported in the virtual space in 2021.
In the physical world, police recorded 42 homicides, which is one of the lowest murder rates since records began in 1982. Most murders took place within the family home where women were by far the most common victim.
There were also fewer reported incidents of serious acts of violence, except in the category of rape that saw the highest number of cases (757, an increase of 6%) in a decade.
Last year saw a decrease in the number of burglaries but witnessed a marked increase in the number of vehicles being stolen.
Thieves particularly targeted e-bikes, which have seen sales take off during the Covid-19 pandemic period. Last year, the number of e-bike thefts rose by nearly 50% from 2020.
Popular Stories
More
Life & Aging
Switzerland no longer wants to foot the bill for ‘suicide tourism’
As a Swiss Abroad, how do you feel about the emergence of more conservative family policies in some US states?
In recent years several US states have adopted more conservative policies on family issues, abortion and education. As a Swiss citizen living there, how do you view this development?
Swiss federal office sees no reason to end deportations of asylum-seekers to Croatia
This content was published on
Switzerland's State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) continues to deport asylum-seekers to Croatia. It thus rejects a demand from the Swiss Refugee Council in mid-February, which called for a halt to the returns.
ChatGPT responds to negative emotions and therapy, research shows
This content was published on
Stressful information can also cause anxiety in artificial intelligence (AI). As scientists in Zurich have shown, it's even possible to calm the GPT-4 AI model with mindfulness exercises.
Mortgage benchmark fall paves way for potential rent cuts in Switzerland
This content was published on
Switzerland’s national benchmark for mortgage costs dropped to the level it had before the global inflation surge, paving the way for potential rent reductions.
Switzerland ‘deeply concerned’ by Trump’s death penalty order
This content was published on
Switzerland has told the UN Human Rights Council that it is "deeply concerned" by US President Donald Trump's recent executive order to strengthen capital punishment at federal and state level.
Blatter, Platini return to court for new fraud trial over CHF2 million FIFA payment
This content was published on
Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter and former UEFA President Michel Platini appeared in court in Switzerland on Monday accused of fraud - 2.5 years after they were cleared.
Israel criticises Swiss decision to host Middle East conference in Geneva on Friday
This content was published on
Israel has condemned Switzerland for planning to host a meeting on international humanitarian law in the Middle East next Friday in Geneva.
Centre Party’s Franziska Biner elected to Valais government
This content was published on
Voters in canton Valais in southern Switzerland elected Franziska Biner to the cantonal government in the first round of voting, beating off more established politicians.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Cyberattacks tops list of Swiss firms’ worries for 2022
This content was published on
Ransomware demands, interruption of business and market fluctuations are the top risks Swiss companies expect to face in 2022.
This content was published on
swissinfo.ch talked to Kurt Nydegger and Gérald Vernez from the defence ministry, who have been asked to present a strategy paper by the end of 2011 on possible technical and legal measures to avert attacks. Switzerland is particularly vulnerable to cyber attacks because of its high-tech infrastructure, while the danger is real but hard to…
This content was published on
Only 94 ransomware incidents were reported in the first half of the year, but the real number is believed to be closer to 2,000.
This content was published on
Jürg Bühler, acting director of Switzerland’s counter-intelligence agency, says foreign services are increasingly interested in the financial data locked in Swiss banks, especially as the global hunt for undeclared assets stiffens. “It’s not just about collecting intelligence on military or political or industrial data of Swiss enterprises but, more specifically today, financial data,” Bühler told…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.