“We have long been in a cyber war” – on the reality of digital attacks
267 billion euros in damage in just one year.
81% of all German companies have already been hacked – and almost two thirds see their existence threatened as a result.
What used to sound like science fiction is now part of everyday life. Cyber attacks are no longer an exception – they are the new normal.
In the podcast {ungeskriptet}Florian Hansemann, founder and managing director of HanseSecure GmbH, talks to host Benjamin Berndt about the dark reality behind these figures: about hackers who have long been more professional than some IT departments, about companies that lull themselves into a sense of security – and about the bitter truth that even “modern protective measures” are hardly enough.
🎧 View now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Zrqpgbb3n0
Cybercrime in Germany: The silent war in the network
“*We have long been in the middle of a digital war – but hardly anyone realizes it.*”
With this sentence, Florian Hansemann sums up what many people are suppressing.
Security authorities register thousands of new attacks on German companies every day. From phishing campaigns and compromised supply chains to targeted ransomware attacks on critical infrastructures.
And yet most companies remain reactive – instead of proactive.
“Many companies only realize that they have been hacked when it’s too late – when systems are down or data is encrypted.”
– Florian Hansemann, CEO HanseSecure
How hackers really think
As a professional ethical hacker, Hansemann knows both sides.
He regularly penetrates systems that companies claim are “impregnable” – legally, on behalf of his customers. The aim: to find vulnerabilities before real attackers do.
“*I think like an attacker, but act like a defender.* That’s the only way to realistically assess security.”
His work is based on offensive security – penetration testing, red-teaming and social engineering simulations that recreate real attack scenarios.
It turns out:
🔸 Most attacks do not start with technology – but with people.
🔸 95% of all security incidents are based on misconfigurations or untrained behavior.
🔸 Even highly secure systems fail due to careless processes.
“Your smartphone is a full-time bug”
Hansemann speaks particularly forcefully about mobile security in the podcast:
“*The smartphone is the biggest vulnerability that everyone voluntarily carries around with them.*”
Between location tracking, app permissions, cloud synchronization and permanent microphone access, the cell phone is now a gateway for surveillance and data misuse.
And: the smarter the devices become, the more attack surface they offer.
Why classic protective measures fail
Firewalls, virus scanners, awareness training – all important, but not enough.
Cybersecurity is no longer a question of individual tools, but of an integrated understanding of security.
“Security is not a product, but a process.
Anyone who invests once in IT security has already lost.”
– Florian Hansemann
HanseSecure GmbH therefore focuses on holistic attack simulations and strategic security consulting.
The aim is not only to make companies “safer”, but also more resilient – even against the complex threats of the future.
From the military to cybersecurity: Hansemann’s path
Florian Hansemann began his career in the military sector, where cyber security has long been of strategic importance.
Today, he is one of the leading experts for offensive IT security in the German-speaking world.
With HanseSecure, he has built up a company that starts where traditional security concepts stop:
with the realistic simulation of real attacks and the development of adaptive defense strategies.
“Our aim is not to scare people, but to raise awareness,” says Hansemann.
“Because only those who understand how attackers think can protect themselves.”
Data sovereignty & the future of IT security
The final chapter of the interview looks to the future.
How can Europe regain digital sovereignty?
How is artificial intelligence changing the security landscape?
Hansemann is convinced:
“The future belongs to those who understand technology – and make it secure.
We have to stop just reacting to attacks.
We have to learn to stay one step ahead of them.”
🎧 Watch the whole conversation
📺 Podcast: {ungeskriptet} with Benjamin Berndt
🎙️ Guest: Florian Hansemann, CEO HanseSecure GmbH
📆 Recording date: October 1, 2025
▶️ Watch now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Zrqpgbb3n0
About HanseSecure
HanseSecure GmbH is a leading German company for offensive IT security.
We combine technical excellence with practical experience from real attack scenarios.
Our goal: to make
companies sustainably resilient through penetration testing, red teaming and strategic security consulting.
We think like attackers – to defend you.
🔗 More at: www.hansesecure.de
Book your free initial consultation directly at www.hansesecure.de/termin
Conclusion
This podcast is not just entertainment – it’s a wake-up call.
Cybersecurity is no longer an IT issue, but a question of business survival.
Florian Hansemann shows impressively:
Only those who are prepared to take the perspective of the attackers can achieve real security.
Everything else is self-deception.
