Hackers from Russia

Lidl parent company: 350,000 cyber attacks every day

The number of cyberattacks has literally exploded since the start of the war in Ukraine.(Bild: AFP)

The Schwarz Group, which owns the German discounters Lidl and Kaufland, is facing a sharp increase in the number of cyber attacks. Security solutions based on artificial intelligence (AI) are intended to provide more security. 

"Before the war in Ukraine, the Schwarz Group had around 3,500 attacks a day. Now it's 350,000 a day, mainly from Russia," explained Group CEO Gerd Chrzanowski.

In response, the Schwarz Group is working with the US company ServiceNow to develop security solutions based on artificial intelligence. These solutions are also to be made available to other companies.

We compete in products such as eggs, bananas and milk, but not in cyber security. We need to work together here.

Gerd Chrzanowski in der „Süddeutschen Zeitung“ (Montagausgabe)

"An attack on one affects all"
 "We compete on products such as eggs, bananas and milk, but not on cyber security. We have to work together. An attack on one of us affects us all."

"The goal is digital sovereignty"
The aim is to achieve "digital sovereignty", particularly with regard to US providers. "There is data that should not be stored on servers abroad." The Group is also planning a new AI platform for the European retail sector by 2025, which will help to reduce queues at checkouts, among other things.