Contents
Short answer
Depending on the plan, personal cyber insurance can include legal expenses cover, practical help (assistance) and reimbursement of certain financial losses from trouble online. Products differ widely – some pay nothing for online fraud, or only up to a partial amount. Whether it makes sense for you depends on what you already have insured and which benefits matter to you.
What personal cyber insurance can include
Legal expenses
Lawyer and court costs for certain internet-related disputes, such as online purchases or violations of personal rights – depending on plan and area of cover.
Assistance
Practical help rather than money: for example an initial phone consultation, psychological support with cyberbullying or help removing damaging content. The German Insurance Association (GDV) has published non-binding model clauses for this.
Own losses
In some products, reimbursement of your own financial losses, for example after identity misuse, in online banking or with online shopping fraud – usually only up to set partial amounts.
Data recovery and devices
Some plans cover the cost of recovering data after malware or include device cover. This is not standard.
Liability and prevention
Some include third-party claims, for example if you unintentionally spread malware. Some providers add prevention services such as scanning the internet for your data.
Personal policies are not all the same
- Legal-expenses-focused plans: mainly lawyer and court costs
- Assistance plans: mainly practical help and advice
- Cyber add-ons within household contents, liability or legal expenses policies
- Standalone cyber policies with several areas of cover
- This is a market description for orientation, not a fixed legal classification. Stiftung Warentest found large differences in benefits and structure across the 20 policies it examined.
What to check in the conditions
- 1
Sum insured
Up to what amount is paid overall – per case and per year?
- 2
Sub-limits
Partial limits for specific areas, such as online fraud, are often much lower than the overall sum.
- 3
Excess and waiting period
What do you pay yourself, and from when does cover apply?
- 4
Insured persons
Just you or the whole household? That depends on the plan.
- 5
Known losses
Incidents that occurred or were known before the start of the contract are usually not covered.
- 6
Reporting duties and conditions
Deadlines for reporting, a police report or security measures may be preconditions.
- 7
Exclusions
What is expressly not covered? Read this part carefully.
- 8
Consent before costs
Some benefits only apply if the insurer agrees in advance, for example before you instruct a lawyer.
- 9
Existing cover
Check whether household contents, liability or legal expenses policies already include cyber benefits.
Step by step
- 01
Check existing contracts
See whether your household contents, liability or legal expenses insurance already includes cyber benefits. Double cover isn’t always needed.
- 02
Consider your own use
How much do you use online banking and online shopping? Do you sell privately on platforms?
- 03
Think about your household
Are several family members active online, such as children on social networks? Then who is co-insured matters.
- 04
Decide which benefits matter
Are legal expenses, practical help or reimbursement of own losses most important to you? That determines which type of product fits.
- 05
Compare conditions
Compare not just the premium but sub-limits, conditions and exclusions.
When can cyber insurance make sense?
Orientation, not advice to buy
Cyberschutz.io gives no individual recommendation. The following questions help you assess your own needs.
Questions to ask yourself
Do I use online banking and online shopping regularly? Are several people in the household affected? Do I already have legal expenses, household contents or liability cover with cyber benefits? Would legal or assistance benefits be relevant to me? Which of my own losses do I want covered?
What insurance doesn’t replace
Prevention such as unique passwords, two-factor sign-in, updates and backups remains important – with or without insurance.
Checklist
- I’ve checked whether existing contracts already include cyber benefits.
- I know the overall sum and the sub-limits of the main areas.
- I know who in the household is co-insured.
- I know the waiting period, excess and reporting duties.
- I’ve read the exclusions.
Common mistakes
- Mistaking the legal expenses limit for the amount paid out after fraud.
- Assuming every cyber policy includes all the benefits listed above.
- Comparing only the premium, not the conditions.
- Taking out a policy to cover a loss that has already happened.
- Treating insurance as a substitute for prevention.
Frequently asked questions
Does cyber insurance pay for phishing?
Some plans reimburse losses from identity misuse such as phishing up to a partial amount; others only offer legal cover or advice. The conditions decide.
Is online banking always covered?
No. Whether and up to what amount online banking losses are reimbursed depends on the plan. Conditions and sub-limits often apply.
Do I need it in addition to household contents insurance?
It depends. Some household contents or legal expenses policies already include cyber add-ons. Check what you have first.
What does sub-limit mean?
A maximum for a specific area of cover within the overall sum. It can be much lower than the overall sum.
Will insurance pay for a loss from last week?
Usually not. Cover generally applies only to cases after the start of the contract and, if applicable, after a waiting period.
Sources
- Stiftung Warentest – Cyberversicherung im Vergleich (17.04.2024)
- Stiftung Warentest – Cyberversicherung im Vergleich: So haben wir getestet
- GDV – Unverbindliche Musterbausteine Cyber-Assistanceleistungen (Stand 12/2019)
Checked on 7 October 2026.
This content is for general guidance only and does not replace individual insurance advice, legal advice or a technical security review. What counts are the relevant policy conditions, the policy schedule and the specific case.