"Germany is an attractive target for state-sponsored cyberattacks," the BfV agency warned in a public advisory, citing the country's central location in the EU and NATO as well as its cutting-edge research and advanced industry.

Russia, China, Iran and North Korea are named as particularly notable perpetrators, each pursuing particular objectives.

The BfV charged that Moscow "uses cyberattacks as a geopolitical tool to gain strategic advantages and exert influence on global and national political processes", including by trying to "undermine" democracies.

"China's focus is on the theft of intellectual property and strategic knowledge, in contrast to Russia, which often aims at political destabilisation," it added in its new publication.

The Iranian government, meanwhile, is focused more on regional political goals with cyberattacks as well as trying to "spy on and intimidate opposition figures", the agency said.

Isolated North Korea, meanwhile, "primarily uses cyberattacks to enrich the regime financially and circumvent international sanctions".

Germany, Europe's top economy and a country of more than 83 million people, has raised the alarm about a growing number of attacks blamed in part on Russia -- also including drone incursions and acts of sabotage.

Police on Tuesday arrested two men suspected of plotting to sabotage German naval vessels in docks in northern Germany -- although authorities said they were still investigating who could have been behind the alleged plot.

Germany is a major military supporter of Ukraine in its war against Russia and a central hub for NATO forces on the continent, which German security officials warn make it a prime target for Russia.

Last week, Germany's parliament adopted a new law aiming to better protect critical infrastructure from attacks, sabotage, accidents and natural disasters.

The BfV warned Wednesday that "critical sectors such as energy supply, water management, transportation, logistics systems and healthcare are particularly in focus" of cyberattacks as well.

Those sectors form "the backbone of daily life and the economy," meaning that "a disruption or failure would have serious consequences".