The well-respected Strafor (a private strategic intelligence analysis service) today characterized the eavesdropping of Porsche CEO, Wendelin Wiedeking, this way...
"The aggressor’s tactics were amateur."
Given the target – Mr. Wiedeking – and business climate around Porsche, it is unlikely amateurs would be involved. This is a high-stakes assignment. Professionals only.
Think like a professional eavesdropper. "I know they are going to look. I'll plant something they can find fairly easily; a trophy for the sweepers, a little confusing, with no clear culprit, amateurish, but plausible.
Result...
Triumphant, the TSCM team waves their 'find' and goes for a beer.
The real bugs/taps are planted deeper – much deeper.
But wait... This half-baked story should never have hit the press. Something smells.
Porsche went from 0 to 60 in filing their police complaint.
Normally, corporate eavesdropping finds are kept quiet and investigated further. When enough evidence is gathered to actually prove something, the police might be called. Publicity undermines stockholder confidence.
Amateur? Yes. But, is it the eavesdropper who should wear that moniker? If what appeared in the press is really the truth, characterize the handling of the case as amateur.
Other possibilities...
• Porsche planted the eavesdropping device themselves. A PR stunt – thinking it would somehow enhance their business bargaining position.
• The baby monitor bug was planted by the TSCM technicians to make themselves look good. (When a TSCM team presents evidence of bugs they should also volunteer for polygraph testing. My guess is they won't.)
The rest of Strafor's Porsche bugging analysis is accurate...
"The use of a security contractor to employ technical security countermeasures (TSCMs)* was not only a smart move by Wiederking in 2007 (a previous eavesdropping problem), but a wise decision for other players in today’s corporate environment. Industrial espionage is a common occurrence in the modern business world."
Espionage is foreseeable.
When was the last time you checked for bugs? ~Kevin
* This should read, "technical surveillance countermeasures (TSCM)"
