Friday, December 23, 2011

North American Business Espionage Warnings

US - House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) said computer hacking aimed at stealing business secrets has "reached an intolerable level, and it's getting worse," in an interview with ABC News on Wednesday night.

Rogers made the comments after The Wall Street Journal reported that Chinese hackers had gained access to the computers of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

He introduced a bill last month that would make it easier for companies to share information with the government about threats and cyberattacks. (more)


Canada - Corporate espionage - ranging from Dumpster diving for industrial secrets to plying vulnerable employees of competitors with booze, drugs and sex in exchange for information - is a common tactic in Canada for companies to get ahead, says a former CSIS spy and private investigator.

Tuesday, at the Canadian Industrial Security Conference, Ron Myles said Canadian companies often perceive corporate spying and infiltration as something out of Hollywood and insists the number of cases that are exposed is but a mere fraction of the problem in this country.

"I don't think even the tip of the iceberg is showing. (Corporate espionage) is more prevalent in small-and medium-sized companies because they're often just starting up and don't have massive (security) budgets." (more) (video)