Could corporate spying be a larger threat to business security than cyber attacks? Bruce Wimmer, senior director at G4S Corporate Risk Services writes.
When a fresh-faced graduate reported promptly one morning for his first day at a financial institution, he offered up a passport as identification. Reception staff checked his name off a list of other new recruits and issued him with a building pass to join scheduled induction sessions. He never attended the meetings, and instead swept through the company’s offices, stealing as much business critical information as he could before anyone became aware of the breach.
The real new starter arrived an hour later with a genuine passport in hand. The competitor’s espionage agents had targeted him via social media posts, firstly bragging about his new job and secondly identifying his start date and office location. They sent him a fake letter, changing the arrangements for his first day and by the time he arrived, the spy had left the premises unnoticed, taking with him a substantial amount of commercially sensitive information in the form of paperwork, and the laptops of two members of the senior management team. At the time of the incident, both managers had been away from their desks, called to bogus meetings. The breach was significant and damaging to the organisation, amounting to the theft of detailed strategic plans and financial information.
For the full article visit the G4S website.
About the author
Bruce Wimmer is a senior director in G4S Corporate Risk Services and leader of the counter business espionage programmes. Prior to joining G4S, Bruce had a career with the US military in intelligence and investigative services. He has more than 40 years’ experience in investigations and security consulting.
This piece was first published by CityAM on Tuesday, February 14, 2017.
