Homework Responses Wk 2

Hello Everyone,

Business spies are often former government agents from agencies like the Central Intelligence Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigations who have left the public sector and entered the private sector to practice their trade secrets from which they have learned from their “spy schools”. Not all business spies try to illegally acquire information and data from competitors. They sometimes use their skills to test their employer. Nevertheless, the four main skills they have acquired and homed in on are:

· Cultural Adaptation – This is where the phrase “going gray” means. It is the ability to blend in to not just the surroundings, but with the people without arousing any suspicion.

· Keen Observations – Spies ultimate goal is to acquire information. They must be able to collect, evaluate, and disseminate sensitive information.

· Interpersonal Skills – The gift of gab needs to be controlled in a way to seem inviting yet direct and still be able to turn it off and turn on their ears. They also must have the ability to communicate with all walks of life.

· Self-Reliance – Self-explanatory. They need to rely on themselves to do it all once they cross the threshold. They may need to be computer savvy and have the ability to download data off the victim’s server.  

A particularly interesting case of business espionage is one that involved Hewlett-Packard (HP). In 2006 The HP Chairwoman learned of a leak coming from the board of directors. She had hired multiple private investigation (PI) agencies to look in on the board members. At the time, one of the agencies used a method that is not totally illegal but is ethical called pretexting. Pretexting is a misrepresentation of oneself to gain access into someone else’s information. Telephone Records and Privacy Protection Act of 2006 made pretexting for phone records a federal offense but came in affect in 2007. This PI agency used company information given to them to obtain phone records of directors. The Chief Ethics Officer and Chairwoman were both charged along with four PIs with four felonies under California Penal Code. One former PI was had pleaded guilty Federal court.

There are motivating factors for spies to do what they do. These acronyms are M.I.C.E. and C.R.I.M.E.

· Money – Most people have a price to do spy work, but it is usually a precursor to something else.

· Ideology – On one hand, if the spy has some type of moral, ethical, or ideological disagreement with who their victim will be it makes it easier for them to conduct the illegal act. On the other hand, if they spy has more of a connection with who they are going to spy for it may persuade them to conduct the illegal act.

· Compromise/Coercion – The spy could have been pushed to do the spy by having threats of releasing dirt that was dug up on them rather personal or professional. A more ominous coercion could be the threat of their safety or of someone close to them.

· Ego – As the spy’s wealth grows, so does their ego. Spies sometimes have that longing to be recognized more than what they are.

The C.R.I.M.E. acronym is the same as M.I.C.E. just that it adds revenge. The spy may be a disgruntled employee who feels so much negativity and anger towards their employer for reasons not limited to inadequate appreciation, failed promotions, poor pay, or other personal views. The spy may seek revenge and release data and/or information to a competitor. If the competitor is another nation, the spy usually still views themselves as patriotic without the intention to do harm on their own nation.

Tony

Reference

Ray, L. (n.d.). What Are Qualities That Spies Have? Chron.  https://work.chron.com/qualities-spies-have-11003.html

Fruhlinger J. (2018). What is corporate espionage? Inside the murky world of private spying. CSO Online.  https://www.csoonline.com/article/3285726/what-is-corporate-espionage-inside-the-murky-world-of-private-spying.html#:~:text=Corporate%20espionage%20%E2%80%94%20sometimes%20also%20called,to%20get%20information%20about%20another .

Krazit, T. (2006). FAQ: The HP 'pretexting' scandal. ZD Net.  https://www.zdnet.com/article/faq-the-hp-pretexting-scandal/

109th U.S. Congress. (2006). H.R.4709 - Telephone Records and Privacy Protection Act of 2006. Congress.  https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/house-bill/4709

D’Agati, C. (2019). Want to Fight Insider Threats? Just Look for the MICE. Clearance Jobs.  https://news.clearancejobs.com/2019/08/02/want-to-fight-insider-threats-just-look-for-the-mice/#:~:text=MICE%20stands%20for%20%E2%80%9CMoney%2C%20Ideology,summarizes%20the%20motives%20of%20turncoats .

Charney, D., Irvin, J. (2016). The Psychology of Espionage. Association of Former Intelligence Officers.  https://www.afio.com/publications/CHARNEY_and_IRVIN_Psychology_of_Espionage_from_AFIO_INTEL_SPRING2016_Vol22_no1.pdf

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