Hybrid methods of economic and industrial espionage are a combination of different criminal techniques and tactics to achieve a specific goal. These methods include both traditional physical approaches and modern digital attacks. Their aim is to bypass a company’s security measures and harvest valuable information, assets or other resources.
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Contact us for a consultationHybrid threats in the context of economic espionage
Hybrid threats in the field of economic and industrial espionage combine traditional espionage techniques with modern, often technology-based approaches. These threats are particularly dangerous because they are difficult to detect and combat.
The aim of these hybrid threats is to gain a competitive advantage, spy on technological progress or engage in economic extortion.
Elicitation is the technique of extracting information during conversations. This may happen in person, by email, on the phone or via social media.
Social engineering involves impersonating another person in order to appear legitimate and obtain passwords or other important data without raising suspicion.
Disinformation campaigns are a hybrid threat method with the aim of destabilising companies by deliberately and systematically spreading false or misleading information. These strategies include the dissemination of fake news to harm a company’s reputation or undermine trust. In addition, social media are manipulated by means of fake profiles, bots or trolls to influence public opinion. Other techniques include phishing and spear phishing, where fraudulent messages are sent to employees or customers to deceive them and steal sensitive information.
Astroturfing uses coordinated disinformation campaigns to evoke a sham impression of grassroots support for, or grassroots opposition to, a company. Fake reviews may be written and published to harm a company’s reputation or mislead consumers. These disinformation methods intend to weaken businesses through lies and deception and to undermine their operational stability.
Human targeting describes the process of singling out and approaching people who may have access to sensitive information and using elicitation techniques to obtain such information. This may take the form of chance meetings with people who share similar interests or are seeking a relationship.
Electronic espionage, also known as electronic surveillance, uses technical equipment such as listening devices (bugs), GPS trackers and hidden cameras to secretly surveil and record conversations, locations and activities. These methods are key techniques in economic espionage as they enable discreet and often remote intelligence procurement.
Cyberattacks may be combined with physical intrusion and enable hackers to infiltrate digital networks and obtain access codes or security data. Their accomplices then use such information to physically enter a company.
Phishing attacks, often in combination with social engineering, use fake emails to trick employees into disclosing confidential information. These attacks are often supplemented by phone calls or face-to-face encounters to further manipulate the target into trusting the attackers.
Insider threats, combined with external cyberattacks, occur when criminal employees use bribery or extortion to gain access to internal systems, which are then exploited by external attacks.
Financial data may be manipulated digitally or manually. Methods include the use of digital tools and manual forgery to falsify financial data, siphon off funds or launder money.
Espionage and sabotage by drones involve the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for secret information procurement and targeted disruption of infrastructure or operations. Drones use various sensors to capture high-resolution images and real-time data. This guarantees discreet surveillance and data collection from a safe distance. When the objective is sabotage, drones can cause physical destruction, disrupt communication systems or support cyberattacks. Their versatility and effectiveness make drones important tools in security and military contexts.
Traditional methods such as spying on company premises, eavesdropping on conversations or searching through waste for valuable information.
Deliberate disinformation campaigns or economic pressure can be used to gain an advantage by destabilising competitors or entire markets.
Vulnerabilities in the IT infrastructure, such as unsecured networks or outdated systems, can be exploited for data exfiltration.
