TITLE:
Hacked by Bits and Pieces: What Can We Learn from an Example of Corporate Espionage?
AUTHORS:
Jack Schafer, Marvin Karlins
KEYWORDS:
Cyber Security, Hacking, Social Engineering, Scams, Corporate Espionage
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Information Security,
Vol.12 No.3,
July
9,
2021
ABSTRACT: Information security often involves the development and application of sophisticated software to protect sensitive
information stored in corporate computers. Yet, in this example of
corporate espionage, a clever person, a cellphone and some readily available
software were all it took to crack through one company’s advanced security
barriers. By reading this article it is hoped that employees at all levels of
an organization’s hierarchy will become more aware of—and recognize—how: 1)
bits and pieces of seemingly harmless and easy-to-acquire information can be
used for sinister purposes; 2) building rapport and trust with a person can
make them more likely to become unknowing co-conspirators in a devious
undertaking; and 3) how one must be constantly alert not to give out information
without carefully considering the authenticity and justification of the source
requesting it.