Spy vs. Spy: Your Computer Training Can Combat Corporate Espionage

Corporate espionage is a widespread problem, with offenses ranging from hacking computer systems to old-fashioned office thefts. Many of these cases are inside jobs, as seen in a recent case in which a Coca-Cola employee attempted to sell company secrets to Pepsi. While corporate spies target everything from soda recipes to paper towel technology, the high tech industry is especially vulnerable. Silicon Valley is a high-profile target, with over 7,000 technology-based companies.

Combating Corporate Espionage

In 2001, the US Department of Justice created the Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property (CHIP) Unit, based on a model developed near Silicon Valley. Working with the FBI and other agencies, CHIP units fight computer intrusions, copyright violations, and the theft of trade secrets. The success of the CHIP program has led to the establishment of units in major cities across the country.

A Career Fighting Computer Crime

An online degree in information technology could provide you with the skills you need to identify and track the signs of corporate espionage. Government agencies also look for legal professionals with computer training to help prosecute corporate spies. With computer training or an online degree in information technology, you could help devise new strategies for fighting computer crime.

Sources
"Corporate Espionage is Big Global Business," ABC News
""The Spies in the Next Cube," San Francisco Chronicle
United States Department of Justice