New Study Shows Unhappy Workers Steal Trade Secrets

[mea culpa <jericho () DIMENSIONAL COM>]

http://www.apbnews.com/newscenter/internetcrime/2000/01/04/comptheft0104_01.html

New Study Shows Unhappy Workers Steal Trade Secrets
Jan. 4, 2000
By David Noack

NEW YORK (APBnews.com) -- The greatest security threat to companies'
computer systems comes from disgruntled employees stealing confidential
information and trade secrets, according to a new study on cyber-security.

The survey, conducted by Michael G. Kessler & Associates Ltd., a New
York-based security firm, found that 35 percent of the theft of
proprietary information is perpetrated by discontented employees. Outside
hackers steal secrets 28 percent of the time; other U.S. companies 18
percent; foreign corporations 11 percent and foreign governments, 8
percent. The remaining 10 percent, according to the study, are listed as
miscellaneous crimes.

The financial losses caused by these cyber break-ins totaled $42 million
last year, which is up more than 100 percent from the 1997 figure of $20
million.

'No such thing as a hacker's holiday'

"Computer crime is much more complex than bugs and viruses," said
President and CEO Michael G. Kessler. "Y2K enlightened business owners to
pitfalls in their systems, but there must also be heightened awareness of
the growing number and variety of computer security breaches that can
weaken a company's balance sheet."

The survey was done over the last six months, and written questions were
given to 300 of Kessler's clients and other companies. He said that
disgruntled employees could be capable of taking business records, trade
secrets and payroll information.

"It doesn't take a new millennium for corporate computer piracy to occur,"
said Kessler. "There's no such thing as a hacker's holiday. Internet
invasions increase with growing computer and Internet popularity. Codes
can be cracked; systems will be sabotaged. Hacking is a reality, and CEOs
who have turned a deaf ear to its existence will be shocked when it
happens to their allegedly fail-safe network."

[snip...]

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