Information Security Protection
Proprietary trade secret information is the life
blood of today’s companies. Your know how provides your company a
competitive advantage. The theft of your trade secrets can put
you out of business.
Information security is the ability to develop, maintain, store and
convey proprietary/trade secret information securely as to prevent
its acquisition by competitors.
Our programs are designed to keep your trade secrets…….yours and
secret.
Case Studies
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA
A major Pacific Rim computer manufacturer realized it was six months
behind its closest competitor regarding the development of disk drive
storage technology. Looking to rapidly catch up, company
representatives approached a U.S. consultant, who was a former
employee of their competitor. The manufacturer approached the consultant to steal the
technology it needed not realizing that the "consultant" they had
hired was actually an undercover agent. The case resulted in the
arrest and conviction of 19 individuals; many of which were not U.S.
citizens.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA
A former Silicon Valley software engineer stole plans, worth tens of
millions of dollars, for a major U.S. semiconductor manufacturer's
most competitive product. The engineer sent videotapes detailing the
manufacturing process to a rival firm, for whom he had also once
worked, which immediately alerted the victim company and the
competitor, who cooperated with the investigation. The ensuing
investigation revealed that, in his capacity as a key employee, the
engineer remotely accessed his employer's corporate databank from
his home and obtained the plans for microprocessor manufacturing. He
videotaped his monitor screen as opposed to electronically
downloading the information. He claims to have given the stolen
technology to several countries, including China, North Korea, Iraq
and Cuba. He was convicted and spent three years in federal prison.
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA
In lieu of military service in his home country, an apprentice
programmer obtained employment with an U.S. software developer. Upon
completing his obligation, he gave two weeks' notice to his U.S.
employer and began making plans for his return home. He also began
to work nights and weekends -- unusual behavior for this typical 9am
to 5pm employee. The software developer became suspicious. A
programming audit revealed that he was also downloading his
employer's source code. As it turned out, the foreign national was
packing more than clothes and souvenirs from his year in the States.
He was arrested boarding an international flight home.
SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA
Four individuals stole supercomputer technology from their employer
by copying sensitive documents, tapes and diskettes at night and on
weekends. Traveling to the former Soviet Union, they negotiated
selling the information. The suspects were identified and arrested.
The duplicated proprietary documents, valued at $15 million, was
recovered from a storage locker in Fremont, CA. Three of the four
individuals were convicted; the fourth fled the country and
subsequently died.
SAN CARLOS, CALIFORNIA
Two anonymous letters to the victim company precipitated an
investigation into the theft of blueprints for semiconductor
manufacturing equipment by individuals who, after copying the design
specs, became a successful competitor. During the investigation it
was determined that three (3) additional companies were being
victimized. With no R&D costs, nor draftsmen or engineers to employ,
they were able to undercut the victim company by 40% and made
millions of dollars in a matter of months, before the scheme was
discovered. Six perpetrators were arrested and convicted. Several of
the thieves were employees of the victims companies. The culprit
company is no longer in business.
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA
A trusted employee of a software developer stole source code from
his employer in order to start a competing company. The thief
created a new name, logo and screen design for the bogus operation
and sold copies throughout the world advertising in Dr. Dobbs
magazine. A reference buried deep in the original program -- bearing
the name of the victim company -- went unaltered, and was
subsequently discovered by a customer. The customer alerted the
victim company. Upon completing an investigation, the majority of
the pirated software was recovered and the unscrupulous employee was
arrested and convicted.
SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA
Relying on old business cards for identification, a Japanese
national represented himself as a customer and obtained confidential
information and prototypes. The subject was employed by a competitor
who used the purloined information in presentations on its competing
product. The Japanese national was arrested when he reentered the
U.S. from Japan. He was subsequently convicted and deported.
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA
An individual was selling counterfeit action figures on an internet
auction site. An
investigation ensued and resulted in the confiscation of piratical
items from the advertiser, his supplier and in the identification of
the importer. Multiple Cease and Desist orders were filed.
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