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Espionage awareness course

A course has been launched by Marshall International to identify whether offices are being bugged and if a bug is found, how to proceed.

Marketing director David Marshall says, espionage, as defined in the dictionary, is "the practice of spying or using spies to obtain information about the plans and activities especially of a foreign government or a competing company".

There are varying perceptions that can make the subject confusing to some, says Marshall.

"Tongue in cheek, when a competitor spies on you it is called industrial espionage; when you spy on your competitor it is called business intelligence."

The course covers methods used for gathering information, and explains how bugs can be hidden in boardrooms, offices, the telephone system, or telephone cabling.

"Knowing where or who might be bugging you is usually the difficult part. The course explains how bugs can be detected and the type of electronic equipment that can be used," he says.

Marshall then covers protecting confidential information, the use of a cellphone jammer and other bug detection devices.

Suggestions are offered on keeping employees honest. Employee contracts should have a clause that makes leaking information an offence and justification for dismissal.

The viability of polygraph testing is discussed and the importance of staff education.

The course then covers the general rule that 10% of staff are completely honest and represent no risk at all, 10% are inclined to be dishonest and represent a risk and the remaining 80% could be swayed one way or another.

Delegates cover the law and when intelligence gathering is legal, such as examining corporate publications, websites and patent filings, taking apart competitor's products, studying the trade press and hiring rival's former employees. It also covers when intelligence gathering is illegal and the steps that can be taken.

For more information contact David Marshall, Marshall International, +27 (01) 11 622 3660, [email protected]

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