Counter-intelligence

PricewaterhouseCoopers have estimated that in 1999 the theft of proprietary information cost Fortune 1000 companies $45 billion.1 The losses caused by successful competitive intelligence could be many times this figure since competitive intelligence is much more widely practised than theft. Counter-intelligence programmes represent a partial but essential defence against competitive intelligence and they should not be confused with counter-espionage. The civilian version of counter-espionage is used to counter the threat to businesses arising from: Industrial espionage using conventional and electronic techniquesBribery of staffExtortionKidnapping of key executivesSabotage