Company Corporate Spying Information Business Make Dishonest B

Corporate spying, which is sometimes called "industrial espionage," happens when companies spy on each other to get information that can help their business make more money and/or make their competitors "go out of business" (have to close a business because it isn't making enough money). Some "basic" (very simple) corporate spying is "common" (not unusual). But there are some dishonest uses of corporate spying, too, that hopefully don't happen very often.

"Blackmail" is an example of a dishonest use of corporate spying. Blackmail happens when Company A learns something bad about Company B. Then Company A "threatens" (says that it will do something bad) Company B, saying that it will share that information with the government or customers unless Company B agrees to do something that will "benefit" (do something good for) Company A. For example, if Company A finds out that Company B is "damaging" (hurting) the environment, it might threaten to tell Company B's customers about it unless Company B agrees to pay Company A one million dollars.

Another dishonest use of corporate spying is "sabotage," where someone "purposefully" (intentionally, or meaning to do something) destroys something that belongs to another company. Sabotage could happen if a person destroys a company's "equipment" (the machines and tools used to make things) or products. Sabotage could be as simple as cutting electrical "wires" (long, thin pieces of cable covered with plastic that carry energy and information between machines) in a factory.

"Spyware" is a newer type of corporate spying. Spyware is "software" (a computer program) that "runs" (operates) secretly on a person's computer without that person knowing it. The spyware might find secret information and copy it, sending it back to the person or company that created the spyware.