industrial espionage

noun

the stealing of technological or commercial research data, blueprints, plans, etc., as by a person in the hire of a competing company.

attempting to obtain trade secrets by dishonest means, as by telephone- or computer-tapping, infiltration of a competitor's workforce, etc

First recorded in 1960–65

Peter Andreas argues at Foreign Affairs that we all need to calm down a little on smuggling and industrial espionage.

At first, Stuxnet was thought to be spyware; its goal, industrial espionage.

In the U.S., he was conducting industrial espionage only: He received messages, burned them, sent information back.

When Quillan had last met Reetal Destone, a year and a half before, the taste was being satisfied in industrial espionage.

April 23, 2024inveterate

[in-vet-er-it ]

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