Major Israeli Computer Espionage Case
This is a fascinating story of computer espionage.
Dozens of leading companies and top private investigators were named yesterday as suspects in a massive industrial espionage investigation that local police have been conducting for the past six months.
The companies suspected of commissioning the espionage, which was carried out by planting Trojan horse software in their competitors’ computers, include the satellite television company Yes, which is suspected of spying on cable television company HOT; cell-phone companies Pelephone and Cellcom, suspected of spying on their mutual rival Partner; and Mayer, which imports Volvos and Hondas to Israel and is suspected of spying on Champion Motors, importer of Audis and Volkswagens. Spy programs were also located in the computers of major companies such as Strauss-Elite, Shekem Electric and the business daily Globes.
Read the whole story; it’s filled with interesting details. To me, the most interesting is that even though the Trojan was installed on computers at dozens of Israel’s top companies, it was discovered only because the Trojan writer also used it to spy after his ex-in-laws.
There’s a lesson here for all computer criminals.
Edited to add: Much more information here.
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Arik • May 31, 2005 8:04 AM
I have a comprehensive summary and a short list of media sources in my blog.
The most amazing thing is that it might have gone on indefinitely if it wasn’t for those meddling couple who discovered it.