Cyber Espionage

Cyber espionage, also known as cyber or computer spying, is the attempt to penetrate a computer network or system for the purpose of extracting and gathering information. It is carried out by government intelligence agencies, large companies, and dispersed networks of individuals. The term may also refer to decryption of information and interception of communications signals.

Cyber espionage exploits the insecurity of data located in cyberspace: the computing devices, networks, fiber optic cables, wireless links, and other infrastructure that bring the Internet to billions of people around the world. This entry explores the prevalence of cyber espionage by first defining its forms and parameters. It discusses the effects of cyber espionage on security and geopolitics, in addition to the challenges of developing effective security systems and ...