Industrial espionage and intellectual property theft continue to rise, as shown by DTEX i³ investigations conducted in 2023 involving intentional insider activity. Nearly one‑third of malicious insider cases involved anomalous reconnaissance behavior, while others showed repeated research into key people, authors, or crown‑jewel topics. Some insiders researched corporate security controls or tested them by sending harmless data through unapproved channels. Although only a small percentage actively bypassed controls, most relied on existing access rather than technical evasion. A significant portion of sophisticated insiders attempted to conceal their actions, underscoring that IP theft often involves subtle, deliberate behavior rather than overt system compromise.

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