The newest aspect of industrial espionage : Cyber threats from UAVs to non-state actors

Abstract

The crime of industrial espionage to obtain trade secrets is as old as the dawn of commerce. With the development of modern technology, the techniques for obtaining secrets, or in modern terms, data, have been constantly evolving. With the advent of drones on the market, physical and cyber-attacks against critical infrastructure and non-state actors have increased significantly. The relative ease of modification of UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) has led to the emergence of spy vehicles capable of acquiring sensitive data without the ground controller entering the area. Critical infrastructure is protected at the state level, with military and/or national security at the global level, but non-state actors are vulnerable to attack. The aim of this paper is to show how non-state actors are affected by the threat and what options they have to defend themselves. Whether EEA countries are threatened by this form of espionage.