ABSTRACT
Investment decisions within a company are normally driven by numbers. From a general point of view, risk is a combination of the consequences of a risk event with the associated probability of it happening. In other words, an expectation value for the damage occurring is determined and set against the costs of repelling the threat. If the costs for security measures are less than the expected extent of the damage, the measures are worth it – or at least that is the theory. Whoever wins the contract is financially successful and at the same time can fully exploit the pricing framework. Even companies which are not direct competitors can profit from spying, for example if they receive information relevant to the stock market before the public and practically engage in insider dealing with it. The most important recommendation is to secure proof immediately as far as possible, if necessary by external specialists and involving state bodies.
