A Samsung employee is suspected by the Korean secret services of having attempted to steal and send confidential documents to foreign powers or actors. No smartphone or refrigerator here, but much more sensitive secrets: the employee works for the foundry department (Foundry Business Department) of the division Device Solutions (DS), which notably includes semiconductor activities. However, the activities of DS weigh no less than 60% of the profits of the company!
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The employee, whose name is kept secret for the time being, would have taken advantage of teleworking to access, view or even film confidential documents from his personal computer. It was Samsung’s document management system that played the role of Cerberus in the case. The software pointed out the strange activities of the individual to the hierarchy, which immediately contacted the National Intelligence Servicethe intelligence services of the country of the Morning Calm.
For the time being, the investigation is being done behind closed doors, and nothing has been filtered as to the possible transmission of information. Nor concerning the company and/or the country which could have been in contact with the Samsung employee. The most obvious path, however, would be China, which is still lagging far behind Taiwan (TSMC) or South Korea (Samsung) in terms of semiconductor etching finesse.
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Also see video:
While industrial espionage affects all sectors, that concerning semiconductors is extremely sensitive. The current shortage of components and cases like the “Huawei-gate” have highlighted the importance of the sovereignty of this production.
Sources: Business Korea via Tom’s Hardware USA