Corporate espionage refers to the practice of secretly gathering confidential information from a business to gain a competitive advantage. This can involve stealing trade secrets, financial data, or proprietary technology. Companies may engage in espionage to learn about their rivals' strategies, products, or market plans. Methods of corporate espionage can include hacking into computer systems, infiltrating organizations with undercover agents, or using social engineering techniques to manipulate employees. While it can provide short-term benefits, corporate espionage is illegal and can lead to severe legal consequences and damage to a company's reputation.