An information leak can happen in many ways: email attachments sent to the wrong recipients, product material posted online, board-level discussions shared with the media, and more. Even if the leaking of confidential data isn’t malicious, it can be very damaging to your business. It is important to have a rigorous policy in place, train employees in a professional secrecy ethic that spans both protection and transparency goals, and apply severe administrative or criminal sanctions for violations.

The most damaging leaks can reveal sensitive company data to a wide audience, and can be difficult or impossible to contain. The recent discovery of US government documents on social media platforms has rocked the intelligence world.

In a case such as this, an investigator can help to identify the source and halt the flow of information before it is too late. Investigators can examine access logs, device behavior, email and file permissions, digital traces, and communication metadata to determine the origin of the leak. They may also review printer logs and local devices, and use forensic tools to detect proxy or VPN usage, deleted files, and offline access methods.

The leaked documents have revealed details of the war in Ukraine, intelligence on US allies like South Korea and Israel, as well as information about Russia’s military capabilities – including the extent to which the US has penetrated Russian decision making circles. These revelations will undoubtedly cause friction between allies, as well as remind Russia of the extent to which the US spy network has penetrated its strategic interests in Ukraine.