this post was submitted on 25 Oct 2025
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The spy who shagged me?

Mail-order spies: Tech companies employ some of the most robust network security to protect against IP theft. However, no amount of network security protects against theft from within. While corporate espionage is largely digital these days, good old-fashioned infiltration is still in use. China and Russia increasingly use sexual honeypots to compromise employees and gain access to sensitive technology.

According to sources speaking with UK newspaper The Times, foreign operatives from China and Russia are increasingly using "sex warfare" to target American tech professionals. The tactic involves sending attractive women to seduce employees, gain access to trade secrets, and sometimes even marry and have children with their targets. [...]

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[–] Lilmookieesquire@beehaw.org 19 points 1 week ago (1 children)

It’s nice this is being recognized, this has been happening since ww2 with American engineers being entertained in Japan. The hostesses would be educated in airplane technological jargon and eavesdrop on their engineering conversations when they were drunk etc.

Here’s something similar, Chinese hostesses in Japan spying etc: https://www.tokyoreporter.com/japan/kyoto/chinese-hostess-club-kyoto-industrial-espionage-customers-leak-information/

Honeypot stuff is real

[–] kent_eh@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

this has been happening since ww2

It's a lot older than that.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mata_Hari , for example.

But she is even a relatively modern example of the femme fatale

[–] Lilmookieesquire@beehaw.org 2 points 1 week ago

Ya, the ol’ honeypot is probably pre-history. :) I just didn’t want anyone to think it was uniquely new to engineering.

[–] usrtrv@sh.itjust.works 16 points 1 week ago (1 children)

This is just a honey trap. Why pretend it's new?

[–] wizardbeard@lemmy.dbzer0.com 21 points 1 week ago

Because Silicon Valley and Bay Area tech bros would never accept that they're falling for one of the oldest forms of espionage.

[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 15 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Im at a loss. Reading the title I was thinking. Well maybe don't hire idiots. But I mean if my wife married me just to peek at my laptop if I left it on or go through my bag. I mean I likely would fall for that. Oh its the old marry me and have some kids sting. Oldest trick in the book.

Oh its the old marry me and have some kids sting. Oldest trick in the book.

Like Talor Tominsons comedy bit:

"Oh, are you going to stay loyally by my side for a lifetime and die of old age holding hands in matching medical beds? Is that your dating move?!"

[–] ohlaph@lemmy.world 11 points 1 week ago

Oh, hello step developer. My finger is caught in the CPU.