World War III is an economic war. Information is where the money is. Information theft is easy, safe, and lucrative. Eavesdropping laws are difficult to enforce. Advancements in electronics and optoelectronics have made communications interception easy and cheap.
Competition is now global.
There are more competitors than ever before. Business ethics are not what they used to be. In short, the personal reputation and accountability plumb lines only stretch so far. The pressure is on as never before, and in a crowded business community the haze of anonymity cloaks many kinds of questionable practices. Think about your location for a minute.