Espionage is the covert practice of gathering confidential or sensitive information without permission, typically for strategic, political, or economic gain. While often associated with government intelligence agencies spying on other nations, espionage can also occur between corporations or organizations seeking competitive advantage. Methods may include surveillance, hacking, infiltration, or recruiting insiders. In the digital age, cyber espionage has become increasingly common, targeting data, intellectual property, and state secrets. The goal is usually to gain an advantage or influence decisions by accessing information not meant for public or rival consumption.