Evonik: To the biscuit tins!

MOBILE, Ala. -- Evonik Industries AG, the German chemical giant that operates a 680-worker plant in Theodore, has a new weapon in the war against corporate espionage.

Biscuit tins.

According to an Agence France Presse report, executives for the Essen-based company, which is planning a stock offering sometime in the next year, have taken to putting their cell phones inside biscuit tins during meetings to make sure they aren't being hacked and turned into microphones for corporate spies.

From the report:

"Experts have told us that mobile phones are being eavesdropped on more and more, even when they are switched off," Alexandra Boy, spokeswoman for Essen-based speciality chemicals maker Evonik, told AFP.

"The measure applies mostly when sensitive issues are being discussed, for the most part in research and development," she said, confirming a report in business weekly Wirtschaftswoche.

Biscuit tins have a so-called Farraday cage effect, she said, blocking out electromagnetic radiation and therefore preventing people from hacking into mobile phones, not only for calls but also to get hold of emails.