Social engineering hacks are becoming increasingly common and valued among hackers, as they offer direct access to valuable company information. These types of hacks are often sold as services on the dark web and are being utilized by both large and small organizations.
The right thing to do if a company is involved in criminal activities is to investigate and put a stop to them, rather than spying on journalists and activists trying to expose those crimes, because executives see their companies as worth fighting for and protecting. However, research organizations like North Life Lock and Citizen Lab have limited capabilities in investigating corporations.
Financial allegations against Wirecard were denied by the company, until it became clear that there were financial management problems. Meanwhile, Exxon Mobil claimed it was not involved with the hacking group identified in a Citizen Lab report.