In the field of competitive intelligence, three types of information are generally distinguished: white information, gray information, and black information. White information is publicly available and accessible to everyone without restriction. Gray information, on the other hand, requires some investigation to obtain and is not immediately accessible. Finally, black information is obtained illegally, often through espionage or hacking. This classification and differentiation of information in the field of competitive intelligence allows professionals to better understand the nature and origin of the data they access.