HUMINT
Spy-gathered information gathering
HUMINT is intelligence gathered from human sources rather than electronic surveillance or satellite imagery.
The term is military and intelligence jargon, contrasting with SIGINT (signals intelligence) and IMINT (imagery intelligence).
HUMINT involves spies, informants, interrogations, and diplomatic contacts: The agency's HUMINT assets in the region had gone silent.
Concealed from authorities
- covertIntentionally concealed
- undercoverSecretly engaged in espionage
- handlerOne who manages something
- operativeCovert field agent
network · cell · station · debriefing · tasking · collection · reporting · dissemination
One who provides intelligence
- assetItem of value owned
- sourcePoint of origin
- contactCommunication or physical touch
- moleSubterranean insectivore
defector · walk-in · sleeper · recruit · insider · tipster · collaborator · turncoat
Formal questioning session
- interrogationFormal, probing examination
- debriefingQuestioning following an operation
- rapportHarmonious mutual connection
- trustConfidence in another
empathy · persuasion · manipulation · conversation · questioning · body-language · pretext · confidence-building
Methods of secret agents
- fieldworkResearch conducted on location
- dead-dropCovert message transfer location
- exfiltrationCovert withdrawal of people/data
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
tradecraft · alias · legend · surveillance · countersurveillance · cutout · communication · signaling
Defense against enemy espionage
- counterespionageBlocking enemy surveillance efforts
- counterspyOne who thwarts espionage
- vettingEvaluating suitability through investigation
- polygraphPhysiological response recorder
disinformation · deception · false-flag · dangle · provocation · penetration
clandestine
Concealed from authorities
- covertIntentionally concealed
- undercoverSecretly engaged in espionage
- handlerOne who manages something
operative · network · cell · station · debriefing · tasking · collection · reporting · dissemination · compartmentalization
informant
One who provides intelligence
mole · defector · walk-in · sleeper · recruit · insider · tipster · collaborator · turncoat · whistleblower
interview
Formal questioning session
- interrogationFormal, probing examination
- debriefingQuestioning following an operation
- rapportHarmonious mutual connection
trust · empathy · persuasion · manipulation · conversation · questioning · body-language · pretext · confidence-building
spycraft
Methods of secret agents
- fieldworkResearch conducted on location
- dead-dropCovert message transfer location
- exfiltrationCovert withdrawal of people/data
infiltration · tradecraft · alias · legend · surveillance · countersurveillance · cutout · communication · signaling · disguise
counterintelligence
Defense against enemy espionage
- counterespionageBlocking enemy surveillance efforts
- counterspyOne who thwarts espionage
- vettingEvaluating suitability through investigation
polygraph · disinformation · deception · false-flag · dangle · provocation · penetration
CIA
U.S. foreign intelligence service
HUMINTSIGINT
Intelligence from communications intercepts
satellite imagery · signals intelligence · cyber intelligence · wiretapping · remote sensing
- feigned humilityFake self-effacement
- public humiliationDeliberate degradation before witnesses
- online humiliationPublic degradation via internet
- false humilityPerformed meekness for approval
- intellectual humilityAwareness of cognitive fallibility
- epistemic humilityAwareness of one's ignorance