NSA
Fort Meade spooks
NSA stands for the National Security Agency, the U.S. intelligence organization responsible for signals intelligence and cybersecurity.
The NSA monitors global communications and conducts code-breaking operations: The NSA intercepts millions of phone calls daily.
In personal ads and dating contexts, NSA means "no strings attached"—casual encounters without commitment: looking for NSA fun.
NSA mass surveillance program
- wiretappingCovert phone surveillance
- metadataDescriptive information about content
- SIGINTIntelligence from communications intercepts
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
eavesdropping · interception · FISA · warrant · backdoor · dragnet · tracking
Power to act
- counterterrorismCombating organized political violence
- counterintelligenceDefense against enemy espionage
- analysisMethodical study of parts
- briefingConcise information session
director · analysts · contractors · clearance · top-secret · classified · CIA · FBI
Converting data into code
- decryptionConverting ciphertext to plaintext
- cipherHidden writing system
- codebreakingSolving secret communications
- cryptanalysisStudy of breaking ciphers
algorithm · Enigma · signals · intercepts · Bletchley · classified · cryptologic · code
NSA contractor turned fugitive
- whistleblowerInsider who reports misconduct
- leaksUnwanted fluid escapes
- privacyFreedom from observation
- civil-libertiesPersonal rights limiting government
unconstitutional · scandal · transparency · accountability · oversight · ACLU · reform · debate
Restricted from disclosure
- redactedOfficially removed from view
- compartmentalizedDivided into isolated sections
- need-to-knowAccess limited by necessity
- top-secretMaximum security clearance level
non-disclosure · covert · confidential · sealed · restricted · opaque · undisclosed · hidden
PRISM
NSA mass surveillance program
- wiretappingCovert phone surveillance
- metadataDescriptive information about content
- SIGINTIntelligence from communications intercepts
monitoring · eavesdropping · interception · FISA · warrant · backdoor · dragnet · tracking
agency
Power to act
- counterterrorismCombating organized political violence
- counterintelligenceDefense against enemy espionage
- analysisMethodical study of parts
briefing · director · analysts · contractors · clearance · top-secret · classified · CIA · FBI · assets
encryption
Converting data into code
- decryptionConverting ciphertext to plaintext
- cipherHidden writing system
- codebreakingSolving secret communications
cryptanalysis · algorithm · Enigma · signals · intercepts · Bletchley · classified · cryptologic · code · cybersecurity
Snowden
NSA contractor turned fugitive
- whistleblowerInsider who reports misconduct
- leaksUnwanted fluid escapes
- privacyFreedom from observation
civil-liberties · unconstitutional · scandal · transparency · accountability · oversight · ACLU · reform · debate · trust
classified
Restricted from disclosure
- redactedOfficially removed from view
- compartmentalizedDivided into isolated sections
- need-to-knowAccess limited by necessity
top-secret · non-disclosure · covert · confidential · sealed · restricted · opaque · undisclosed · hidden · FOIA
- intelligence oversightCIA, FBI, DNI, intelligence agencies, intelligence community
- NSAsignals intelligence, SIGINT, cryptanalysis, codebreaking, electronic surveillance
- agenciesOgilvy, FDA, travel agency, employment agency, news agency
- surveillance lawwiretap, FISA, phone tap, electronic surveillance, eavesdropping
- espionagespy, spies, double agent, double agents, spying
- federal governmentexecutive branch, judicial branch, legislative branch, agencies, bureaus
NSAHUMINT
Intelligence from people
human intelligence · CIA · spies · case officers · covert action
NSAACLU
Advocacy group for constitutional protections
EFF · personal privacy · civil liberties · Fourth Amendment · encryption
NSAWikiLeaks
Transparency organization publishing leaks
transparency · FOIA · open government · public disclosure · investigative journalism
- NSA surveillanceIntelligence agency data collection
- NSA leaksUnauthorized disclosure of surveillance secrets
- NSA spyingCovert government wiretapping