counter-espionage
Thwarting foreign agents
Counter-espionage is the activity of detecting and thwarting espionage by foreign agents or hostile intelligence services.
Where espionage gathers secrets, counter-espionage protects them—identifying spies, feeding them false information, or turning them into double agents.
The agency's counter-espionage unit uncovered a mole in the defense ministry.
Evaluating suitability through investigation
- compartmentalizationDivision into distinct sections
- need-to-knowAccess limited by necessity
- polygraphPhysiological response recorder
- debriefingQuestioning following an operation
Intentional deceptive falsehoods
- misdirectionIntentional focus manipulation
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
- false-flagAttack disguised as another's
- misinformationFalse data spread unintentionally
Hidden listening device
- eavesdroppingSecretly listening to others
- interceptionSeizing something in transit
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
- trackingMonitoring location over time
shadowing · tailing · reconnaissance · debugging · countersurveillance
Covert message transfer location
- handlerOne who manages something
- assetItem of value owned
- exfiltrationCovert withdrawal of people/data
- honey-trapSeduction-based intelligence scheme
legend · cutout · cipher · decryption · spycatcher · burned · walk-in · dangle
vetting
Evaluating suitability through investigation
- compartmentalizationDivision into distinct sections
- need-to-knowAccess limited by necessity
- polygraphPhysiological response recorder
disinformation
Intentional deceptive falsehoods
- misdirectionIntentional focus manipulation
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
- false-flagAttack disguised as another's
wiretap
Hidden listening device
- eavesdroppingSecretly listening to others
- interceptionSeizing something in transit
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
tracking · shadowing · tailing · reconnaissance · debugging · countersurveillance
encryption
Converting data into code
- firewallNetwork access control system
dead-drop
Covert message transfer location
- handlerOne who manages something
- assetItem of value owned
- exfiltrationCovert withdrawal of people/data
honey-trap · legend · cutout · cipher · decryption · spycatcher · burned · walk-in · dangle · backstopping
counter-espionageespionage
Covert intelligence gathering
spying · intelligence gathering · foreign intelligence · covert operations · infiltration
counter-espionagetransparency
State of being see-through
public disclosure · freedom of information · whistleblowing · declassification
counter-espionageespionage
Covert intelligence gathering
subversion · infiltration · security breach · information theft · intelligence leaks
counter, espionage, counters, countered, countering, counteract, counterattack, counterbalance, counterfeit