counterspying
Detecting foreign agents
Counterspying is the activity of detecting and thwarting enemy spies—espionage directed against espionage.
Intelligence agencies engage in counterspying to protect secrets and identify foreign operatives: The agency's counterspying efforts uncovered a mole in the department.
The term emphasizes active opposition rather than mere defensive security.
Subterranean insectivore
- handlerOne who manages something
- assetItem of value owned
- dead-dropCovert message transfer location
- exfiltrationCovert withdrawal of people/data
debrief · turncoat · defector · operative · informant · plant · recruitment · cover
Concealed from authorities
- covertIntentionally concealed
- undercoverSecretly engaged in espionage
- stealthSecret, undetected movement
- cloak-and-daggerInvolving secret intrigue
surreptitious · hidden · concealment · compartmentalized · need-to-know · classified · top-secret · redacted
U.S. foreign intelligence service
- FBIU.S. domestic intelligence agency
- MI5British domestic intelligence agency
- MI6UK espionage agency
- MossadIsraeli espionage service
NSA · spymaster · analyst · interagency
Systematic observation of subjects
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
- observationAttentive watching or remark
- trackingMonitoring location over time
- eavesdroppingSecretly listening to others
wiretapping · bugging · tapping · shadowing · stakeout · tail · reconnaissance · scrutiny
Network access control system
- encryptionConverting data into code
- authenticationConfirming genuine identity
- malwareHarmful computer programs
- phishingFraudulent credential harvesting
backdoor · zero-day · cyberthreat · hacking · attribution
mole
Subterranean insectivore
exfiltration · debrief · turncoat · defector · operative · informant · plant · recruitment · cover · legend
clandestine
Concealed from authorities
- covertIntentionally concealed
- undercoverSecretly engaged in espionage
- stealthSecret, undetected movement
cloak-and-dagger · surreptitious · hidden · concealment · compartmentalized · need-to-know · classified · top-secret · redacted · sealed
CIA
U.S. foreign intelligence service
Mossad · NSA · spymaster · analyst · interagency
surveillance
Systematic observation of subjects
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
- observationAttentive watching or remark
- trackingMonitoring location over time
eavesdropping · wiretapping · bugging · tapping · shadowing · stakeout · tail · reconnaissance · scrutiny · vetting
firewall
Network access control system
- encryptionConverting data into code
- authenticationConfirming genuine identity
- malwareHarmful computer programs
phishing · backdoor · zero-day · cyberthreat · hacking · attribution
counterspyingspying
Secretly observing others
espionage · intelligence gathering · foreign intelligence · surveillance · reconnaissance
spying, intelligence, espionage, counterspy, counteragent, counterintelligence, counterspies, counterespionage