countersurveillance
Detecting hidden observers
Countersurveillance is the practice of detecting, evading, or thwarting surveillance.
Intelligence operatives use countersurveillance to identify whether they're being watched or followed: She drove a circuitous route as a countersurveillance measure.
The term applies to both physical observation and electronic monitoring—sweeping for bugs, detecting hidden cameras, or identifying tracking devices.
Defense against enemy espionage
- counterespionageBlocking enemy surveillance efforts
- spycatcherAgent who detects infiltrators
- disinformationIntentional deceptive falsehoods
- deceptionIntentional misleading of others
dangle · false-flag · honey-trap · vetting · compartmentalization · need-to-know
Converting data into code
- VPNEncrypted network connection
- TorAnonymous routing network
- anonymityUnknown identity state
- firewallNetwork access control system
Signal · air-gapped · anti-tracking · OPSEC
Concealment through visual blending
- disguiseIdentity-concealing alteration
- stealthSecret, undetected movement
- invisibilityState of being unseen
- maskingConcealing by covering
cover · obscure · incognito · low-profile · hidden · undetectable · shadowing · evasion
Covert message transfer location
- decoyFalse target for misdirection
- misdirectionIntentional focus manipulation
- cutoutShape removed from material
- exfiltrationCovert withdrawal of people/data
clandestine · covert · operative · evasion · dry-cleaning · backstopping · alias · legend
counterintelligence
Defense against enemy espionage
- counterespionageBlocking enemy surveillance efforts
- spycatcherAgent who detects infiltrators
- disinformationIntentional deceptive falsehoods
deception · dangle · false-flag · honey-trap · vetting · compartmentalization · need-to-know
encryption
Converting data into code
firewall · Signal · air-gapped · anti-tracking · OPSEC
jamming
Blocking or wedging forcefully
- scramblerDevice that jumbles signals
camouflage
Concealment through visual blending
- disguiseIdentity-concealing alteration
- stealthSecret, undetected movement
- invisibilityState of being unseen
masking · cover · obscure · incognito · low-profile · hidden · undetectable · shadowing · evasion · anonymizing
debugging
Error removal from programs
dead-drop
Covert message transfer location
- decoyFalse target for misdirection
- misdirectionIntentional focus manipulation
- cutoutShape removed from material
exfiltration · clandestine · covert · operative · evasion · dry-cleaning · backstopping · alias · legend
countersurveillancesurveillance
Systematic observation of subjects
spying · monitoring · espionage · observation · watching
countersurveillancesurveillance
Systematic observation of subjects
target acquisition · electronic surveillance · infiltration · data harvesting · profiling
counter, surveillance, survey, surveil, surveilling, surveilled, surveyor, countering, countered