dead drops
Covert handoff locations
Dead drops are secret locations used to pass messages or materials between people—especially spies—without direct contact.
One person leaves an item; another retrieves it later.
The term comes from espionage tradecraft: The agent used a dead drop behind the loose brick in the cemetery wall.
In computing, dead drops may refer to anonymous file-sharing devices embedded in public spaces.
Covert information gatherer
- agentOne who acts independently
- operativeCovert field agent
- moleSubterranean insectivore
- informantOne who provides intelligence
intelligence · clandestine · counterintelligence · sleeper cell · safehouse · network · reconnaissance · surveillance
Concealed storage spot
- stashHidden reserve
- hiddenKept out of sight
- buriedPlaced beneath earth
- secretedHid or produced biologically
camouflaged · hollow tree · waterproof · disguised · inconspicuous · nondescript · geocaching · tucked away
Concealed from authorities
- anonymousOf unknown origin
- encryptedTransformed into cipher
- untraceableImpossible to follow back
- covertIntentionally concealed
furtive · surreptitious · stealth · discreet · confidential · incognito · low-profile · unattributable
Surreptitious walking exchange
- signalMessage-conveying cue
- handlerOne who manages something
- assetItem of value owned
- courierDelivery person or service
exfiltration · cutout · site selection · servicing · loaded · unloaded · danger signal · pickup
Fiction about secret agents
- thrillerSuspense-driven narrative genre
- James BondBritish intelligence agent
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
- plot deviceStorytelling element advancing action
spy
Covert information gatherer
informant · intelligence · clandestine · counterintelligence · sleeper cell · safehouse · network · reconnaissance · surveillance · CIA
cache
Concealed storage spot
secreted · camouflaged · hollow tree · waterproof · disguised · inconspicuous · nondescript · geocaching · tucked away · obscured
clandestine
Concealed from authorities
- anonymousOf unknown origin
- encryptedTransformed into cipher
- untraceableImpossible to follow back
covert · furtive · surreptitious · stealth · discreet · confidential · incognito · low-profile · unattributable · deniable
brush pass
Surreptitious walking exchange
courier · exfiltration · cutout · site selection · servicing · loaded · unloaded · danger signal · pickup · placement
spy novel
Fiction about secret agents
- thrillerSuspense-driven narrative genre
- James BondBritish intelligence agent
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
plot device · mission · suspense · caper · mystery
- espionagespy, spies, double agent, double agents, spying
- resistanceresistance, defiance, resistance fighters, civil resistance, resist
- classified inteltop secret, classified, classified documents, state secrets, military secrets
- covert activitiesspying, sneaking, eavesdropping, snooping, hiding
- covert operationsundercover agents, covert ops, stings, infiltration, deep cover
- secretssecrecy, secret, trade secret, secrets, confidential
dead dropsopen communication
Unrestricted exchange of information
official correspondence · public meetings · official channels
drop, death, dropped, drops, dropping, droplet, dropout, dead, dropper