The officer in charge at a CIA station, usually in a foreign capital. Genuine, but not seriously damaging, intelligence knowingly provided to an enemy intelligence agency through an agent or a double agent to establish his bona fides. Russian secret police founded in 1917 to serve the Bolshevik party one of the many forerunners of the KGB. Case OfficerĪ staff officer who manages agents and runs operations. CarnivoreĬomputer program designed by the FBI to allow the FBI (in compliance with court orders) to collect electronic communications from a specific user targeted in an investigation (at the exclusion of all other users' transmissions).

Camp XĬanada's secret domestic training base during World War II. When a case officer or agent is compromised.ĬIA's secret domestic training base (also known as 'The Farm'). Brush PassĪ brief encounter where something is passed between case officer and agent. Bridge AgentĪn agent who acts as a courier from a case officer to an agent in a denied area. Polish electro-magnetic device created to help decipher Enigma cipher machine settings early precursor to the modern computer. Blownĭiscovery of an agent's true identity or a clandestine activity's real purpose. BlowbackĪ deception planted abroad by an intelligence agency to mislead another country that returns to the originating nation with bad consequences. Black PropagandaĪ disinformation that is deniable by (and not traceable to) its source. Black OperationsĬovert operations that are not attributable to the organization performing them. Secret entry into a home or office to steal or copy materials. Slang used by British Intelligence for a spy. Bang and Burnĭemolition and sabotage operations. AssetĪ clandestine source or method, usually an agent.Īn agent who pays spies and bribes authorities.

Agent-of-InfluenceĪ person who works within the government or media of a target country to influence national policy. Agent-in-PlaceĪ government employee who is influenced to cooperate with a foreign government instead of defecting now working for two employers instead of one. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZĪ person unofficially employed by an intelligence service, often as a source of information. Check out our glossary of spy terms and code words. Put in the work here and you’ll be talking the talk in no time.

If you expect to make it out there, you’re going to need to learn the lingo.

Spy agent names