After a series of damaging failures, a senior Iranian intelligence official lost his job and a Revolutionary Guards general was said to have been arrested.
Tag Archives: Espionage and Intelligence Services
Fears Grow Over Iran’s Nuclear Program as Tehran Digs a New Tunnel Network
The conflict over the program is about to flare again as President Biden travels next month to Israel and Saudi Arabia, Iran’s two biggest regional rivals.
U.S. Lacks a Clear Picture of Ukraine’s War Strategy, Officials Say
Intelligence agencies know far more about Russia’s military, even as the United States ships billions of dollars in weapons to the Ukrainians.
The Moral Cost of Killing Our Enemies in Secret
What does it mean to be a citizen of a state that kills for you but doesn’t tell you about it? Are you still responsible?
Chinese Hackers Tried to Steal Russian Defense Data, Report Says
The campaign detailed by a cybersecurity firm highlights Beijing’s increasingly sophisticated tactics to spy on an array of targets, including countries it considers friends.
F.B.I. Told Israel It Wanted Pegasus Hacking Tool for Investigations
A 2018 letter from the bureau to the Israeli government is the clearest documentary evidence to date that the agency weighed using the spyware for law enforcement operations.
A Crumbling Russian ‘Spyville’ Returns to Polish Hands
A Warsaw housing complex built in the 1970s and rented by Russia was reputed to be a nest of spies. The city’s government has seized the site and pledged to hand it over to the Ukrainian community.
Hackers Claim to Target Russian Institutions in Barrage of Cyberattacks and Leaks
While the authenticity of leaked data could not be verified, the effort appears to be part of a campaign by hackers opposed to the Kremlin.
How US and Ukrainian Groups Pierce Putin’s Propaganda Bubble
U.S.-backed news outlets and Ukrainian activists use Cold War techniques and high-tech tactics to get news about the war to Russians.
How America Watches for a Nuclear Strike
Hundreds of satellites and spacecraft are keeping an eye on Russia’s nuclear forces from above. So far, they haven’t seen much to worry about.
William Burns, Head of the CIA, Tests Positive For Covid
William J. Burns got the positive result a day after meeting with President Biden.
A Nation of Spy-Catchers: Fear of Saboteurs Has Ukrainians on Edge
There are checkpoints, hotlines and apps for reporting suspicious activities. Ukrainians worry about saboteurs mixing among them sowing mistrust and spreading misinformation.
When Nokia Pulled Out of Russia, a Vast Surveillance System Remained
The Finnish company played a key role in enabling Russia’s cyberspying, documents show, raising questions of corporate responsibility.
Why Can’t Spy Agencies Predict a Country’s Will to Fight?
U.S. intelligence agencies thought the Afghan military would last longer and predicted Kyiv would fall faster, showing the difficulty of assessing fighting spirit.
Israel Blocked Sale of Pegasus Spyware to Ukraine and Estonia
The Eastern European countries had sought to buy Pegasus, spyware made by an Israeli firm, to carry out intelligence operations against Russia, according to people with knowledge of the discussions.
Pakistan’s Cricket-Star-Turned-Prime Minister Fights for Survival
Soaring inflation and a rift with the military threaten Imran Khan’s tenure as prime minister. He has dismissed criticism as a foreign conspiracy.
Submarine Spy Couple Tried to Sell Nuclear Secrets to Brazil
Jonathan and Diana Toebbe pleaded guilty last month in the espionage case, but until now the identity of the nation they had approached had remained publicly undisclosed.
Missiles Fired From Iran Hit Near U.S. Consulate Site in Iraq
No serious injuries were reported from the strike, outside the city of Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan, and an American official said the consulate site was undamaged.
Spy Agencies Cite Russia’s Setbacks but Say Putin Is ‘Unlikely to Be Deterred’
Top U.S. intelligence officials told Congress that the Russian leader had underestimated Ukrainian resolve and Western cohesion but was “doubling down” to achieve his goals.
Supreme Court Sides With F.B.I. in Case on Spying on Muslims
In a narrow and unanimous decision, the justices ruled that a 1978 law governing national security surveillance did not displace the state secrets doctrine.
Washington’s Newest Worry: The Dangers of Cornering Putin
Surprised by the speed at which sanctions have been poured on Russia, Biden’s top aides suspect that Putin’s reaction will be to double down and lash out — and perhaps expand the war.
The Sunday Read: ‘The Battle for the World’s Most Powerful Cyberweapon’
A New York Times investigation reveals how Israel reaped diplomatic gains around the world from NSO’s Pegasus spyware — a tool America itself purchased but is now trying to ban.
Inside Biden’s Race to Prevent War Between Russia and Ukraine
President Biden made three critical decisions about how to handle Russia’s provocations, aiming to prevent armed conflict in Ukraine.
Wooing Allies, Publicizing Putin’s Plans: Inside Biden’s Race to Prevent War
President Biden made three critical decisions about how to handle Russia’s provocations, aiming to prevent armed conflict in Ukraine.
Putin Has Choice of Blitzkrieg or Minor Incursion in Ukraine
President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia may be looking for fissures in the Western alliance, which so far has been united against him.
Justice Dept. Is Set to Modify Trump-Era Program Aimed at Fighting Chinese Threats
Critics said the China Initiative unfairly targeted Asian professors and contributed to a rising tide of anti-Asian sentiment.
Peter Earnest, C.I.A. Veteran Who Ran a Spy Museum, Dies at 88
He ran secret agents and later served as the agency’s spokesman. Both roles prepared him well for his role as the International Spy Museum’s first director.
Submarine Spy Case: Wife of Navy Engineer Pleads Guilty
Diana Toebbe, a high school teacher, acknowledged her part in an effort to try to sell nuclear reactor secrets her husband had taken from the Navy.
Putin’s Motives Pose a Challenge for U.S. Intelligence Agencies
Knowing the intentions of any autocratic leader is difficult, but President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, who began his career as a K.G.B. officer, poses a particular challenge.
Navy Nuclear Engineer Pleads Guilty in Submarine Espionage Case
Jonathan Toebbe, who was arrested in October along with his wife, will face 12 years or more in prison under a plea deal with federal prosecutors.
U.S. Battles Putin by Disclosing His Next Possible Moves
Declassified information is part of a campaign, backed by Britain, to complicate what officials say are Russia’s plans to invade Ukraine.
Erik Prince Helped Raise Money for Conservative Spy Venture
New details reveal the ambitions of an operation intended to infiltrate opponents of Donald Trump, including moderate Republicans as well as progressives and Democrats.
Ghost Army, a World War II Master of Deception, Finally Wins U.S. Recognition
President Biden signed a bill that bestows the Congressional Gold Medal on the Army units, “a traveling roadshow of deception” credited with saving thousands of Allied lives.
Some Havana Syndrome Cases May Stem From Radio Energy, Panel Says
A group of experts found that not all injuries to diplomats and C.I.A. officers could be explained by stress or psychosomatic reactions.
He Suffered Under Romania’s Dictatorship. Then He Was Forced to Spy for It.
Ruta Sepetys’s latest historical Y.A. novel, “I Must Betray You,” follows the life of a teenager who is blackmailed to become an informer for a repressive Communist regime.
The New Spy Wars
A tale about Israel, Pegasus and the world.
What We Learned About Pegasus, the Smartphone Cracker
Israel used the NSO Group’s cyberweapon as a tool of diplomacy. The F.B.I. tested it for domestic surveillance. Then everything soured. Here are highlights of a New York Times Magazine investigation.
The Battle for the World’s Most Powerful Cyberweapon
A Times investigation reveals how Israel reaped diplomatic gains around the world from NSO’s Pegasus spyware — a tool America itself purchased but is now trying to ban.
Russia Steps Up Propaganda War Amid Ukraine Tensions
The disinformation campaign includes claims that NATO and Ukrainian forces are preparing to attack Russian speakers in Ukraine.
Britain Says Moscow Is Plotting to Install a Pro-Russian Leader in Ukraine
In a highly unusual public statement, backed by U.S. officials, London named the putative head of a potential puppet government but few other details.
Most ‘Havana Syndrome’ Cases Unlikely Caused by Foreign Power, C.I.A. Says
A report concluded that most cases have environmental or medical causes, but the government remains focused on investigating two dozen incidents that remain unexplained.
U.S. Names Official to Counter Foreign Election Interference
The director of national intelligence appointed a C.I.A. veteran to the post amid delays in congressional approval of money for a new office to oversee threats to American politics from abroad.
U.S. Charges Russia Sent Saboteurs Into Ukraine to Create Pretext for Invasion
The intelligence said the operatives were “trained in urban warfare and in using explosives,” and could try to stage an incident.
Havana Syndrome Mystery: Review Finds No Answers
Some officials remain convinced Russia is involved, but so far there is no evidence pointing to a particular adversary and no one has detected microwaves or other possible weapons.
She Fled North Korea for Freedom. Then She Was Arrested.
The case of “Chrysanthemum” offers a rare look at the covert battle the rival Koreas are waging over North Korean defectors living in the South.
As U.S. Hunts for Chinese Spies, University Scientists Warn of Backlash
A chilling effect has taken hold on American campuses, contributing to an outflow of academic talent that may hurt the United States while benefiting Beijing.
Pentagon Forms a Group to Examine Unexplained Aerial Sightings
The announcement follows a report that failed to clarify strange phenomena observed by military pilots and others over the past two decades.
Apple Sues Israeli Spyware Maker NSO Group
Apple accused NSO Group, the Israeli surveillance company, of “flagrant” violations of its software, as well as federal and state laws.
U.S. Warns Allies of Possible Russian Incursion as Troops Amass Near Ukraine
Western intelligence officials are increasingly convinced that the Russian president wants to take control of a larger swath of territory.
Project Veritas: Journalists or Political Spies?
Documents show how the conservative group worked with lawyers to gauge how far its deceptive reporting practices could go before running afoul of federal laws.