Intelligence - Blogs of War

Russia Invades Ukraine

Putin has launched a criminal war based on an unhinged, paranoid interpretation of history and driven by an uncontrolled lust for power. Failing to act risks letting a mafia state grab the reins and steer the world into a dark future.

Russia-Ukraine

Inoculate Yourself Against Russian Disinformation - And Its Amplifiers

With a little effort and objectivity anyone can learn to spot Russian disinformation narratives. They are pervasive, adaptable to any ideology, and increasingly destabilizing. Developing and honing this skill has never been more important.

Covert Contact

Shortwave Numbers Stations

Scot Terban joined me to discuss the use of shortwave numbers stations, recently declassified KGB investigative techniques for identifying recipients of those broadcasts, and how shortwave has changed with the introduction of the internet.

Covert Contact

Chinese Spies in US Law Enforcement - And Everywhere Else

The regular counterintelligence chat with William Tucker is a day late but full of new Chinese espionage activity in the NYPD, the EU, and beyond. We also touch on intelligence history and why literature from the Middle Ages or beyond is not only fascinating but still relevant.

Counterintelligence

The Threat of Fake Spies

William Tucker returns to discuss the incredible case of Garrison Courtney and Alpha-214. Posing as a CIA NOC Courtney was able to engineer a scheme that duped numerous beltway contractors, intelligence officials, former military officers and many others.

Counterintelligence

Election Threats and Disrupting Chinese Espionage

In this episode we discuss the recent report for Microsoft that details Russian, Chinese, and Iranian attacks on individuals and organizations tied to our presidential campaigns and the recent move to revoke the visas of more than 1,000 Chinese grad students and researchers

Counterintelligence

French Officer Busted Spying on NATO for GRU & Other Espionage Cases

William Tucker joins me to discuss two high profile cases this week, sloppy Chinese tradecraft, and why it always pays to visit the FBI before the FBI visits you.

Covert Contact

Texas A&M, NASA, and Chinese Espionage

William Tucker joins me to discuss the Zhengdong Cheng case, how Chinese espionage might be forced to evolve, global awareness of the scope of China’s spying, and how organizations can protect themselves if they haven’t started evaluating their own risk.

Covert Contact

Careers in Intelligence: Beyond the Three Letter Agencies

Dean Baratta joins me to discuss the rapidly diversifying and expanding non-traditional career paths in intelligence. We also touch on some tips for those looking to enter the field.

Covert Contact

Spying for Russia: The Peter Debbins Case

William Tucker joins me again to look into yesterday’s indictment of Peter Rafael Dzibinski Debbins, a former Green Beret alleged to have worked for Russian intelligence for over a decade.

William J. Tucker

Counterintelligence Chat: Alexei Navalny & Alexander Ma

William Tucker returns to look at the apparent poisoning of Alexei Navalny and yet another Chinese espionage case, this time involving Alexander Ma. It’s a classic case, with a Hawaii connection, and there’s likely more interesting details to come.

Covert Contact

A Pardon for Edward Snowden?

William Tucker returns to discuss the Edward Snowden case after President Trump made remarks on the case that sparked new speculation about a potential pardon.

Covert Contact

Washington Takes Aim at the Confucius Institute

Today’s decision to force the Confucius Institute to register as a foreign mission is the subject of my regular Thursday evening counterintelligence chat with Covert Contact regular William Tucker. We look at why it was necessary and where we, and China, might go from here.

Australia

Australia’s Cyber Security Strategy

Australian journalist Stilgherrian, returns to Covert Contact to discuss Australia's recently released 2020 cyber security strategy.

Covert Contact

Online Security: Avoiding a Personal October Surprise

Infosec professional and security blogger Scot Terban joins me to discuss the recent LinkedIn spying case, the degrading environment in social media, and strategies for improving your personal security.

Covert Contact

Chinese Espionage in the United States

William Tucker is back to discuss the scale of Chinese espionage in the United States and some of the misconceptions that have hampered our response to the threat.

Covert Contact

Shaping Intelligence Products for Maximum Impact

Dean Baratta returns for a discussion about the never-ending need to develop and refine intelligence products so that they meet customer needs, build trust, and land with the greatest possible impact.

Covert Contact

What's Happening at the Chinese Consulate in Houston?

Houston rarely finds itself at the center of geopolitical drama but that changed overnight as firefighters and police surrounded the Chinese consulate as staff there began burning massive amounts of documentation in the building's courtyard.

Counterintelligence

The Entirely Predictable Subversion of the US IC

I hear a lot of people saying that "the warning lights are blinking red" this week but the truth is that they were blinking in late 2015. The dismantling of institutions and norms has been systematic and if you think this is bad - it's just getting started.

Encryption

The Future of Signal and Other Stories in Encryption

Once information leaves your head it is at risk. There is always some level of risk when traversing other people's hardware, software, and networks. Always.

Counterintelligence

A New Counterintelligence Strategy

The National Counterintelligence and Strategy Center rolled out their roadmap for the next two years and, on paper at least, it looks good.

Intelligence

Staying Sane in an Insane World

We're not meant to be heads down in the worst content (and viewpoints) that man has to offer dozens of hours per week year after year. Our brains can't take it and if that's your job you have to acknowledge that. The sooner you do the better you'll be able to handle it.

Covert Contact

The Poisoning of Sergei Skripal

Fred Burton joined me shortly after the attack on Sergei Skripal. We look at the many implications of this brazen attack, security issues surrounding it, and the need for a serious response.

Covert Contact

Team Leadership & Ethics

Dean Baratta reflects on leadership, lessons learned, team building, and the challenge of public service after serving as Chief of the Analysis Bureau at New Jersey’s Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness

Covert Contact

The Jerry Chun Shing Lee Case

Jerry Chun Shing Lee, a former CIA case officer, is suspected by many to have compromised CIA activities in China but has only been charged with the less serious crime of unlawful retention of national defense information.