What is an intelligence agency and how does it affect the affairs of the world?
According to Wikipedia, “An intelligence agency is a government agency responsible for the collection, analysis, and exploitation of information in support of law enforcement, national security, military, and foreign policy objectives.” Hollywood portrays intelligence agents as cool, technology-savvy, dark-suited guys with a special skill or two that often involves fire arms and close combat. In real life, however, intel agents do more than just appear cool, and while mostly tech-savvy, they often do well with suits and just about any garment able to camouflage them from the unsuspecting world. In fact, they are everywhere, and their work affects our everyday life—from phone conversations, email and internet usage, bank transactions, personal and professional records, among others. Intel agencies can access anything that is not protected, and everything that is protected simply needs an agent with special cracking skills.
There are many intel agencies around the world. In the United States, there is the Central Intelligence Agency or CIA. On its website, the agency has this to say about the organization, “CIA is the nation’s premier agency providing global intelligence in an ever-changing political, social, economic, technological, & military landscapes.” The agencies mission is simply stated: “Preempt threats and further US national security objectives by collecting intelligence that matters, producing objective all-source analysis, conducting effective covert action as directed by the President, and safeguarding the secrets that help keep our Nation safe.”
The agency continues to accomplish its mission by using covert and overt measures that may include interception of communication, cryptanalysis, espionage, among others. Other intel agencies from other nations, more or less, play by the same rules. Online, these agencies are ranked, but we know there is no way to ascertain which agency is better compared to the others. These are, after all, organizations skilled in decoys and camouflages.
What remains certain is this, everything we do, especially online, leaves an imprint. Following these imprints does not need rocket science. Perhaps we need these ever-watchful eyes for our security—perhaps not.
