A lot of people think that CIA employees lurk around in trench coats, send coded messages, and use exotic equipment like hidden cameras and secret phones to do their job. (You know, all those things you see in movies or read about in spy novels.)

Being a spy is more than just the gadgets and the disguises. To be successful in the field, you need to speak like a spy. So, before you head out on your next mission, or write the next great American spy novel, take some time to familiarize yourself with our Spy Speak glossary.

CIA developed a highly secret, supersonic aircraft known as the A-12 OXCART as the successor to the U-2 spy plane. The A-12 was intended to meet the nation’s need for a very fast, very high-flying reconnaissance aircraft that could avoid Soviet air defenses.

Sep 19, 2024 · Digging deeper, real CIA officers use unique lingo that only those on the inside know. Read on to learn some everyday spy slang. 1) “Are you coming to Vespers?” Here at CIA, if someone asks about Vespers, you can be confident they …

Can’t get enough of our CIA critters? In addition to “spy dogs,” we also have pigeons who fly secret missions, spy bugs (listening devises) who are actual bugs, and even a robotic catfish. Explore our site and see if you can find them!

Test your cryptography skills by cracking the code of Kryptos, a sculpture at CIA’s headquarters in Langley, Virginia. Be warned though, many have tried and few have succeeded. To date, only three of the four messages have been revealed.

CIA: A concealment device can be any object used to clandestinely hide things. They are typically ordinary, every-day objects that have been hollowed out. The best concealment devices are ones that blend in with their surroundings and call no attention to themselves.

Myth 10: CIA officers are the keepers of all government secrets. Working at the CIA does not grant you unlimited access to government secrets. We adhere to a strict “need-to-know” policy regarding classified information. In other words, an officer will not have access to classified information unless it pertains directly to their job duties.

Actually, anyone who wants to dig a little deeper into intelligence-related topics is welcome here. Explore our lesson plans and “briefings” on topics like spy history, code breaking, and how intelligence actually works.

At CIA, we have lots of secrets – it’s kind of what we do. Read about spy planes, robot battles, learning resources and more.