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At 2+ years in Area 51 we have to close this proposal. Keep this proposal alive by restarting it. See discuss.area51.stackexchange.com/q/5798. – Robert Cartaino♦ Apr 11 at 21:42

closed as not a viable proposal by Robert Cartaino♦ Apr 11 at 21:41

This proposal will not result in a useful, productive, or viable Q&A site.

52 Example Questions (3 closed)

active oldest votes

up vote 24 down vote

added by CrazyJugglerDrummer Jan 9 '11 at 2:23

up vote 21 down vote

added by Mark Rogers Jan 8 '11 at 7:02

up vote 18 down vote

added by Mark Rogers Jan 8 '11 at 7:01

up vote 18 down vote

added by Mark Rogers Jan 8 '11 at 7:07

up vote 15 down vote

added by CrazyJugglerDrummer Jan 9 '11 at 2:56

up vote 14 down vote

added by John Jan 9 '11 at 2:45

If it were me, I'd buy facebook ads, targeted at intelligence agency employees only. – ObscureRobot Oct 28 '11 at 2:50

It might sound like a cliché... but you don't find them, they find you! A good path to follow is the FBI career (if you're from the USA). If you're smart, fit and intelligent, you might get the chance to become a spy. But most spies have a specific background, specific talents and specific contacts that "fit the objective of the mission". Therefore, you probably have a better chance winng the lotto, than really getting a "spy" job like in the movies. – e-sushi Jul 31 '12 at 16:12

up vote 12 down vote

added by Wikis Jan 8 '11 at 12:50

See foxnews.com/scitech/2010/11/26/… – Wikis Jan 8 '11 at 12:50

I'm not doubting the worth of this question, but it seems to be more of a conspiracy-theory question. And that's why I voted it as an 'Off-Topic' question. – Jim G. Jan 8 '11 at 20:53

@Jim - though there might be conspiracy theory elements to how it is used, it almost certainly exists: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuxnet – Wikis Jan 8 '11 at 21:14

@WikiSpeedia At Area51: I agree with you; that's why I don't know why someone would need to question Stuxnet's existence, which is how I interpreted the original question. – Jim G. Jan 9 '11 at 23:21

@Jim, yes, good point. Maybe I should reword it? – Wikis Jan 10 '11 at 8:37

up vote 12 down vote

added by Agnel Kurian Jun 12 '12 at 4:24

	Reminds me of the Pink Panther movie. xD – Power-Inside Dec 22 '12 at 13:14
	There are devices are claimed to help: google.com/search?q=spy+camera+finder – Agnel Kurian Dec 23 '12 at 8:26
	Its difficult. Very VERY difficult. There are usually teams of professionals who's sole job is to do this sort of task. You basically need to scan from one end of the electromagnetic spectrum to the other looking for something that isn't just pseudo-random interference. Its very time consuming and expensive to do (especially the cost of equipment). In addition, if the device is passive (not transmitting) it is almost impossible to find surveillance devices. – D3C4FF Jan 30 at 13:30

up vote 11 down vote

added by CrazyJugglerDrummer Jan 9 '11 at 2:57

This is a list question. Neh. – Ziv Aug 25 '11 at 9:27

up vote 11 down vote

added by CharkAttax Jan 10 '11 at 4:49

up vote 11 down vote

added by Mark Rogers Jan 23 '11 at 23:09

up vote 11 down vote

added by Cy., edited by WikiSpeedia hang-around Dec 26 '11 at 3:16

Parabolic microphone and a high quality amplifier. – D3C4FF Jan 30 at 13:31

up vote 10 down vote

added by Mark Rogers, edited by WikiSpeedia hang-around Jan 31 '12 at 20:48

up vote 10 down vote

added by CharkAttax Jan 10 '11 at 4:54

up vote 10 down vote

added by Cornelius Jan 25 '11 at 9:29

	is it? This question assumes it is. – Lohoris Jun 21 '11 at 20:06
	yes it is, the question is not whether it is but why it is and not some other form. – Cornelius Jun 22 '11 at 7:49
	Krav Maga is israel's self-defense style (combining boxing, muay-thai, J-J, etc). Its essentially a form of MMA designed to be efficient and brutal, especially in counter-attacking opponents. While i do not believe it is 'used by most agencies' it is taught around the world – D3C4FF Jan 30 at 13:33

up vote 10 down vote

added by Jeffrywith1e Apr 28 '11 at 17:14

up vote 10 down vote

added by Cy. Jul 12 '11 at 13:01

up vote 10 down vote

added by Dan Abramov Jul 31 '11 at 1:55

up vote 10 down vote

added by Nicolas Raoul Mar 2 '12 at 6:59

	Source for that statement? – D3C4FF Jan 30 at 13:31
	Australia was just an example, but for instance the US has both the Foreign Terrorist Organizations list and the Terror Exclusion List. – Nicolas Raoul Jan 31 at 3:05

up vote 10 down vote

added by martin Jul 26 '12 at 11:42

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (goo.gl/n1p7N) – mchangun Dec 14 '12 at 4:18

up vote 10 down vote

added by martin Aug 14 '12 at 8:34

up vote 10 down vote

added by Pavel Nov 26 '12 at 21:11

up vote 10 down vote

added by THelper Dec 14 '12 at 11:18

Yep. Private 0-day sales to government/law-enforcement are commonplace. Exploits go for as much as $250,000 USD for Iphone shell exploits. Research: VUPEN – D3C4FF Jan 30 at 13:36

up vote 7 down vote

added by SF. Jan 16 at 11:41

up vote 6 down vote

added by SF. Jan 16 at 11:50

Reason: There is no commercial motivation to obtain secrets if cost of acquiring them outweighs profits; By knowing value of your secrets you can adjust strength (and cost) of your security. – SF. Jan 16 at 11:51

up vote 5 down vote

added by qbi Dec 12 '12 at 23:24

up vote 4 down vote

added by qbi Dec 11 '12 at 14:54

up vote 3 down vote

added by Łukasz Lech Feb 3 at 20:46

up vote 2 down vote

added by qbi Jan 3 at 14:29

up vote 1 down vote

added by SF. Jan 16 at 11:43

up vote 1 down vote

added by SF. Jan 16 at 11:47

up vote 0 down vote

added by vakufo Apr 9 '12 at 7:39

possibly this question would be better in history.stackexchange.com – vakufo Apr 9 '12 at 7:40

up vote 0 down vote

added by Monte Hill Sep 8 '12 at 9:13

up vote 0 down vote

added by qbi Dec 11 '12 at 14:51

up vote 0 down vote

added by mchangun Dec 14 '12 at 4:49

	too open ended. – Hiroto Feb 3 at 21:03
	@Hiroto No it's not. It's same as asking "Which tech company is most admired by its peers" and the answers to which would probably be Google or Apple. It would be an interesting look from the insider's point of view of the spy business. – mchangun Mar 27 at 4:34
	Actually, "Which tech company is most admired by its peers" is also too open-ended. There's more than one answer and it would incite discussion. – Hiroto Mar 27 at 7:46
	@Hiroto There's more than one answer to many questions and discussion is not a bad thing. The top rated question in this proposal so far is "What should I study in school if I want to be a spy/agent?" That definitely has more than one answer and would definitely incite discussion as well. Discussion is GOOD. My question would attract responses like (I'm making the responses up) MI6 because they have good trade craft or CIA because they have their best technology. Nothing wrong with those answers. – mchangun Mar 27 at 11:06