Intelligence and Security Dictionary

For each entry the dictionary gives an English equivalent, a definition, a source reference and a «See also» cross-reference. The first entries show different sides of modern security: the «US Department of Homeland Security» was established after the 11 September attacks by the «Homeland Security Act» of 2002, brought 22 federal agencies including the Coast Guard, the Secret Service and the Border Patrol under its roof, and is regarded as the most comprehensive law restructuring the federal government since the National Security Act of 1947. The «US Cyber Command» was established in 2009, has been an independent combatant command since 2018 and consists of four sub-units.

«Open-Source Intelligence» (OSINT) is the analysis of sources open to everyone such as television, radio, the internet, academic reports and social media; according to one source it makes up about 80% of the material presented to the analyst. The entry «Agent» is long and lists types: the sleeper agent (placed in the target country and stays inactive until «woken»), the agent provocateur (infiltrates an organisation and incites it to harmful acts), the double agent, the secret agent, the agent-in-place (serves another intelligence service on their own initiative), the agent of influence, the notional agent and the stringer (works only for money, the least reliable).

The entry «Motivations of Agents (MICE)» shows four factors that persuade a person to work for a foreign intelligence service: money, ideology, compromise (coercion/blackmail) and ego; in the case of ego, a person who feels unappreciated in their own service may change sides. «Netwar» differs from cyber war: cyber war targets computer networks, netwar targets the perception of the target audience through disinformation and propaganda. «Forensic Intelligence» is the processing of data needed for court such as fingerprints and DNA tests.

Other entries include «Kidnapping», «Active Support», «Activism», «Smart Border» (border security and customs through digital technologies) and «Acoustic Intelligence» (sonar and ship signatures). The part ends with the entry «Perception»: the process by which a person gives meaning to stimuli around them and mentally interprets sensory data, which is why many psychologists have regarded perception as «reality».

• Each entry has an English equivalent, definition, source and cross-reference, which makes the dictionary an academic reference
• The «See also» cross-references show the relations between concepts and lead the reader to neighbouring entries
• Entries are explained with examples and classifications (types of agent, MICE), not just dry definition
• The broad bibliography gives the reader the chance to read in more depth