Spies and espionage have been used for centuries. Even the Romans employed spies or informers when they occupied cities and towns. Assassination attempts and plots were feared by emperors, and betrayal was rife.

The American War of Independence saw many spies utilized on both sides to try to gain an advantage. Benjamin Church was an avowed patriot and member of the Sons of Liberty, but he was caught spying for the British and exiled. He was lucky to avoid a death sentence that numerous spies received in other wars, especially World War II.

Espionage isn’t limited to war though. Some corporations have taken to industrial espionage and theft of intellectual property. Mergers and acquisitions have to be done with high levels of security so that competitors avoid data breaches. And foreign governments have been known to hack into other countries’ networks, with rumors of election tampering even.

Why have spies been used so much throughout history?
When you think about spies you might picture James Bond, although the characters in a John Le Carre novel may be more accurate. The spies in World War II worked in great peril and had to be completely covert in their operations. They might have had active roles in the enemy’s military operations, all the time feeding their handlers valuable information.

A view of the Spy Center's storefront in Plano, Tx shows an array of spy gear and gadgets. While these can be applied with great effect in certain situations, the spies of old might have had to rely more on their wits than gizmos.

Nevertheless, spies were vital for passing on information about attack plans or troop movements. Basically, spies were used to save lives and bring wars to an end quicker. The right information could easily save the lives of countless individuals.

But, spies have also been involved in industrial espionage. And in this case, it is more about profit than bringing about an end to a conflict.

Do spies still exist?
It is absolutely certain that spies still exist, but the way they operate may have changed some. In times of peace, spies are still used to gather secret data from other nations.

In 2020, two Chinese nationals studying in the US were arrested for taking photos of Naval Air Station Key West. At the time it wasn’t apparent if they were just students with an interest in naval bases or rather inept spies. The court decided on the latter and they received jail sentences.

Then in a rather different case, fashion retailer H&M was fined $41 million for spying on their workers and collecting data ranging from simple personal facts to their family’s religious beliefs.

For regular individuals, things such as spyware on laptops, surveillance in the workplace, and CCTV, are the closest they get to spies. But, professional spies still exist in the business world, for watching other countries and collecting secrets.

The difference between today and the past is that espionage has evolved. Different gadgets and tools are used.

How are espionage and spying used today?
Anyone can be a spy now to some degree. With spy gear stores online and in retail areas, gadgets such as trackers, hidden recording devices, and bug detectors, allow anyone to play at being James Bond.

But, for serious spying, the internet is one of the most used tools today. It isn’t always necessary to have a spy physically accessing secrets and files, as so much data is stored on servers and networks.

Hackers are employed to see military secrets, steal IP, bring down government websites, and cause damage to systems. Spyware such as Pegasus can be installed remotely, and covertly. This then lets anyone spying on the mobile phone user listen to calls and read messages sent and received. This particular spy tool gained notoriety when it was discovered that it had been installed on many prominent figures’ phones including members of Arab royal families, and human rights activists.

What spy tools are freely available?
A few years back one KGB museum closed with spy relics for sale such as a lipstick gun. However, spy tools available from vendors are less deadly than this but still effective.

A spy gear retailer will likely stock long-range listening devices, GPS trackers, pens with voice recorders built in, body cams, and devices to check for bugs or hidden cameras. It is hidden listening and filming devices that can cause consternation to employees and other individuals today.

Can employers and the government legally spy on you?
CCTV records you every single day unless you never leave your home. There are thousands of these cameras across cities in the US, but there is little to worry about there. The Federal government can legally tap your phone if they have a wiretap order approved by a federal judge. Yet, again there is little to worry about as you are unlikely to be a target.

However, where you might be spied upon is at work. Software to track your work activity is becoming common, emails can be read, and your desk can be legally searched.

You do have protection against privacy violations though. In most cases, employers can listen to business calls made on company phones but they cannot listen to or record private conversations. And consent may have to be given.

Summary
The art of spying over the years is fascinating and has inspired many authors and movies. There are even exhibitions about espionage in contemporary art. Spying during wartime can save countless lives, but espionage during relatively peaceful times is more likely to wreak financial havoc.

The closest you are likely to be involved in spying is in the street or the workplace. Unless someone is using modern spy gadgets to keep track of you for other reasons that is.