OPSEC Failures of Spies

Explore a revealing 25-minute conference talk from Black Hat USA 2013 that exposes the operational security (OPSEC) failures of CIA spies. Delve into two major incidents where the CIA's lack of technological sophistication led to embarrassing and dangerous operational failures. Learn about the "Italian Job," where poor cell phone OPSEC resulted in arrest warrants for 26 Americans involved in an extraordinary rendition operation in Milan. Discover how, eight years later, similar mistakes led to the exposure of an entire CIA network of Lebanese informants by Hezbollah. Gain insights into the surprising technological naivety of America's top intelligence agency and the consequences of underestimating adversaries' capabilities. Understand the critical importance of proper OPSEC in modern intelligence operations and the potential ramifications of its failure.