Espionage, also known as spying or intelligence gathering, is the act of obtaining secret or confidential information, especially political, military, or industrial information, from a foreign government, competing company, or other entities. It involves the use of spies, agents, assets, and intelligence officers, as well as technology, to collect such information, usually through clandestine or illegal means
. It can be conducted by individuals, spy rings, or in the service of a government, company, or criminal organization
. Espionage is often associated with the discovery of secrets and the practice of spying to obtain information about the plans and activities of others
