What does the term "foreign entity targeting" refer to?

The term "foreign entity targeting" specifically pertains to efforts by foreign agents to gather sensitive information from a nation's government or organizations. This encompasses various methodologies and tactics employed by agents who may work for foreign governments or non-state actors to infiltrate, exploit vulnerabilities, or manipulate systems for intelligence-gathering purposes.

Understanding this concept is crucial in counterintelligence because it highlights the types of threats that pose risks to national security and organizational integrity. This includes actions such as espionage, recruitment of insiders, cyberattacks aimed at stealing confidential data, and illicit attempts to extract classified or proprietary information.

In contrast, the other options represent different types of threats or actions that do not fit the definition of "foreign entity targeting." For instance, domestic surveillance is more aligned with monitoring within a country rather than the actions of foreign agents. Cybersecurity threats may involve various actors, not exclusively foreign entities, and can also include domestic threats. Insider threats refer to risks originating from within an organization, which contrasts with the external nature of foreign entity targeting.