What tactic is often used by spies to gain sensitive information?

The tactic of deception is often employed by spies as it involves misleading individuals or organizations to extract sensitive information without raising suspicion. By creating false narratives or scenarios, spies can manipulate their targets into disclosing confidential details. This can include posing as someone trustworthy or using misdirection to gain access to information that would otherwise be protected.

Deception can take many forms, such as impersonating a legitimate source, fabricating documents, or using misleading questions during conversations. This tactic is particularly powerful because it exploits human psychology, often leading individuals to let down their guard and inadvertently share information they would keep secure under normal circumstances.

While bribery, surveillance, and negotiation are also techniques used in espionage, they rely on different mechanisms and may not entail the same level of covert manipulation that deception does. Bribery involves financial inducements, surveillance is about observing activities, and negotiation typically involves open discussions and bargaining. Thus, deception stands out as a fundamental approach in the world of espionage for its ability to directly create an advantage for the spy by clouding the target's judgment.