Which type of operations involves secretive actions to manipulate or distort information?

Covert operations are designed specifically to be secretive and to conceal the identity of the individuals or organizations involved. This type of operation may involve manipulating or distorting information to achieve strategic objectives without revealing the source of the activity. Covert operations can include misinformation campaigns, psychological operations, and other tactics aimed at influencing perceptions while maintaining operational security.

In contrast, overt operations are open and public, intended to be observed by all. Intelligence collection tradecraft encompasses the techniques used to gather information but does not inherently focus on secret actions meant to mislead. Spear-phishing is a specific type of cyber attack aimed at individuals to gain sensitive information, which does not broadly fit the definition of operations that involve manipulating or distorting information on a larger scale. Overall, the nature of covert operations aligns tightly with the question's focus on secrecy and manipulation.