Covert activities refer to secret operations carried out by governments or organizations to achieve specific goals without revealing their involvement. These actions can include espionage, sabotage, or intelligence gathering, often aimed at national security or political advantage. The goal is to operate under the radar, making it difficult for others to trace the actions back to the responsible party. Such activities are often associated with agencies like the CIA or MI6, which use covert methods to gather information about other countries or to influence events. While these operations can be controversial, they are sometimes deemed necessary to protect a nation's interests or maintain stability in a region.