A "spy" is a person who secretly gathers information about an individual, organization, or government. They often work for intelligence agencies, such as the CIA or MI6, and use various methods to collect data, including surveillance, infiltration, and communication interception. Spies play a crucial role in national security and can operate in both friendly and hostile environments. The activities of spies can include recruiting informants, analyzing intelligence reports, and conducting undercover operations. Famous spies in history, like Mata Hari and James Bond, have captured public imagination, but real-life espionage is often more complex and less glamorous than portrayed in movies and books.