"COREY PEARSON- CIA SPYMASTER" Series: A Journey of Espionage & Intrigue!

                                                                        

CIA Spymaster Corey Pearson strategizing with his elite team.

Welcome to the world of Corey Pearson, CIA Spymaster! If you're a fan of high-stakes espionage and covert operations, you've come to the right place. My new spy thriller series, Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster, follows Corey and his elite CIA counterintelligence team as they dive deep into the shadows of global intrigue.

Start your journey with Mission of Vengeance, the second book in the series, available now on Amazon. It’s a pulse-pounding ride that will have you hooked from the first page. And the best part? You can dive into the rest of the series in any order. The first novel, Penumbra Database, is being revamped to reflect the rapidly changing world of intelligence, while The Shadow War is coming soon. I'm currently writing Assassin, the fourth book in the series.

So, what are you waiting for? Get to know Corey Pearson now with Mission of Vengeance, and prepare yourself for the rest of the adventure.

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Get 'Mission of Vengeance' now! Corey faces off against Russian assassins in a web of international espionage, setting the stage for electrifying adventures to come. Get ready for an adrenaline-packed ride! 

Election Under Siege: How Foreign Powers Are Manipulating America's Vote

 

Shadow Games: Foreign Powers Pull the Strings of American Minds Ahead of Election Day

American democracy’s under fire, and it’s not just the ballot boxes they’re after. We’re talking mind games, folks—manipulating trust, twisting perception, and aiming their sights at minority communities to divide us. With the 2024 presidential election wrapping up tomorrow, let’s hope voters aren’t unknowingly dancing to the tune of foreign powers.

     Here’s the real deal: U.S. intel and top experts are warning us—Russia and Iran are playing puppet masters, using disinformation tailored to specific groups, nudging them toward their handpicked candidates. And AI? It’s supercharging their game. Iran’s got fake local news sites taking aim at Muslim and Black communities in key swing states. So far, it’s not grabbing the masses, but they’re trying.

     Now, Russia? They’re seasoned pros at this. Since meddling in the last two elections, they’re upping the ante, focusing on Spanish-language audiences in the U.S. They’re pouring resources into Spanish content, overt and covert alike. As Valerie Wirtschafter of the Brookings Institution puts it, “Russia sees Spanish speakers as a very appealing audience, including in the U.S., where there are opportunities to make inroads.”

     Think on that. This isn’t just a subtle nudge—it’s a full-on offensive aimed at dividing and conquering. Democracy thrives on trust and unity, but when foreign operatives stir the pot, it’s a threat that goes way beyond party politics. It’s about defending what makes this country whole.

     So tomorrow, when you hit that voting booth or see a news story that sounds way out there, pause. Remember, our democracy is only as strong as our awareness and resilience. Now’s the time to stay sharp, stay informed, and stay united.

From Lace-Up Shoes to Hidden Bills: The Unseen Tools of a CIA Operative

 

In the covert world of espionage, it's the ordinary items- emergency cash, fake IDs, and quiet observation that keep CIA operatives one step ahead.

     Forget the Hollywood glamor—the slick spy in a tux, a Walther PPK tucked in a custom shoulder holster, and a martini never far from reach. That’s a myth, a mirage spun by the movies. The real life of a CIA operative? It’s all grit, practicality, and the art of disappearing into the background. It’s about blending in so well that even the sharpest eyes don’t give you a second look.

     Andrew Bustamante, who spent 15 years in the shadows as a CIA intelligence officer and has the medals to prove it, knows this truth like the back of his hand. He’s quick to wave off the idea of high-tech gizmos and hidden weapons. Forget the laser watches and exploding pens—what matters most in the field is subtlety.

     Spies don’t lug around Bond-esque briefcases with secret compartments or holstered pistols that scream government issue. No, they carry what makes sense, what won’t raise a brow if they’re pulled aside by a curious cop or a nosy customs agent. Bustamante had his own go-to items, and they weren’t what you’d expect.

     A solid pair of lace-up shoes, for one. Sound boring? Maybe. But when you’ve got to move fast, lace-ups are the only choice. Out in the field, where danger has a nasty habit of showing up uninvited, slip-ons or loafers just don’t cut it. You need shoes that stick with you, that won’t trip you up when the stakes spike from zero to life-or-death.

     Then there’s cash. Not a wad to flash around, but a single crisp $100 bill, tucked separately in his wallet, away from the rest of his money. It wasn’t about showing off; it was survival, pure and simple. Cash doesn’t leave a trail. No electronic blips, no red flags for some desk jockey looking to track down a rogue operative. Just cold, hard currency that can speak volumes when you need it to.

     In Europe, Bustamante played it smart. Alongside that U.S. $100 bill, he kept local cash. Experience had taught him that a few well-placed bills could be the ticket out of a sticky situation—like bargaining for a quiet boat ride across a shadowy river or easing past a border checkpoint where one wrong answer could turn deadly. “Cash can save your life,” he once said, and when he said it, you could tell he’d lived through moments when it had.

     Corey Pearson, the CIA spymaster from Mission of Vengeance, understood that well. When he and his elite team were deep in the Dominican Republic, investigating former KGB agents and GRU assassins who were planning to undermine America’s presence, staying under the radar was their lifeline.

     Corey always had a few $100 and $50 bills in his wallet, ready to be left on a restaurant table if the atmosphere changed and he had to slip out unnoticed, without waiting around for the bill. It wasn’t just a habit; it was a calculated move. In a world where one misstep could draw the attention of Russian intelligence, a quick, clean exit was everything.

     But cash isn’t always enough, and sometimes it runs out faster than you’d think. That’s when you need a backup—a trusty international credit card. True, it leaves a trace, but only as a quick ping on an ATM’s log. No one cares about what you bought; they only see the card showed up, and by then, you’re already a blur in the wind. In the shadow world, buying time and distance is the difference between making it out and never coming back. And sometimes, that’s all you need.

     Bustamante wasn’t the only CIA operative who lived by these unwritten rules of practicality. Jason Hanson shared some pretty practical lessons that anyone could use, starting with situational awareness. He’d tell people to know their “baseline”—basically, understand what normal looks like around you so you can spot when something’s off. If you’re at a café and everyone’s relaxed, but one guy keeps glancing at the door or fidgeting, that’s a red flag. Spotting those little oddities early can save you a lot of trouble.

     He also preached the importance of a “go-bag”—a simple pack with essentials like cash, a flashlight, a battery pack, and some first-aid basics. It’s an operative’s habit, but perfect for anyone who wants to be ready for life’s curveballs, whether it’s a sudden power outage or an emergency dash out of town.

      Lastly, Hanson stressed trusting your gut. If something feels wrong, it probably is. He’d say, “Your instinct is your first line of defense.” Operatives rely on that sense every day, and it’s just as valuable for civilians in staying a step ahead of trouble.

     Valerie Plame, whose name became infamous when her CIA cover was blown, knew firsthand that life as an operative wasn’t about fancy gadgets and bulletproof gear. She spent years slipping in and out of high-stakes situations without so much as a trace. In Plame’s world, the smallest details could change everything, and she understood the value of being prepared for the worst.

     One of those crucial details was something as simple as a laminated card—a trick Andrew Bustamante swore by. This wasn’t just any card; it was a small, waterproof piece of paper with the most important phone numbers an operative might need. If an agent found themselves in a tight spot, injured, or without access to their phone, that card could be a lifeline.

     It might not look like much, but in the field, when everything went sideways, that little piece of paper could be the difference between getting out or staying stuck. It’s easy to picture Plame tucking one away, knowing that in their line of work, sometimes the simplest things held the most power.

     Then there was Amaryllis Fox, who became a master at turning herself into whoever she needed to be. In counterterrorism, she learned that blending in was more than just a skill; it was an art. The way she moved, the way she spoke, the things she carried—they all had to fit her cover like a glove.

     Like Bustamante, Fox knew that in this line of work, it wasn’t the flashy tools that kept you alive, but the simple, unassuming ones. That waterproof card with its scrawled phone numbers? It wasn’t just a safety net; it was a lifeline that could mean the difference between walking away clean or waiting for a call that might never come.

     Bustamante’s reliance on that piece of laminated paper wasn’t unique; it was a staple in a world where operatives like Hanson, Plame, and Fox knew that the smallest details often made the biggest difference.

     Do they carry weapons? Not really. Bustamante didn’t strut around with a Glock on his hip or a knife stashed up his sleeve. Those kinds of things could blow your cover faster than a double-crossing informant. A CIA operative’s number one job is to keep their cover airtight. Picture this: an EMT pulls you out of a wreck and spots a gun—that’s it, game over.

     Corey Pearson, the seasoned spymaster in Mission of Vengeance, knew this all too well. On regular days, he’d have a concealed Glock 30 tucked in his belt, hidden under a loose-fitting shirt—a precaution, a piece of insurance. But when meeting with Russian spies or slipping into a high-stakes situation where the risk of being searched was real, Corey went unarmed. He understood that if a weapon was found on him, his cover, and the entire operation, would be shattered in an instant. For operatives like Corey, the line between safety and exposure was razor-thin, and making those tough choices came with the territory.

     So, instead, they relied on subtle tools. A simple baton could disarm a threat without drawing suspicion, and an audio alarm could create a distraction when you needed an out. These weren’t flashy or loud; they were just enough to keep you safe and unnoticed. The trick was to blend in, stay invisible, and keep everything low-key. That’s how CIA operatives move through the world without anyone guessing who they really are.

     But that doesn’t mean the CIA didn’t play around with tech. They had gadgets that’d make your jaw drop, little tricks that let you slip into places you shouldn’t even dream of going. Bustamante once talked about a nifty device that could open any hotel room door with a flick of the wrist. He grinned when he mentioned it—it was the kind of tech operatives loved to have up their sleeves. But those gadgets? They were just the icing on the cake. The real game was in the ordinary stuff, the day-to-day tools and habits that kept you invisible.

     Life in the field was all about those little decisions that made the difference between getting caught and making it home. The ordinary became extraordinary, and even the most innocent-looking items could mean the difference between life and death. You wouldn’t spot them in a tux, sipping a shaken martini. You’d see them blending into a crowd, just another face with a laminated card, a bit of cash, laced-up shoes, and a secret nobody would ever suspect. 

Robert Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) and the author of the "Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster" spy thriller series. Check out his latest spy thriller, Misson of Vengeance

Secrets Behind Ordinary Walls: Inside America's CIA Safe Houses

 

Where Secrets Enter: The Mystery of 81 Bedford Street Unfolds

 Safe houses—ordinary places hiding extraordinary secrets—are the backbone of the CIA’s operations on American soil. These spots aren’t just for the spies you see in movies; they’re real, scattered across the country, keeping defectors, operatives, and informants alive. Their look might change with the times, but their mission hasn’t wavered: protect those who risk everything to spill secrets that could tip the scales of power.

     Take Alvictus, for example, a luxurious villa on the shore of Lake Jackson in Manassas, Virginia. Built by Victor Purse, a former State Department official who mingled with kings and presidents, this estate was more than just a testament to Cold War-era opulence.

     Cloaked in mystery, it became a refuge for Soviet defectors, shielded by high fences and the whispers of local residents who sometimes caught glimpses of figures speaking foreign tongues in the nearby country store. Purse himself knew the identity of at least one Russian agent who found shelter there, though he remained tight-lipped, offering only cryptic mentions of visits from figures like Robert Kennedy.

     The stakes surrounding these sanctuaries aren’t just written in spy novels. Sure, stories like Mission of Vengeance paint a vivid picture—where a CIA safe house in Sosua, Dominican Republic, becomes a refuge for defectors, equipped with soundproof rooms, hidden cameras, and secure phone lines. These places, both real and fictional, are the last line of defense for those who risk everything to share secrets, knowing that discovery could mean death.

     And it wasn’t much different in real-life places like the sleepy suburban streets of Arlington, Virginia. Past the rows of tidy homes with picket fences and manicured lawns, secrets lurked just beneath the surface. Just a stone’s throw from Langley, these neighborhoods were hiding stories that most locals wouldn’t dare imagine.

     The CIA made good use of these quiet streets, slipping into unassuming houses for quick debriefings and whispered meetings. The location was just right—close enough to headquarters for quick access but far enough to keep things out of sight. You could walk those streets today and not give a second glance to the house with the trimmed hedges and brick front, but who knows? Maybe that house was like ‘Ashford Farm’ over in Royal Oak, Maryland, where U-2 spy pilot Francis Gary Powers was once debriefed after being released from a Soviet prison.

     Ashford Farm wasn’t flashy, just another property tucked into the quiet landscape, blending seamlessly into its surroundings. That was the point. The place served as a perfect stronghold for agents to conduct crucial debriefings and high-stakes meetings that could shift the balance of power. Inside, the rooms were equipped with secure communication tools, and every creak of the floor was drowned out by the sheer importance of the conversations held there.

     The neighborhood never knew what went on behind those walls—strategies crafted, secrets shared, and lives altered. It was the kind of place where a single whispered sentence could ripple far beyond that living room and create shockwaves halfway across the world.

     Over in New York City, the agency carved its path into the chaos of the city’s maze. Cold War-era safe houses dotted the city, slipping into the everyday hum of working-class life. These weren’t grand buildings or obvious hideouts; they were plain apartments where seasoned CIA operatives met jittery Soviet defectors.

     One such place was ‘81 Bedford Street’ in Greenwich Village, an unremarkable building that seemed like any other in the neighborhood. Kids played stickball on the cobblestone streets, and neighbors exchanged greetings from fire escapes, oblivious to the covert activities inside. To the outside world, it was just another apartment with creaky stairs and peeling paint.

     But inside, 81 Bedford Street was a fortress of secrets. Sparse rooms held just enough—a table, some chairs, and a lamp casting dim light over tense faces. Soundproofed walls muffled whispers that could shift the balance of power, and reinforced floorboards concealed the true purpose of this place. This was where agents met informants, where defectors sat with wide eyes, trying to steady their voices as they recounted their tales to operatives with unflinching focus.

     The neighbors had no idea. To them, it was just another old building with a revolving door of tenants. But to those on the inside, 81 Bedford Street was more than brick and mortar—it was a safe house where betrayals were confessed, strategies plotted, and history quietly rewritten, one clandestine meeting at a time.

     Miami, too, held its share of secrets. During the Cold War, the city became a frontline for anti-Castro operations. Safe houses here were used as staging grounds for surveillance and planning missions to counter Cuban intelligence. Hidden among the tropical breezes and pastel-colored buildings, CIA operatives prepared for high-stakes missions that carried the weight of U.S. national security.

     One such safe house, the “Hurricane Motel”, was a nondescript roadside establishment that seemed to blend in perfectly with Miami’s bustling streets and vibrant neighborhoods. To any passerby, it was just another old motel, with sun-faded paint and a neon sign that buzzed softly at night.

     But the Hurricane Motel was anything but ordinary. Inside, rooms were retrofitted with hidden compartments that stored surveillance gear and encrypted radios. The drab furniture belied its true purpose—a safe space where operatives could pore over maps and dossiers, strategizing their next moves against Cuban operatives and sympathizers. The hum of a window air conditioning unit masked urgent conversations, as agents mapped out missions that could shift the balance of power in the delicate political chess game with Castro’s regime.

     For the operatives who moved through the Hurricane Motel, it was more than just a hideaway—it was a nerve center. It offered a rare moment of reprieve from the constant tension of their work, a place where they could strategize without watching their backs every second.

     The locals might have noticed people coming and going, familiar faces popping up at odd hours, but in a city teeming with recent exiles and sympathizers, questions were never asked. To them, it was just another run-down motel. But to those who knew better, the Hurricane Motel was a stronghold of American resolve, a linchpin in the silent war waged from the heart of Miami.

     So the next time you walk past an ordinary house with white shutters and a mailbox painted in cheery colors, pause for a moment. It might be nothing more than an average home. Or it could be a place where, years ago, the fate of nations was whispered in secret and a defector’s story began. 

Robert Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) and the author of the "Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster" spy thriller series. Check out his latest spy thriller, Misson of Vengeance.

Democracy Under Siege: How Russia and Iran Are Targeting Minority Communities to Influence U.S. Elections

 

Democracy Under Siege: Hidden forces wage a digital battle to influence and divide, testing the strength of the American spirit."

American democracy is under siege, folks. And not just in the ways you might think. It’s not just ballot boxes and polling stations being targeted—our adversaries are going after the minds and trust of the people themselves, especially those in minority communities. The presidential election has become a playground for disinformation and propaganda, with Russia and Iran pulling the strings from behind the curtain. Their strategy? Divide and conquer, with precision.

Let’s talk about what’s happening on the ground. U.S. intelligence and experts are sounding the alarm: Russia and Iran are tailoring their campaigns to specific groups, hoping to sway voters toward their chosen candidates. Here’s the kicker—artificial intelligence is fueling this chaos. Iran, for example, has rolled out websites pretending to be local news outlets, targeting Muslim and Black communities, particularly in swing states. Thankfully, these efforts haven’t drawn a huge audience yet. But Russia? They’re playing the long game.

Moscow’s really ramped up its efforts since their forays into influencing the last two presidential elections. This time, they’ve set their sights on Spanish-language speakers in the U.S., investing in Spanish content that’s both overt and covert. Valerie Wirtschafter from the Brookings Institution puts it bluntly: “Russia sees Spanish speakers as a very appealing audience, including in the U.S., where there are opportunities to make inroads.”

Think about that for a second. We’re not just talking about subtle suggestions here—this is a full-court press aimed at sowing division and manipulating public perception. American democracy thrives on free and fair elections, on trust. But when foreign actors are in the mix, aiming to fracture the very fabric of unity, we’re facing a crisis that goes beyond party lines. It’s about safeguarding what holds this country together.

So, when you cast your vote or read that news snippet that seems too wild to be true, pause for a second. Our democracy is only as strong as the awareness and resolve of its citizens. And right now, we need to stay sharp, stay informed, and stay united.

The KGB Never Died: Putin’s FSB and GRU Revive Cold War Tactics to Destabilize the West

Putin's New FSB and GRU Put American Democracy in the Crosshairs

     In today’s Russia, Vladimir Putin has taken the old KGB playbook, dusted it off, and reinstituted its methods through modern agencies like the Federal Security Service (FSB). From misinformation campaigns to political suppression, today’s Russian intelligence agencies mirror the strategies and brutal tactics the KGB used during the Cold War—just under a new name.

     For Americans and democracies around the globe, Putin’s resurrection of the KGB’s tactics poses a real and ongoing threat. It’s a world I explore in my spy thriller, Mission of Vengeance, where CIA spymaster Corey Pearson takes on ex-KGB agents who are reviving “Active Measures” to disrupt the West. If you’re wondering, “Active Measures” is Cold War lingo for the KGB’s arsenal of tricks to destabilize enemies from within—things like disinformation, sowing distrust, and meddling in politics.

     Back in the day, the KGB cooked up conspiracy theories to make Americans doubt their own government. Remember the rumor that the CIA created AIDS? Or the idea that the U.S. government assassinated Martin Luther King Jr.? Those were pure KGB creations, spread to erode American unity and trust. Today, Putin’s FSB has taken these old-school “Active Measures” to a new level, using social media to flood the West with disinformation, and even resorting to assassinations to silence critics abroad. The KGB might have a new name, but Putin’s playbook is just as chilling as ever.

     Putin’s FSB and GRU both operate as the KGB once did: with sweeping powers over Russian society, ruthlessly eliminating dissidents and opponents both domestically and abroad. Take Alexander Litvinenko’s assassination in 2006. He was poisoned with radioactive polonium-210 after publicly denouncing the Kremlin’s corruption. This brazen act, carried out on British soil, was a modern-day echo of KGB assassinations—intended as a chilling reminder that the FSB, and GRU, will go to any length to silence the Kremlin’s critics. See Unmasking Russian Intelligence: The GRU's Lethal Assassination Tactics Abroad to learn more.

      During the Cold War, the KGB infiltrated progressive movements in the U.S. and Latin America, sowing unrest and polarizing societies. Today’s FSB and GRU continue this legacy with “Active Measures” aimed at undermining American and Western stability. Mission of Vengeance dives into this very danger, as CIA spymaster Corey Pearson discovers a network of sleeper agents in the Caribbean orchestrating a grand scheme to destabilize America’s influence. The novel may be fiction, but the reality is equally nerve-wracking.

     U.S. intelligence is well aware that Russia’s promises to abandon Active Measures were hollow. When former Russian intelligence station chief Sergey Tretyakov defected to the U.S. in 2000, he confirmed that Moscow had kept these tactics alive long after the Soviet Union collapsed. Since Putin came to power, disinformation campaigns have intensified, like those aimed at influencing public opinion during the 2016 U.S. presidential election and in European democracies. It’s a chilling reminder of how these “old” tactics are shaping modern-day conflicts.

     Western intelligence agencies, like the CIA, MI6, and Canada’s CSIS, operate under strict oversight. Transparency, legislative scrutiny, and legal constraints are part of their structure, designed to protect citizens’ rights and uphold democratic values. Their missions center on foreign intelligence gathering and counterterrorism, with minimal domestic interference—ensuring they don’t function as tools of political control.

     Unlike the CIA and other intelligence agencies in democracies, which are held to strict oversight and legal standards, Russia’s FSB operates with almost zero checks. For Putin, loyalty to the Kremlin isn’t just expected—it’s mandatory. And the FSB’s role goes way beyond intelligence gathering; they actively crack down on journalists, activists, and anyone brave enough to challenge the government.

     Take the case of journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who was gunned down in her apartment building in 2006 after years of reporting on corruption and abuses in Chechnya. Many believe the FSB was behind it, silencing her for exposing the harsh reality of Putin’s regime. The FSB uses Cold War-style tactics—intimidation, constant surveillance, and even targeted assassinations—to stamp out dissent and maintain Putin’s grip on power. For him, the FSB is not just a spy agency; it’s a tool for total domestic control and a way to spread Russian influence globally.

     Putin’s nostalgia for the old Soviet Union, combined with his hardcore KGB training, fuels his foreign policy today. This isn’t just about intelligence gathering anymore; it’s about taking down democratic societies piece by piece. From the invasion of Crimea to cyber attacks against the U.S., Putin has unleashed an agency with one mission: to undermine and destabilize the West.

     Today’s Russia, with its FSB, is basically a rebranded KGB. The methods might have evolved, but the playbook is all too familiar. With advanced tools and new tactics, Putin’s shadowy FSB is lurking in ways that should concern anyone who values freedom. It’s no longer a Cold War relic; this is real, and it’s here, threatening democratic values everywhere.

     This isn’t just a call to action for the CIA and Western intelligence—it’s a wake-up call for all of us. We can’t afford to look away, because if we do, we risk losing far more than just a battle in a spy novel; we risk losing the ideals that define us. 

Robert Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) and the author of the "Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster" spy thriller series. Check out his latest spy thriller, Misson of Vengeance  

Salt Typhoon: China’s Digital Storm Threatening America’s Democracy

Salt Typhoon: China’s Silent Cyberstorm Targeting America’s Democracy 

      Imagine scrolling through social media, thinking you’re seeing the latest updates, maybe even a bit of political banter. But lurking behind some of those posts is something far more sinister than simple election chatter. This is about Salt Typhoon—a code name for China’s latest digital assault on U.S. democracy. And unlike a mere storm, Salt Typhoon is a force designed to mess with our perceptions, twist our views, and shake our faith in the American electoral process.

     So, what exactly is Salt Typhoon? U.S. intelligence experts call it a “cyber-espionage and disinformation campaign.” In plain terms, China’s using a blend of cyber tools: hacking into political networks, deploying highly convincing fake videos (deepfakes), and planting legions of fake social media accounts.

     This isn’t just against one party or candidate: it’s bipartisan. Both sides are feeling the impact, with prominent figures like Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris finding themselves targets. Salt Typhoon’s ultimate goal is to disrupt the entire election process, ensuring that no matter who wins, the public’s faith in the outcome is tainted. The strategy is as much about the division as it is about the deception.

     Take one of Salt Typhoon’s most unsettling moves as an example: Just as campaign season heated up, a “leaked” video surfaced online showing Kamala Harris making eyebrow-raising statements on national security. The video looked authentic—her voice, expressions, everything matched. But, as it turned out, this “leak” was a meticulously crafted deepfake.

     By the time intelligence agencies could confirm the video was fake, it had already spread like wildfire across social media, stirring up public debate and planting doubts that couldn’t be easily erased. And that’s exactly what Salt Typhoon wants—to make us second-guess what we see and hear, to the point that trust itself becomes a casualty.

     Salt Typhoon’s strategy goes beyond just hitting high-profile individuals. This digital typhoon reaches into public issues, too, amplifying tensions on subjects that already divide us. For instance, during the pandemic, fake accounts linked to Salt Typhoon orchestrated online protests against “government overreach” and vaccine mandates.

     These accounts spread exaggerated fears about lockdowns and personal freedoms, driving thousands to participate in rallies across multiple states. The results were predictable—escalated fear, mistrust, and communities driven further apart during a time when cohesion was needed the most.

     How does U.S. intelligence handle something as elusive as a digital storm? Our intelligence agencies aren’t new to this game. They’ve been working alongside tech giants to root out and shut down fake accounts and bolster cybersecurity across government and political systems. The FBI has responded with public advisories, telling Americans to watch out for foreign influence campaigns and providing tools to recognize manipulated content.

     And while no arrests have been made specifically tied to Salt Typhoon’s operators, sanctions and toughened defenses are aimed at taking down the infrastructure that supports these attacks—bot networks, rogue servers, and third-party intermediaries.

     But here’s the challenge: Salt Typhoon and similar cyber campaigns are designed to keep their “digital foot soldiers” virtually untraceable. China’s cyber operations rely on tightly controlled networks and a web of intermediaries that obscure the real players behind the scenes. Intelligence agencies have opted for a containment strategy, focusing on dismantling the tools used by Salt Typhoon rather than aiming for arrests that may never come. This work is like battling a shadow—you can’t always catch it, but you can work to keep it from spreading.

     Interestingly, these cyber disinformation campaigns have been a focal point in the spy thriller Mission of Vengeance. In the novel, CIA spymaster Corey Pearson and his elite team find themselves countering a Russian-run disinformation operation with eerie similarities to Salt Typhoon. A former KGB agent, hiding out in the Dominican Republic, operates from his secluded mansion, orchestrating a secret campaign aimed at destabilizing America’s influence in the Caribbean.

     The KGB agent’s sprawling estate serves as the headquarters for his organization—a group of former Russian spies who manipulate public opinion and sow discontent. As Pearson and his team work to expose this network, they uncover just how intertwined digital deception and espionage have become, blurring the lines between fiction and reality.

     So next time you’re scrolling, pay close attention: that post, that video, that breaking news story might not be what it seems. Salt Typhoon isn’t just a cyber-storm blowing through; it’s a meticulously engineered assault, looking to draft you into its ranks as an unwitting accomplice. China’s cyber operatives want you to question everything—except them.

     And as much as America’s intelligence agencies are out there fighting this digital war, the truth is, they can’t do it alone. They need you to stay sharp, to see through the fog, to think twice before sharing, reposting, or reacting.

Because if there’s one thing Salt Typhoon depends on, it’s people who don’t stop to question what’s real. So, don’t let yourself get swept up in their storm.  Be critical. Be alert. And the next time you’re online, don’t just believe—verify.

     This isn’t fiction, and the stakes are high. 

Robert Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) and the author of the "Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster" spy thriller series. Check out his latest spy thriller, Misson of Vengeance.