However, there’s a significant limitation to this approach. With the widespread adoption of HTTPS and other encryption protocols, a large portion of internet traffic is now encrypted. This means that while the agency can still capture the data packets, the content of those packets is largely unreadable without the corresponding encryption keys. This shift towards encrypted communication channels makes it increasingly difficult for the MoTS strategy to yield actionable intelligence, pushing agencies to explore more invasive techniques.
This evolving landscape in internet security highlights the ongoing battle between privacy advocates and surveillance entities, where each advance in encryption is met with a corresponding escalation in espionage tactics.