Intelligence operations like the NSA, CIA, etc operate under a dual mandate: 1) gather information on foreign governments and 2) keep domestic information secur

Intelligence operations like the NSA, CIA, etc operate under a dual mandate: 1) gather information on foreign governments and 2) keep domestic information secure. However, with everyone using the same software, both mandates are in conflict. Any attempt to secure domestic information by fixing security holes also diminishes information-gathering capability elsewhere. My personal opinion is that spymasters have decided as a class to leave things open in the name of keeping a job. Better to let China read your secrets than to lose access to China's.