Westminster Nude Photo Scandal May Be Honeytrap Operation
• The Westminster nude photo scandal appears to be a "spear phishing" attack to gather compromising information on targets, possibly by a foreign state.
• Honeytraps have a long history in espionage, with famous examples like Mata Hari, the Profumo affair, Barbara Castle's attempted seduction by a Czech agent, and Mordechai Vanunu's capture by Mossad.
• Mata Hari was a dancer recruited by the French to seduce the German Crown Prince in WWI - her true intentions and loyalty remain unclear.
• John Profumo resigned as Secretary of State for War in 1963 after his affair with Christine Keeler, who was also involved with a Soviet naval attaché.
• Markus Wolf of East German intelligence ran "Romeo Spies" to seduce powerful West German women and turn some into agents, though the tactic became less effective over time.