What is GCHQ?
Q: What is GCHQ?
A: GCHQ is a British intelligence agency.
Q: What does GCHQ do?
A: GCHQ collects, analyses and passes on signals from around the world, as well as cracking cyphers and arranging secure transmissions.
Q: What is "signals intelligence"?
A: Signals intelligence (SIGINT) is the collection of all forms of free-to-air signals and many interceptions of covert communication.
Q: How does GCHQ scan signals?
A: GCHQ uses computers to scan the signals for key words or phrases, and flags any which contain key words.
Q: What is cryptography?
A: Cryptography is the ways and means of getting into other people's secrets, and keeping our secrets secure.
Q: Who is responsible for secure coding of transmissions?
A: The Communications-Electronics Security Group (CESG) is responsible for secure coding of transmissions.
Q: Who guides GCHQ as an organisation?
A: GCHQ is under the guidance of the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) as an organisation.
