The Spy World's Most Devious Disguises, Devices, And Deceptions

We all know that along with his latest tricked-out sports car, super spy James Bond never begins a mission without some clever devices supplied by gadget master Q. As noted by Popular Mechanics, whether it's an explosive ghetto blaster — a "boom box that really goes boom" — a wrist-mounted dart gun, or a bagpipe flamethrower, Bond always operates with the most devious of devices. While some of the crazier Bond gadgets are truly the stuff of fiction, many others are the types of tools used in actual spy operations.

While there's a ton of stories of spies who were brought to justice by those they were stealing secrets from, there are also spies who were so good at what they did they got away scot-free... and some lived happily ever after.

Over the years, many historical and contemporary icons have been fingered as possible spies. But only a handful of these theories have had enough proof to swing the plausibility-o-meter from a firm, red "no way" to a tentative, amber "you know what? They really might be." We're not saying any of the following definitely spent their spare time lurking in the shadows with the George Smileys of yesteryear. We're just saying there's a tantalizingly good chance that they did.

Throughout the course of the Cold War, spies played a vital part in establishing that edge. Yet, few of them were glamorous James Bond types. The true reality of spycraft during this era could be at turns dirty, dangerous, and even utterly boring. Yet, some clichés are surprisingly close to the truth. Ultimately, this was work that many considered important but came with surprising results. Here's what it was really like to be a Cold War spy.

How did Hiss get ensnared by claims of espionage, and was he ever proven guilty? Here's what you need to know about this public servant turned public enemy number one.