Counterintelligence is primarily aimed at mitigating which of the following threats?

Counterintelligence specifically targets espionage and other intelligence-related risks, which involves preventing adversaries from collecting sensitive information vital to national security and organizational integrity. This practice can encompass a wide range of activities, including identifying and neutralizing foreign spies, safeguarding classified information, and protecting intelligence sources and methods. By focusing on these aspects, counterintelligence plays a crucial role in ensuring that the operations and strategies of a nation or organization remain secure from external exploitation.

In contrast, while cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, political manipulation of intelligence reports, and economic threat assessments are significant concerns, they do not directly fall under the primary objectives of counterintelligence. Cybersecurity may deal with preventing data breaches but does not inherently involve counterintelligence techniques. Political manipulation pertains more to the integrity of intelligence processes rather than the direct adversarial threats counterintelligence counters. Economic assessments focus on understanding foreign nations' economic strategies rather than actively defending against intelligence threats. Thus, counterintelligence's main focus remains on espionage and defense against intelligence-related threats.