{{Short description|Digital communication technique}} '''Foldering''' is the practice of communicating via messages saved to the "drafts" folder of an email or other electronic messaging account that is accessible by multiple people.<ref name="businessinsider">{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/mueller-accuses-manafort-of-foldering-to-secretly-communicate-2018-6?op=1|title=Mueller's team accused Manafort of 'foldering,' a technique used by drug cartels and terrorist groups to secretly communicate|website=Business Insider |publisher=}}</ref><ref name="fastcompany">{{cite web|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/40586130/manafort-allegedly-used-foldering-to-hide-emails-heres-how-it-works|title=Manafort allegedly used "foldering" to hide emails. Here's how it works|date=15 June 2018|publisher=}}</ref><ref name="grahamcluley">{{cite web|url=https://www.grahamcluley.com/paul-manafort-accused-of-foldering-to-hide-communications/|title=Paul Manafort accused of 'foldering' to hide communications|date=16 June 2018|publisher=}}</ref><ref name="motherjones">{{cite web|url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2018/06/robert-mueller-paul-manafort-used-foldering-deception/|title=Mueller says Manafort used "foldering" as part of his "deception"|publisher=}}</ref> The messages are never actually sent.<ref name="businessinsider"/><ref name="fastcompany"/><ref name="grahamcluley"/><ref name="motherjones"/>
Foldering has been described as a digital equivalent of a dead drop.<ref name="fastcompany"/>
==History==
Foldering was reportedly used by al-Qaeda at least as early as 2005<ref name="fastcompany"/> and it has also been used by drug cartels.<ref name="businessinsider"/>
==Notable cases==
In 2012, David Petraeus was reported to have used foldering to communicate with Paula Broadwell.<ref name="fastcompany"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2012/11/12/heres-the-e-mail-trick-petraeus-and-broadwell-used-to-communicate/|title=Here's the e-mail trick Petraeus and Broadwell used to communicate|first=Max|last=Fisher|date=12 November 2012|publisher=|via=www.washingtonpost.com}}</ref>
In June 2018, Greg Andres cited Paul Manafort's use of foldering as evidence that Manafort engaged in deceptive behaviours.<ref name="motherjones"/>
==See also==
* Dead drop * Tradecraft
==References== {{reflist}}
{{espionage}} Category:Data security Category:Espionage techniques {{espionage-stub}}