The term “special services” arose not so long ago, but the phenomenon itself is as old as the world. The publication of the work of I. B. Linder and S. A. Churkin “The Secret Services of the World for 500 Years” helps shed light on many mysteries over which the best minds of mankind have struggled. From the 16th to the 20th centuries, the participation that the world's intelligence services took in fateful events, trying to influence the course of history, is traced. The book talks about the most high-profile cases and operations of the intelligence services; the “secret springs” of many historical processes are exposed. There is much more natural than random in the world - this is the conclusion that anyone who gets acquainted with the chronicle of the actions of the world's intelligence services, full of professional secrets, will make. For those who care about the past and future of our country, underestimating the activities of the special services would be a clear mistake. The foreword was written by Major General of State Security Yu. I. Drozdov, head of the “S” (illegal intelligence) department of the PGU KGB of the USSR from 1979 to 1991.