Freedom of knowledge is an aspect of life that many individuals give credence to. In doing so, they have neglected to realise that there are others who have been prosecuted for crimes involving the allocation of knowledge, specifically that of the classified variety. These individuals, often referred to as 'spies', essentially put their lives on the line for the sake of gaining knowledge. John Cairncross was such a man. Considered to be the last surviving member of the KGB's "Ring of Five" until his death on October 8, 1995, Cairncross was played a vital role in helping the allies during World War II (Bower, 1995).