Report: NSA Using Radio Waves To Access Computers

The National Security Agency has implanted software in nearly 100,000 computers around the world, but not in the U.S., that allows it to conduct surveillance on those machines, The New York Times reported Tuesday (January 14th), citing documents taken by NSA leaker Edward Snowden.

The Times said secret technology uses radio waves, sent from tiny circuit boards and USB cards covertly put into the computers, to gain access to them. The NSA has used the technology to monitor Chinese army units, the Russian military, drug cartels, trade institutions inside the European Union, and U.S. partners against terrorism like Saudi Arabia, India and Pakistan. An NSA spokesperson told the Times, "NSA's activities are focused and specifically deployed against -- and only against -- valid foreign intelligence targets in response to intelligence requirements.

We do not use foreign intelligence capabilities to steal the trade secrets of foreign companies on behalf of -- or give intelligence we collect to -- U.S. companies to enhance their international competitiveness or increase their bottom line."