Recently leaked documents show that the NSA planted malware on approximately 50,000 computer networks around the world.
The information comes from Dutch media outlet NRC, which cites Snowden’s files. The document in question is actually a management presentation slide, dating back to 2012, and shows a global map filled with “Computer Network Exploitation” (CNE ) access points.
CNEs are the covert infiltration of computer systems achieved with the help of malware. And what happened to Belgium telco Belgacom is an example, as previous leaks show.
The slide shows that the NSA-sourced computer attacks are carried out by a special unit called TAO, short for Tailored Access Operations, made up of around 1,000 hackers.
This type of activity is particularly important for the NSA, since it is fairly easy to execute and relatively inexpensive. Considering that the intelligence agency has the opportunity to obtain information that it would otherwise not have access to, it seems like a good business for the NSA.
The NSA presentation shows CNE operations around the world, including in Brazil, where there has been a huge scandal from previous reports that showed the Americans spied on the country's president, both former and current, on local businesses and the oil company Petrobras, which authorities classify as economic espionage.
Other regional locations where the NSA managed to penetrate networks are in cities such as Geneva, Athens, Rome, Caracas, Bogota, Mexico City, Havana, Bangkok, New Delhi, Sofia, Paris, Berlin, Frankfurt, Milan, and many others that are distinguishable from the archive.
The NSA was asked for a response regarding the information, but declined to comment, choosing to redirect the media to the US government, essentially playing the blame game.
Even if they decide to comment on the situation, you will probably use the default response to all of this, which usually boils down to “we will do what we have to do because we can.”
