Digital Sleeper Cell: NSA infected 50,000 computer networks with malware to steal data

The NSA has infected over 50,000 computer networks across the globe with malware capable of stealing sensitive data from the victim's computer.

According to the NRC.nl report , which is based on documents provided by whistleblower Edward Snowden, the practice is called Computer Network Exploitation (CNE).

The malware is referred to as a "digital Sleeper cell," which is controlled by the NSA and can be activated or deactivated remotely.

The number of infected networks in 2008 appears to be over 20,000. By mid-2012, the number of infected networks had increased to 50,000.