News broke earlier this week alleging that the National Security Agency “has infected millions of computers around the world with malware.” The report cited newly available documents leaked by Edward Snowden that had previously been classified, and it also claimed the NSA “is impersonating US social media or other websites” to spy on people. The NSA has since issued a statement refuting the report, however, claiming that the allegations within are unfounded and untrue.
“Recent media reports that allege NSA has infected millions of computers around the world with malware, and that NSA is impersonating U.S. social media or other websites, are inaccurate,” the NSA said in its statement. “NSA uses its technical capabilities only to support lawful and appropriate foreign intelligence operations, all of which must be carried out in strict accordance with its authorities. Technical capability must be understood within the legal, policy, and operational context within which the capability must be employed.”
The statement continued, “NSA’s authorities require that its foreign intelligence operations support valid national security requirements, protect the legitimate privacy interests of all persons, and be as tailored as feasible. NSA does not use its technical capabilities to impersonate US company websites. Nor does NSA target any user of global Internet services without appropriate legal authority. Reports of indiscriminate computer exploitation operations are simply false.”