NSA carves pathway into international computers: New York Times

WASHINGTON: The US National Security Agency has put software in almost 100,000 computers around the world allowing it to carry out surveillance on those devices and could provide a digital highway for cyberattacks, the New York Times reported on Tuesday. 

The NSA has planted most of the software through getting access to computer networks, but has also used a secret technology that allows it entry even to computers not connected to the Internet, the Times said, citing US officials, computer experts and documents leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.