SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Did the National Security Agency plant spyware deep in the hard drives of thousands of computers used by foreign governments, banks and other surveillance targets around the world?

A new report from a Russian cybersecurity firm says its researchers have identified a new family of malicious programs or worms that infected computers in multiple countries, primarily overseas. Targets appear to be specifically selected and included military, Islamic activists, energy companies and other businesses, as well as government personnel.

Kaspersky Lab did not name the United States as the source of the malware. But it says one of the programs has elements in common with the so-called Stuxnet worm, which the New York Times and Washington Post have said was developed by the U.S. and Israeli governments to disrupt Iranian nuclear facilities.

An NSA spokeswoman declined comment, but cited a 2014 presidential directive that instructed U.S. intelligence agencies to respect Americans’ privacy while continuing to conduct overseas operations necessary to guard against terrorism or other threats.

%@AP Links

240-c-17-(Brandon Bailey, AP correspondent)-“involved in this”-AP correspondent Brandon Bailey reports a Russian cybersecurity firm is reporting that one of the programs allegedly planted in the hard drives of thousands of computers used by foreign governments, banks and other surveillance targets has elements in common with a cyber worm that was reportedly developed by the U.S. and Israeli governments to disrupt Iranian nuclear facilities. (17 Feb 2015)

<

239-c-18-(Brandon Bailey, AP correspondent)-“around the world”-AP correspondent Brandon Bailey reports there are questions about whether the U.S. planted spyware in the hard drives of thousands of computers used by foreign governments, banks and other surveillance targets. (17 Feb 2015)

<

241-c-16-(Brandon Bailey, AP correspondent)-“against outside threats”-AP correspondent Brandon Bailey reports the Obama administration isn’t answering questions about whether the U.S. planted spyware in the hard drives of thousands of computers used by foreign governments, banks and other surveillance targets. (17 Feb 2015)

<

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Copyright © 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.