According to the latest leaks from whistleblower Edward Snowden, the NSA has installed "sleeper cells" on 50,000 networks. Yes, these are malware programs to remotely control computers.

Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad reports that the networks reach all around the world.

The malware acts as a sleeper agent on compromised PCs. When activated, it begins harvesting data. The data is then sent to the NSA's voracious data processing apparatus.

Snowden has revealed the detailed methodology for the NSA's deployment of malware in the past. But this is the latest leak that illustrates that state-sponsored cyber espionage is far from the sole preserve of the Chinese.