NSA Might Have Used Level 3 to Spy on You

A new report says the National Security Agency might have tapped Level 3 Communications' fiber-optic cables to eavesdrop on Yahoo and Google users.

Craig Galbraith, Editorial Director

November 26, 2013

1 Min Read
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A new report says the National Security Agency might have tapped Level 3 Communications‘ fiber-optic cables to eavesdrop on Yahoo and Google users.

While breaking through barriers at the Internet companies’ data centers would be a herculean task, the cables that connect those facilities are an easier target for the government. At least that’s what sources told The New York Times, specifically naming Level 3 as a company whose cables were likely exploited for information gathering. The Colorado-based company is the world’s biggest Internet backbone provider.

Yahoo and Google have both said that they are now encrypting the data that run from one data center to the next.

Follow senior online managing editor @Craig_Galbraith on Twitter.

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About the Author

Craig Galbraith

Editorial Director, Channel Futures

Craig Galbraith is the editorial director for Channel Futures, joining the team in 2008. Before that, he spent more than 11 years as an anchor, reporter and managing editor in television newsrooms in North Dakota and Washington state. Craig is a proud Husky, having graduated from the University of Washington. He makes his home in the Phoenix area.

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