I didn't think it sounded like they did it 'out of sheer boredom', they do it to people they've targetted for investigation. In what numbers, whether targetting computers inside the US or not, etc. -- we do not know, Snowden has not yet released documents so far as I know.
The software to take over someone's computer like that exists, and can be used by script kiddies that don't even know what they're doing, to take over and 'own' many people's computers, complete control. Presumably the NSA knows about even more exploits than the easily available hacker-distributed software does.
The software to take over someone's computer like that exists, and can be used by script kiddies that don't even know what they're doing, to take over and 'own' many people's computers, complete control. Presumably the NSA knows about even more exploits than the easily available hacker-distributed software does.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remote_administration_software
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/03/rat-breeders-meet...