Report: Snowden used scraping software for data

NEW YORK — Edward Snowden, the former government contractor who exposed secret U.S. intelligence programs, used automated “web crawler” software to scrape classified information from the National Security Agency’s systems, the New York Times reported, citing a senior intelligence official.

Snowden was able to access and download the data using unsophisticated software because he was working at an agency location that didn’t have modern security safeguards, according to the Times.

Snowden took advantage of the NSA’s “rudimentary protections against insiders” looking to steal information, the Times said.

Glenn Greenwald, the journalist who reported for the U.K.’s Guardian newspaper on Snowden’s allegations of U.S. surveillance programs, indicated today that other government insiders may step forward with new revelations.

“There will be more sources inside the government who are also inspired by Snowden’s courage,” Greenwald said on CNN’s “Reliable Sources” program.