Originally Posted by Rochard

What I don't understand is this has been going on since 1940. All nations read and hack each other.

In Germany they call it "Bundesnachrichtendienst". Wikipedia says:

It depends heavily on wiretapping and electronic surveillance of international communications. It collects and evaluates information on a variety of areas such as international non-state terrorism, weapons of mass destruction proliferation and illegal transfer of technology, organized crime, weapons and drug trafficking, money laundering, illegal migration and information warfare. As Germany?s only overseas intelligence service, the BND gathers both military and civil intelligence.

So, it spies on other countries. Every country does this.