(VOVworld) – Germany has launched an investigation into a new case of alleged spying by the US National Security Agency, German news Magazine “Der Spiegel” reported on Saturday.

A spying virus was allegedly installed on a laptop in the chancellery. (Photo: flickr/Global Panorama)

The probe was launched by Germany's federal prosecutors against unknown persons over "espionage activities". 

The case is centered on a spying virus called “Regin” which was allegedly found on the computer of the department chief at the office of Germen Chancellor Angela Merkel. The virus, found last year, permits monitoring of all data present on an infected computer.