Private security firms will soon be allowed to hack overseas cybercriminals
Summary
President Donald Trump has authorized a new program that allows private security companies to carry out government-approved cyberattacks against foreign criminal groups hacking into U.S. systems. These companies will operate under oversight from the Justice and Homeland Security Departments, with rules meant to prevent deadly or violent cyber actions.Key Facts
- President Trump issued a National Security Presidential Memorandum to start the program.
- Private firms can now conduct offensive cyber operations against foreign cybercriminal groups targeting U.S. persons and interests.
- Targeted crimes include ransomware, phishing, financial fraud, sextortion, and impersonation scams.
- The program requires private companies to be vetted and approved by the Justice and Homeland Security Departments.
- Companies must meet technical standards, show prior experience, and deposit $1 million as a security bond.
- Actions cannot cause death, serious injury, or qualify as armed attacks under international law.
- The memo permits use of spyware and cyberattacks like encrypting data to block hackers or distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.
- Many operational details are not yet defined and will determine how effective and responsible the program will be.
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