White House Lets Private Firms Hack Cybercriminals—At Their Own Legal Risk
60-second summary
President Donald Trump is signing a memorandum allowing vetted U.S. companies to conduct offensive cyber operations against foreign criminal networks at their own legal risk. The program authorizes private firms to hack cybercriminals without explicit government permission, potentially expanding the scope of cyber warfare. This move could increase private sector involvement in cybersecurity.
President Donald Trump signed a memorandum Tuesday that lets vetted U.S. companies carry out offensive cyber operations against foreign criminal networks. Here's what the program actually authorizes.