The Trump admin will start letting private firms launch international cyberattacks

The Trump administration is launching a program allowing private firms to conduct cyberattacks targeting foreign criminal networks, as described by Bloomberg. A presidential memorandum published Wednesday says companies would operate under federal “control and oversight” and be supervised by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. The firms must meet requirements such as technical proficiency, proven performance, and facility security, and must provide at least $1 million in a bond or escrow that could be forfeited for noncompliance. The memo limits targeting to groups that are not part of a foreign government or directed by one. Experts cited by outlets including Cybersecurity Dive and TechCrunch warned it could be hard to determine government links, raising legal and geopolitical risks.