White House taps security firms for offensive hack-back operations
The program would let vetted companies conduct surveillance and disruptive operations against transnational criminal groups, with every action requiring federal approval.
- On Wednesday, August 12, President Donald Trump signed a national security presidential memorandum directing the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice to authorize vetted private companies to conduct "cyber surveillance operations" and "cyber effects operations" against foreign transnational criminal organizations.
- Citing a "growing threat" against Americans, the Trump administration noted $20.8 billion in reported cybercrime losses in 2025 and 73% of U.S. adults experiencing online scams, while intrusions into water infrastructure in over a dozen states were reportedly linked to Iranian government-backed hackers.
- Under the memo's "cyber effects" definition, private companies could manipulate, disrupt, or destroy IT systems including industrial control systems; participating firms must maintain a $1 million bond and pass "rigorous vetting" under strict Justice Department and DHS oversight.
- Cybersecurity researcher Marcus Hutchins called the order a "really terrible idea," noting immunity applies only under U.S. law, while experts warn Americans participating abroad could face foreign prosecution or be classified as non-uniformed combatants.
- The federal government will issue guidance within two months outlining requirements for participating companies, though experts question whether guardrails will hold when criminal groups share infrastructure with legitimate services and operations risk collateral damage.
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‘Cyber privateers’: Trump issues order allowing US companies to hack overseas groups under certain conditions
By Sean Lyngaas, CNN (CNN) — The Trump administration is enlisting private companies to conduct cyberattacks on foreign cybercriminals in a major policy shift that experts say could come with legal risk for the companies. The move gives vetted companies a prominent role in hacking operations that have historically been the dominion of US law
A new presidential memoranda allows federal agencies to contract private firms to conduct targeted hacking against cybercrime networks.
Trump signs memo authorizing private firms to conduct cyber operations against foreign crime groups
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed a national security presidential memorandum Wednesday authorizing the federal government to partner with vetted private U.S. companies to conduct cyber surveillance and disruptive cyber operations against foreign transnational criminal organizations that target Americans through online fraud, ransomware and other schemes. The memorandum, titled “Expanding Capabilities to Combat Transnational Cyber-Enabl…
Trump Authorises Private Cyber Firms To Hack Foreign Scammers After Americans Lost $20.8bn to Fraud
President Donald Trump has signed a memorandum authorising vetted private American companies to carry out offensive cyber operations against foreign criminal networks for the first time in US history. The move marks a significant shift in Washington's approach to tackling cybercrime, positioning private firms as active participants rather than bystanders. The memorandum, signed on 12 August and titled 'Expanding Capabilities to Combat Transnatio…
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