Trump Memo Paves Way for U.S. Firms to Hack and Disrupt Foreign Crime Groups

Summary: A White House memo signed by President Donald Trump directs the National Coordination Center to set up, within 60 days, a program letting vetted U.S. private companies conduct cyber surveillance and cyber effects operations against foreign Transnational Criminal Organizations, with operations approved and overseen by the federal government. The memo requires companies to halt operations that exceed approved parameters - such as targeting a U.S. person or an information system located in or controlled by a U.S. person - apply minimization procedures, and immediately alert the NCC, which notifies the Department of Justice.
What's compelling: The memo authorizes private firms to conduct operations that can cause disruption, denial, degradation, or destruction of systems, while existing U.S. law prohibits private companies from carrying out cyber attacks or disruption without court authorization - a conflict security leaders will have to weigh against the $20.8 billion in reported consumer losses the initiative is meant to address.

Read the original at The Hacker News ↗