Trump signs memo calling for cyber privateers to conduct cyberattacks abroad against criminal groups targeting Americans but they have to escrow $1 million to join

Date:
Thu, 13 Aug 2026 12:05:00 +0000

Description:
Private companies will be legally allowed to conduct cyberattacks against foreign groups on behalf of the US government.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter US government to allow private firms to conduct legal cyberattacks on foreign organizations targeting Americans Firms will be allowed to disrupt and destroy physical and virtual information systems and networks US victims of cyber scams and fraud lose around $20,000 President Trump has signed a memo which allows private US
firms to partner with the US government in operations designed to surveille and disrupt Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs).

According to the memo, the partnership will enhance our ability to counter
TCO threats and combat transnational cybercrime, fraud, and other predatory schemes against American citizens, essentially turning private companies into privateers with the ability to launch cyber attacks against foreign entities. The memo marks a significant shift in how the US tackles foreign cybercrime. American businesses innovative capabilities have historically been underutilized in efforts to identify and disrupt criminal networks operating in cyberspace, the memo states. But what does this actually mean in practice? Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: US to leverage private sector for cyber defense The US is the most targeted country in the world for cyber attacks and cybercrime, with 6.7 million victims losing $138.9 billion in the last year , placing the average loss per-victim at around $20,731.

The program will effectively create a global cyber surveillance network that acts as an early warning system against attacks targeting critical national infrastructure, such as the recent Iranian attacks targeting over 30 US water systems . Private companies that discover an imminent cyber-attack against United States critical infrastructure will be required to notify the National Coordination Center (NCC). You may like New Trump executive order requests AI companies 'voluntarily' allow the White House to test the "advanced cyber capabilities of AI models "$10.22 million and counting": US cyber breaches have become a boardroom issue First VPN administrators sanctioned by US Treasury over ransomware attacks

The US government isnt just looking to work alongside the big tech companies. Big companies will be part of the picture to provide critical capacity, but smaller companies will also have the opportunity to become involved with the program as they are more agile, and may be better suited for specialized or discrete tasks.

When a threat is detected, private companies will put together a cyber operations package to be reviewed and approved by the Program Executive Directors. These packages will likely include plans for surveillance and offensive cyber operations. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign
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Private companies looking to become part of the program will be vetted according to government guidelines, and will have to operate within a set of operating procedures under the oversight of the federal government. No operation may be approved unless it complies with these operating procedures, the memo says.

There is however a caveat that those involved within the program must
maintain a bond or escrow in an amount not less than $1 million, which would be forfeit should a private company enter noncompliance with its contractual agreement.

The memo also sets our parameters to prevent private companies from accidentally or intentionally targeting US citizens, or US information
systems at home and abroad, with the company required to cease such
operation, conduct minimization procedures, and immediately notify the NCC,
in the event that a company discovers operational activity exceeding the parameters and restrictions of the cyber operation. What to read next White House launches 'Gold Eagle' cybersecurity clearinghouse to share and patch AI-discovered software flaws 'It's possible to meet these types of
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AI giants

Additionally, any activity authorized by the Program must be conducted
subject to the oversight, operational control, and legal authorities of the United States Government.

The memo is the latest step in the Trump administrations efforts to allow private companies to legally launch cyberattacks on behalf of the US government. The American private sector is the most innovative and technologically advanced in the world, and its scale, speed, and capacity secure a critical offensive cyber advantage for the United States, the memo states.

The program will also put together a report on its progress every year, as well as reviewing the performance of each private company within the program within the same time frame. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/trump-signs-memo-calling-for-cyber-priv ateers-to-conduct-cyberattacks-abroad-against-criminal-groups-targeting-americ ans-but-they-have-to-escrow-usd1-million-to-join


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