The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that the White House is recruiting private firms for offensive operations against foreign cybercriminals, breaking a decades-old state monopoly. Whether they may 'hack back' remains open; Global Times cited a Chinese expert warning of cyber piracy.
Offensive cyber operations in the United States have traditionally been run by government agencies, while private companies were left to defend their own networks. The Trump administration's cyber security plan reopens the question of how far the private sector should go, and whether firms may strike back at attackers themselves.
The White House is recruiting private companies for offensive operations against foreign cybercriminals, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, a break with decades of state monopoly on such action. Global Times cited a Chinese expert who warned that the approach risks fuelling privateer-style cyber piracy and disrupting order in cyberspace.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Washington is drawing the private sector into its cyber battle. The National asks whether the Trump administration's cyber security plan would let companies 'hack back' against attackers.