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Most of the time, when I warn you about cybercriminals, I focus on how you can stop them before they get into your accounts or steal your money. Now the U.S. government wants to take the fight closer to some foreign criminal organizations behind cyber-enabled crime. Earlier this month, President Donald Trump signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum that creates a framework for vetted private U.S. companies to conduct cyber operations against certain foreign criminal groups. The federal government would direct and oversee those operations.
The memorandum allows two broad types of activity. Companies could secretly collect intelligence from targeted computer systems. With federal approval, they could also manipulate, disrupt, deny access to, degrade or destroy systems and digital infrastructure that targeted criminal organizations control. So, what could these companies actually do, and what could this new approach mean for you?
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Vetted private U.S. companies could take part in cyber operations against certain foreign criminal groups under federal direction and oversight. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
Cybercrime continues to cost Americans staggering amounts of money. The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center received 1,008,597 complaints in 2025, with reported losses reaching $20.877 billion. Those losses were up 26% from 2024. The White House says foreign-based criminal organizations are responsible for sophisticated campaigns involving ransomware, phishing, financial fraud and impersonation scams targeting Americans and U.S. interests.
Technology is making some of those attacks increasingly difficult to recognize. As I've previously reported, AI is helping criminals create more convincing impersonation scams and other cyberattacks. Stolen personal information can also keep circulating after the original crime. That is one reason identity theft victims may find themselves targeted again. The new program is designed to give the federal government another way to pursue certain foreign criminal organizations involved in cyber-enabled crime.
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The memorandum establishes two broad types of operations that participating companies could conduct under federal authority. One is called a Cyber Surveillance Operation. That can involve secretly accessing targeted computer systems to collect information or intelligence. The memorandum says these operations are carried out with the intent to remain undetected and may involve accessing systems without authorization from the owner or operator.
The second is called a Cyber Effects Operation. Those operations can manipulate or disrupt information systems. They can also deny access, degrade systems or destroy information and infrastructure controlled through those systems. However, this does not give private companies permission to start hacking suspected criminals on their own.
Companies participating in the program must be accepted by the government and enter into contractual agreements with either the Department of Justice or Department of Homeland Security. Operations conducted through the program must happen on behalf of the federal government and under its supervision.
The program's DOJ and DHS executive directors must review cyber operations packages and provide written approval and direction before a participating company can act. Companies will also face vetting requirements. Those standards can examine technical proficiency, past cyber operations, facility security, personnel vetting and reliability. The rules must allow both large companies and smaller companies that may be better suited for specialized operations to participate.