Trump signs memo authorizing private sector to launch cyberattacks

President Donald Trump signed an order Wednesday authorizing select private companies to carry out government-sponsored cyberattacks against foreign criminal hacking groups – actions that have until now been the domain of U.S. national security agencies. The memorandum enables the government to contract with U.S. firms to hack into and disrupt overseas digital networks belonging to “cyber-enabled transnational criminal organizations.” The memo stipulates that the companies, under the supervision of the federal government, may breach computer systems to conduct surveillance and manipulate or destroy digital or physical infrastructure “controlled by information systems” but are barred from targeting foreign governments or taking…