Trump administration authorizes private companies to conduct cyberattacks on criminal hackers

President Trump signed an order late Wednesday allowing some American companies to carry out cyberattacks on foreign criminal groups. The companies must work with the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security. Permitted operations could include watching criminal networks, breaking into their systems, or destroying their infrastructure. The White House says the policy will help fight threats like ransomware. Some former officials and security experts have warned that it could cause serious problems. For years, countries like China and Russia have used private hackers to support their national security goals. The United States has generally avoided this approach, so the new policy is a notable change in how the country handles cyber threats.