For Cyber Industry, Thin Line Between Offense & Defense, Public & Private

In the world of advanced cybertechnology, some of the most advanced companies that sell security may also sell offensive capabilities. An example is Israel’s private NSO Group, which is said to have sold spyware to – among others – the United Arab Emirates for use in targeting a dissident. The NSO Group exemplifies some other trends in the advanced cybertechnology business: Some private companies have technology as advanced as any national entity, and some private companies are doing work for governments. Israel, which through its military produces a stream of cyber experts, many of whom go into the private sector after their service, is said to be a leader in this industry, but far from unique. Worldwide, says this article from Foreign Affairs , the “privatization of this offensive capability is still in its infancy. But it raises broad concerns about the proliferation of some very powerful tools and the way governments are losing the monopoly over their use.”