# White House authorizes private companies to launch 'hack-back' cyberattacks that destroy data and systems, targeting foreign cybercrime organizations — vetted organizations can now conduct offensive cyber operations

> President Donald Trump signed a presidential memorandum on August 12 establishing the first U. S. program that lets vetted private companies conduct offensive cyber operations, including attacks that destroy data and…

- **Source:** [Tom's Hardware](https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/cyber-security/white-house-authorizes-private-companies-to-hack-foreign-cybercrime-groups?utm_source=gearopen.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=6a8082b724183da08bfc3a17)
- **Published:** 2026-08-15
- **Category:** Smart Home
- **Tags:** #organizations #companies #conduct #cyber #cybercrime #data #destroy #foreign
- **Canonical:** http://localhost:4321/a/6a8082b724183da08bfc3a17

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_GearOpen's distilled summary. The full original article is published at Tom's Hardware (source link above); GearOpen does not republish the source's full text._
