Rise in mercenary hacking groups and cyber espionage
As the 2020 U.S. presidential election nears, there has been a rise in mercenary hacking groups and cyber espionage. Some say this a direct result of the current administrations’ increasingly isolationist global foreign policy, and that the U.S.’ status in the global cyber domain should be a major discussion point before November.
According to David Wolpoff (moose), a career hacker, the Trump administration's dismantling of international orders (ex: withdraws from Asia-Pacific trade agreement; Paris Climate Accord; Iran Nuclear Deal), is diminishing the U.S.’ ability to enforce its cyber objectives. Global economic engagement creates safety in U.S. cyberspace - treaties create legal accountability; they’re a mechanism preventing hacking, he says.