Google previews cyber \u2018disruption unit\u2019 as U.S. government, industry weigh going heavier on offense | CyberScoop<\/title> <meta name=\"description\" content=\"Google says it is starting a cyber \u201cdisruption unit,\u201d a development that arrives in a potentially shifting U.S. landscape toward more offensive-oriented approaches in cyberspace.\"> <link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/google-cybersecurity-disruption-unit-active-defense-hack-back\/\"> <meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\"> <meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\"> <meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Google previews cyber \u2018disruption unit\u2019 as U.S. government, industry weigh going heavier on offense\"> <meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Google says it is starting a cyber \u201cdisruption unit,\u201d a development that arrives in a potentially shifting U.S. landscape toward more offensive-oriented approaches in cyberspace.\"> <meta property=\"og:url\" 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class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <main id=\"main\" role=\"main\" tabindex=\"-1\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--top ad--top-mobile\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section id=\"stickybar\" class=\"stickybar stickybar--newsletter js-stickybar\" readability=\"0.82\"> <button class=\"stickybar__close js-stickybar-close\" aria-controls=\"stickybar\"> <svg class=\"icon icon--close\" width=\"21\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 21 22\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"m.822.518-.805.805L9.695 11 .017 20.678l.805.805 9.678-9.678 9.677 9.678.806-.805L11.305 11l9.678-9.677-.806-.805-9.677 9.677L.822.518Z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg> <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Close<\/span> <\/button> <\/section>\n<article class=\"single-article content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__container js-single-article-content\">\n<header class=\"single-article__header \" readability=\"26.008741258741\">\n<div class=\"single-article__header-content\" readability=\"35.2460496614\">\n<ul class=\"single-article__eyebrow\">\n<li class=\"single-article__category\"> <a class=\"single-article__category-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/google-cybersecurity-disruption-unit-active-defense-hack-back\/\"> <span>Geopolitics<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> There are still impediments to overcome before companies and agencies can get more broadly aggressive in cyberspace, both legal and commercial. <\/p>\n<p>  <br \/>\n<audio id=\"audio-player\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-tts-cdn.api.scpnewsgrp.com\/cyberscoop\/85731\/english.openai.mp3\"><\/audio> <\/p>\n<div readability=\"11\">\n<div>\n<p>Listen to this article<\/p>\n<p>  <\/p>\n<p>0:00<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <\/p>\n<p> <span id=\"tts-tooltip\">Learn more.<\/span> <span> This feature uses an automated voice, which may result in occasional errors in pronunciation, tone, or sentiment. <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>  <\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__cover-wrap\">\n<figure class=\"single-article__cover\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense.jpg?resize=640%2C426&ssl=1\" class=\"single-article__cover-image wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-5.jpg 7512w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-5.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-5.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-5.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-5.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-5.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-5.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-5.jpg?resize=252,168 252w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-5.jpg?resize=506,337 506w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-5.jpg?resize=1013,675 1013w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-5.jpg?resize=1265,843 1265w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1013px) 100vw, 1013px\"><figcaption> Google’s Washington, DC, regional office is seen at dusk on August 11, 2024, in Reston, VA. (Photo by J. David Ake\/Getty Images) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"single-article__content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__content-inner has-drop-cap\"> <html readability=\"58.336647727273\"><body readability=\"123.00524292206\"><\/p>\n<p>Google says it is starting a cyber \u201cdisruption unit,\u201d a development that arrives in a potentially shifting U.S. landscape toward more offensive-oriented approaches in cyberspace.<\/p>\n<p>But the contours of that larger shift are still unclear, and whether or to what extent it\u2019s even possible. While there\u2019s some momentum in policymaking and industry circles to put a greater emphasis on more aggressive strategies and tactics to respond to cyberattacks, there are also major barriers.<\/p>\n<p>Sandra Joyce, vice president of Google Threat Intelligence Group, said at a conference Tuesday that more details of the disruption unit would be forthcoming in future months, but the company was looking for \u201clegal and ethical disruption\u201d options as part of the unit\u2019s work.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat we\u2019re doing in the Google Threat Intelligence Group is intelligence-led proactive identification of opportunities where we can actually take down some type of campaign or operation,\u201d she said at the Center for Cybersecurity Policy and Law event, where she called for partners in the project. \u201cWe have to get from a reactive position to a proactive one \u2026 if we\u2019re going to make a difference right now.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The boundaries in the cyber domain between actions considered \u201ccyber offense\u201d and those meant to deter cyberattacks are often unclear. The tradeoff between \u201cactive defense\u201d vs. \u201chacking back\u201d is <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/gwu-cchs-hacking-back-active-defense-by-cyber-victims\/\">a common dividing line<\/a>. On the less aggressive end, \u201cactive defense\u201d can include tactics like setting up honeypots designed to lure and trick attackers. At the more extreme end, \u201chacking back\u201d would typically involve actions that attempt to deliberately destroy an attacker\u2019s systems or networks. Disruption operations might fall between the two, like Microsoft <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/trickbot-takedown-cyber-command-microsoft\/\">taking down botnet infrastructure<\/a> in court or the Justice Department <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/doj-seizure-crypto-north-korea-it-workers\/\">seizing stolen cryptocurrency<\/a> from hackers.<\/p>\n<p>Trump administration officials and some in Congress have been advocating for the U.S. government to go on offense in cyberspace, saying that foreign hackers and criminals aren\u2019t suffering sufficient consequences. <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/hack-back-bill-tom-graves-offensive-cybersecurity\/\">Much-criticized legislation<\/a> to authorize private sector \u201chacking back\u201d has long stalled in Congress, but some have recently <a href=\"https:\/\/schweikert.house.gov\/2025\/08\/20\/schweikert-introduces-cybercrime-marque-and-reprisal-authorization-act-to-combat-foreign-scam-syndicates\/\">pushed a version<\/a> of the idea where the president would give \u201cletters of marque\u201d like those for early-U.S. sea privateers to companies authorizing them to legally conduct offensive cyber operations currently forbidden under U.S. law.<\/p>\n<p>The private sector has some catching up to do if there\u2019s to be a worthy field of firms able to focus on offense, experts say.<\/p>\n<p>John Keefe, a former National Security Council official from 2022 to 2024 and National Security Agency official before that, said there had been government talks about a \u201cnarrow\u201d letters of marque approach \u201cwith the private sector companies that we thought had the capabilities.\u201d The concept was centered on ransomware, Russia and rules of the road for those companies to operate. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t going to be the Wild West,\u201d said Keefe, now founder of Ex Astris Scientia, speaking like others in this story at Tuesday\u2019s conference.<\/p>\n<p>The companies with an emphasis on offense largely have only one customer \u2014 and that\u2019s governments, said Joe McCaffrey, chief information security officer at defense tech company Anduril Industries. \u201cIt\u2019s a really tough business to be in,\u201d he said. \u201cIf you develop an exploit, you get to sell to one person legally, and then it gets burned, and you\u2019re back again.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>By their nature, offensive cyber operations in the federal government are already very time- and manpower-intensive, said Brandon Wales, a former top official at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and now vice president of cybersecurity at SentinelOne. Private sector companies could make their mark by innovating ways to speed up and expand the number of those operations, he said.<\/p>\n<p>Overall, among the options of companies that could do more offensive work, the \u201cindustry doesn\u2019t exist yet, but I think it\u2019s coming,\u201d said Andrew McClure, managing director at Forgepoint Capital.<\/p>\n<p>Certainly Congress would have to clarify what companies are able to do legally as well, Wales said.<\/p>\n<p>But that\u2019s just the industry side. There\u2019s plenty more to weigh when stepping up offense.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHowever we start, we need to make sure that we are having the ability to measure impact,\u201d said Megan Stifel, chief strategy officer for the Institute for Security and Technology. \u201cIs this working? How do we know?\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>If there was a consensus at the conference it\u2019s that the United States \u2014 be it the government or private sector \u2014 needs to do more to deter adversaries in cyberspace by going after them more in cyberspace.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/aggressive-cyber-offense-trump-administration-us-strategy-debate\/\">One knock<\/a> on that idea has been that the United States can least afford to get into a cyber shooting match, since it\u2019s more reliant on tech than other nations and an escalation would hurt the U.S. the most by presenting more vulnerable targets for enemies. But Dmitri Alperovitch, chairman of the Silverado Policy Accelerator, said that idea was wrong for a couple reasons, among them that other nations have become just as reliant on tech, too.<\/p>\n<p>And \u201cthe very idea that in this current bleak state of affairs, engaging in cyber offense is escalatory, I propose to you, is laughable,\u201d he said. \u201cAfter all, what are our adversaries going to escalate to in response? Ransom more of our hospitals, penetrate more of our water and electric utilities, steal even more of our IP and financial assets?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Alperovitch continued: \u201cNot only is engaging in thoughtful and careful cyber offense not escalatory, but not doing so is.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><\/body> <\/p>\n<footer class=\"single-article__footer\">\n<div class=\"author-card\" readability=\"7.7216117216117\">\n<div class=\"author-card__avatar\">\n<figure class=\"author-card__image-wrap\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"author-card__image\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-1.jpg?w=640&ssl=1\" alt=\"Tim Starks\"> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-card__details\" readability=\"10.901098901099\">\n<h4 class=\"author-card__name\">Written by Tim Starks<\/h4>\n<p> Tim Starks is senior reporter at CyberScoop. His previous stops include working at The Washington Post, POLITICO and Congressional Quarterly. An Evansville, Ind. native, he’s covered cybersecurity since 2003. Email Tim here: <a href=\"mailto:tim.starks@cyberscoop.com\">tim.starks@cyberscoop.com<\/a>. <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__tags-container\">\n<h4 class=\"single-article__tags-title\">In This Story<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<p> <\/html><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__ads js-single-article-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-5 ad--rightrail_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-4 ad--rightrail_2 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-3 ad--rightrail_3 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"popular-stories popular-stories--single-post\">\n<div class=\"popular-stories__container\">\n<h2 class=\"popular-stories__title\"> More Scoops <\/h2>\n<div class=\"popular-stories__stories\">\n<div class=\"popular-stories__cards\">\n<article class=\"post-item post-item--popular-stories-cards \" readability=\"20.297423887588\">\n<figure class=\"post-item__thumbnail\"> <a class=\"post-item__thumbnail-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/former-nsa-cyber-command-chief-paul-nakasone-enemies-cyberspace\/\" tabindex=\"-1\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"506\" height=\"337\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-2.jpg?resize=506%2C337&ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-ratio-16-9-md size-ratio-16-9-md wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-6.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-6.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-6.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-6.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-6.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-6.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-6.jpg?resize=252,168 252w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-6.jpg?resize=506,337 506w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-6.jpg?resize=1013,675 1013w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-6.jpg?resize=1265,843 1265w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 506px) 100vw, 506px\"> <\/a><figcaption class=\"screen-reader-text\"> Then-National Security Agency Director Gen. Paul Nakasone arrives for a closed-door hearing in the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center in 2023. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla\/Getty Images) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<header class=\"post-item__meta\" readability=\"2.2971887550201\">\n<h3 class=\"post-item__title\"> <a class=\"post-item__title-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/former-nsa-cyber-command-chief-paul-nakasone-enemies-cyberspace\/\"> Former NSA, Cyber Command chief Paul Nakasone says U.S. falling behind its enemies in cyberspace <\/a> <\/h3>\n<p> In a wide-ranging speech and interview, Nakasone also talked about Trump administration moves and the shape of cyber offensive operations. <\/p>\n<div class=\"post-item__byline\"> <span class=\"post-item__author\"> <span>By <\/span> <a class=\"post-item__author-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/author\/tim-starkscyberscoop-com\/\"> Tim Starks <\/a> <\/span> <\/div>\n<p> <\/header>\n<p> <\/article>\n<article class=\"post-item post-item--popular-stories-cards \">\n<figure class=\"post-item__thumbnail\"> <a class=\"post-item__thumbnail-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/removal-cyber-safety-review-board-members\/\" tabindex=\"-1\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"252\" height=\"168\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-3.jpg?resize=252%2C168&ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-ratio-16-9-sm size-ratio-16-9-sm wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-7.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-7.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-7.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-7.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-7.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-7.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-7.jpg?resize=252,168 252w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-7.jpg?resize=506,337 506w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-7.jpg?resize=1013,675 1013w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-7.jpg?resize=1265,843 1265w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 252px) 100vw, 252px\"> <\/a><figcaption class=\"screen-reader-text\"> Committee chairman Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., and ranking member Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., speak to one another during a hearing with the House Committee on Homeland Security on Capitol Hill on January 30, 2024. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker\/Getty Images) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<header class=\"post-item__meta\">\n<h3 class=\"post-item__title\"> <a class=\"post-item__title-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/removal-cyber-safety-review-board-members\/\"> Removal of Cyber Safety Review Board members sparks alarm from cyber pros, key lawmaker <\/a> <\/h3>\n<div class=\"post-item__byline\"> <span class=\"post-item__author\"> <span>By <\/span> <a class=\"post-item__author-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/author\/tim-starkscyberscoop-com\/\"> Tim Starks <\/a> <\/span> <\/div>\n<p> <\/header>\n<p> <\/article>\n<article class=\"post-item post-item--popular-stories-cards \">\n<figure class=\"post-item__thumbnail\"> <a class=\"post-item__thumbnail-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/more-than-100-letter-supporting-fick\/\" tabindex=\"-1\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"250\" height=\"168\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-4.jpg?resize=250%2C168&ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-ratio-16-9-sm size-ratio-16-9-sm wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-8.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-8.jpg?resize=300,201 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-8.jpg?resize=768,516 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-8.jpg?resize=1024,687 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-8.jpg?resize=1536,1031 1536w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-8.jpg?resize=600,403 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-8.jpg?resize=250,168 250w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-8.jpg?resize=502,337 502w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-8.jpg?resize=1005,675 1005w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense-8.jpg?resize=1256,843 1256w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\"> <\/a><figcaption class=\"screen-reader-text\"> The U.S. Department of State is seen on Jan. 6, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mark Wilson\/Getty Images) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<header class=\"post-item__meta\">\n<h3 class=\"post-item__title\"> <a class=\"post-item__title-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/more-than-100-letter-supporting-fick\/\"> Security experts urge Fick\u2019s speedy confirmation as first U.S. cyber ambassador <\/a> <\/h3>\n<div class=\"post-item__byline\"> <span class=\"post-item__author\"> <span>By <\/span> <a class=\"post-item__author-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/author\/ssmalley\/\"> Suzanne Smalley <\/a> <\/span> <\/div>\n<p> <\/header>\n<p> <\/article>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/div>\n<p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<section class=\"latest-podcasts\">\n<h2 class=\"latest-podcasts__title\"> Latest Podcasts\t<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"top-categories\">\n<div class=\"top-categories__container\">\n<h3 class=\"top-categories__category-title\">Government<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"top-categories__container\">\n<h3 class=\"top-categories__category-title\">Technology<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/main> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--bottom \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"interstitial\" class=\"welcome__container\"> <button id=\"close-modal-1\" class=\"welcome__clickable_area\"><\/button> <\/p>\n<div class=\"welcome__ad_wrapper\">\n<p> <button id=\"close-modal-3\" class=\"welcome__continue-button\">Continue to CyberScoop<\/button> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>   <\/body> <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/google-cybersecurity-disruption-unit-active-defense-hack-back\/\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Google previews cyber \u2018disruption unit\u2019 as U.S. government, industry weigh<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4884,1780,655,337,4885,338,4886,302,387,3729,4887,4439,4888,625,304,1207,439,46,270,648],"tags":[4889,1787,657,340,4890,341,4891,306,391,3731,4892,4440,4893,630,308,1208,443,54,276,651],"class_list":["post-7936","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-active-defense","category-brandon-wales","category-congress","category-cryptocurrency","category-cyber-offense","category-department-of-justice-doj","category-dmitri-alperovitch","category-geopolitics","category-google","category-google-threat-intelligence-group","category-hacking-back","category-institute-for-security-and-technology","category-letters-of-marque","category-microsoft","category-national-security-agency-nsa","category-national-security-council-nsc","category-policy","category-ransomware","category-russia","category-sentinelone","tag-active-defense","tag-brandon-wales","tag-congress","tag-cryptocurrency","tag-cyber-offense","tag-department-of-justice-doj","tag-dmitri-alperovitch","tag-geopolitics","tag-google","tag-google-threat-intelligence-group","tag-hacking-back","tag-institute-for-security-and-technology","tag-letters-of-marque","tag-microsoft","tag-national-security-agency-nsa","tag-national-security-council-nsc","tag-policy","tag-ransomware","tag-russia","tag-sentinelone"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":"","thumbnail":"","medium":"","medium_large":"","large":"","1536x1536":"","2048x2048":"","chromenews-featured":"","chromenews-large":"","chromenews-medium":""},"author_info":{"display_name":"Cyber 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{"id":7936,"date":"2025-08-27T13:26:28","date_gmt":"2025-08-27T18:26:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/?p=85731"},"modified":"2025-08-27T13:26:28","modified_gmt":"2025-08-27T18:26:28","slug":"google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/2025\/08\/27\/google-previews-cyber-disruption-unit-as-u-s-government-industry-weigh-going-heavier-on-offense\/","title":{"rendered":"Google previews cyber \u2018disruption unit\u2019 as U.S. government, industry weigh going heavier on offense"},"content":{"rendered":"