NSA Cyber Command Authorized to Implant Malicious Software

[John Young]

"In his first 18 months in office, General 
Nakasone has raced to bolster Cyber Command’s 
authority to act preemptively — and its 
preparations to respond to attacks. New, 
classified directives given to him by Mr. Trump, 
and built upon by Congress, allow Cyber Command 
to place 'implants' of malicious software inside 
foreign networks without lengthy approval 
processes that run up to the president. Congress 
has called such efforts part of 'traditional military authority.'

Iran has reportedly been a major target ­ no 
surprise, since General Nakasone was a key player 
in designing a plan called “Nitro Zeus” to shut 
down Tehran and other Iranian cities in the event 
of a war. The idea was to put together an attack 
so devastating that Iran might surrender without a shot being fired.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/23/world/middleeast/iran-cyberattack-us.html