Christopher Bing

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The U.S. Commerce Department has added Israel’s NSO Group to its trade blacklist. They said they were selling spyware to foreign governments, which allowed them to target journalists, government officials and other individuals.

Positive Technologies of Russia; and Computer Security Initiative Consultancy PTE. LTD was also listed from Singapore. According to the Department, they were involved in trafficking cyber tools that could be used to gain unauthorized access to computer networks.

Exports from the United States to these companies are limited because they have been added to the U.S. list for activities that could be considered to be against U.S. foreign security and foreign policy interests. For example, it makes it difficult for U.S. intelligence researchers to sell them data about computer vulnerability.

Candiru, NSO Group, and Candiru were accused in the past of selling hacking equipment to authoritarian governments. NSO insists that it does not sell its products to any intelligence or law enforcement agencies, but takes measures to stop abuse.

A spokesperson for the NSO did not respond immediately to our request for comment. Candiru’s contact information wasn’t available.

Positive Technologies, which provides support for Russian security service, was subject to sanctions by the Biden Administration. They have denied all wrongdoing.

Spokespeople for Positive Technology and Computer Security Initiative Consultancy PTE. COSEINC is also called LTD. They did not respond immediately to our requests for comment.