US Seeks Action Against Three Indian Firms Linked To Alleged Hack-For-Hire Operations
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Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Three US lawmakers have urged the American government to blacklist three Indian IT firms accused of being involved in hack-for-hire operations targeting US citizens, businesses and lawyers. The lawmakers want BellTroX, CyberRoot and Sunkissed Organic Farms Pvt. Ltd., formerly known as Appin Technology Pvt. Ltd., along with its subsidiaries, added to the US Commerce Department’s Entity List.
Lawmakers Seek Action Against Indian Firms
Democratic Senators Ron Wyden and Sheldon Whitehouse, along with Republican Representative Pat Harrigan, made the request in a letter to the Commerce Department on Wednesday.
The lawmakers alleged that the companies had been linked to “more than fifteen years” of targeted espionage against Americans, businesses and lawyers representing them.
If placed on the Entity List, the companies would face restrictions on accessing US software, cloud infrastructure and cybersecurity tools.
Firms Linked To Hack-For-Hire Operations
BellTroX, CyberRoot and Appin have been identified in media investigations and reports by major technology companies as being linked to hack-for-hire activities.
A 2022 Reuters investigation described CyberRoot and BellTroX as prominent players in the cybermercenary industry. The firms were reportedly hired by Western lawyers and private investigators to spy on rivals and other parties involved in legal and business disputes.
A separate Reuters investigation in 2023 identified Appin as an early player in the sector. The report said the company had expanded from an educational startup into a hack-for-hire operation accused of targeting executives, politicians, military officials and wealthy individuals around the world.
Executives associated with all three companies have denied wrongdoing.
Meta, Google Reports Also Linked Firms To Hacking Activity
The companies have also been identified in investigations by The New Yorker and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism.
Meta Platforms and Alphabet’s Google have separately published reports detailing hacking activity they linked to the firms, adding to scrutiny over India-based cyber-surveillance operations.
The lawmakers’ request comes amid growing US concerns over commercial hacking services that can be used to conduct targeted cyber-espionage against individuals and organisations.
Companies Have Not Responded To Requests For Comment
According to the report, Sunkissed Organic Farms, CyberRoot and the US Commerce Department did not respond to requests for comment. BellTroX could not be reached for a response.
Reuters is also involved in ongoing litigation in India with a group calling itself the Association of Appin Training Centers. The group says it represents Appin alumni and has accused Reuters of damaging the reputation of training centres and their students. Reuters disputes those allegations.
The litigation remains ongoing.
