US blacklists firms from Israel, Singapore for cyber tools

By Ovunc Kutlu

ANKARA (AA) - The US added two companies from Israel and another two from Singapore to its trade blacklist, according to the Commerce Department on Wednesday.

Israel's NSO Group and Candiru were added to the list because they sold spyware to foreign governments who used it to target government officials and journalists, it said.

Singapore's Positive Technologies of Russia and Computer Security Initiative Consultancy PTE LTD were also added for trafficking cyber tools that are used to gain access to computer networks.

The move will limit US companies that exports to those companies.

The NSO Group has been widely known for its Pegasus phone hacking spyware.

Russian cybersecurity firm Positive Technologies faced sanctions from the administration of US President Biden earlier this year for providing support to Russian security services.