U.S. Cyber Command significantly escalated its overseas cyber operations in 2023, deploying its elite digital warfighting team on 22 “hunt forward” missions across 17 countries. These missions, aimed at uncovering malicious software and strengthening allies’ defenses, mark a substantial expansion of the command’s activities. The disclosure of the number of missions, previously undisclosed, underscores the command’s growing transparency regarding its operations, despite the inherent secrecy necessitated by host countries’ concerns.
These missions yielded over 90 malware samples, which were then publicly released and shared with the broader cybersecurity community, enhancing global online safety and impeding the efforts of authoritarian regimes. Notably, these operations occurred concurrently across all geographic combatant commands of the Defense Department for the first time, highlighting their increasing significance in bolstering national security, especially in safeguarding against digital espionage and election interference.
Looking ahead, Cyber Command anticipates a potential surge in missions this year, particularly in response to possible interference from foreign adversaries in the upcoming U.S. presidential election. With previous experiences in defending electoral processes, Cyber Command, in collaboration with the NSA, has begun preparations to safeguard Election Day, emphasizing their mission focus on foreign actors overseas while maintaining a commitment to privacy and civil liberties.
