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Not technically but an Israeli cybersecurity company like this isn't exactly two guys in garabge bootstrappy capitalist success story you're making it out to be
by drzaiusapelord 5y ago
Not technically but an Israeli cybersecurity company like this isn't exactly two guys in garabge bootstrappy capitalist success story you're making it out to be. It most likely is filled with spooks, has deep connections with the Israeli intelligence services, and is full of ex-military. In authoritarian or semi-authoritarian regimes spinning off hacking to a private company pays dividends, because they get blacklisted, as a private company, which doesn't greatly affect diplomatic norms. Also it allows Israel to sell exploits to regimes that might be hard to via government agencies. Afterall, it was "private" business that sold them, not the government, wink wink. A bit like so many "private" cybergangs in Russia have impunity to attack the USA/EU and sell and deploy ransomware there because, again, its "not the government, its criminals" but in reality they're defacto arms of the governments there or at least have strong ties to the government, pay them protection money, and often get marching orders from them.
- samatman 5y ago> is full of ex-military To be fair, this is just as true of an Israeli car repair shop or shawarma joint...
- drzaiusapelord 5y agoRight, but there's a difference between someone who went because they had to and got out, and career types.
- drzaiusapelord 5y agoBe also aware the conscription law applies only to Jews & Druze. Arab citizens are not required to serve (for "reasons"), so if your car repair shop or shwarma joint is run by Arabs, then there are not veterans there.
- underdeserver 5y agoThat's not necessarily true - there can be partners, and Arabs can volunteer (and some do) for military service.
- drzaiusapelord 5y agoThey can volunteer and have their application approved or denied for "reasons." Note I'm discussing the mandatory conscription law only where what I said is entirely correct.
- pavelrub 5y agoIsrael has neither an authoritarian nor a semi-authoritarian regime. From your analogy I think you are misunderstanding NSO and its relation to the Israeli government. NSO is not a civilian cover for government operations. It’s an Israeli arms manufacturer. Its foreign sales require approval by the Israeli Ministry of Defense, and as such can be facilitated by the government based on diplomatic considerations. This is not unlike other arms manufacturers in the US or in western countries in general.
- fortran77 5y ago> and is full of ex-military. So is every Swiss company, from Swatch to Nestle, just a front for the Swiss Government?