Why Is The US Using Russian Hacking Tools?

From The Deep Dive Radio Show and Nick's Nerd News Nick Espinosa, Chief Security Fanatic

Here is all of the reference I material I used for this segment. Feel free to read on this yourself! -Oxygen leadership pages: https://www.oxygenforensics.com/en/company/team/ https://www.oxygenforensics.com/news/note-from-ceo/) -Oxygen Forensics, Inc. Alexandria, VA address (company site): https://www.oxygenforensics.com/en/subscribe-to-newsletter/ -Privacy policy repeats address: https://www.oxygenforensics.com/en/privacy-policy/ -OpenCorporates listing): https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_va/07613078 -EPIC ICE FOIA request (mobile forensic contracts incl. Oxygen): https://epic.org/wp-content/uploads/foia/dhs/ice/mobile-forensics/EPIC-17-06-13-ICE-FOIA-20170613-Request.pdf -DHS test results for Oxygen Forensic Detective (tool validation context): https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/2025-05/25_0501_st_test_results_for_mobile_device_acquisition_tool_oxygen_forensic_detective_v17.1.0.131.pdf -Access Now report tying Oxygen Forensics to its parent company Oxygen Software and Central Asia reseller marketing: https://www.accessnow.org/cms/assets/uploads/archive/docs/Commonwealth_of_Surveillance_States_ENG_1.pdf -Oxygen's list of Resellers, many of whom are in authoritarian nations: https://www.oxygenforensics.com/company/resellers/ -Forbes 2017 on Oxygen's "distance from Russian connections” framing: https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2017/08/30/russian-hackers-help-us-with-encryption-nightmare/ -Oxygen's "Reflecting on 25 years of Oxygen Forensics Innovation" article. Note there is no mention of Russian origins. https://www.oxygenforensics.com/resources/25-years-of-innovation/ -Forbes 2023 lawsuit information describing Oxygen as founded by two Russian entrepreneurs: https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2023/12/04/russian-hacker-lawsuit-exposes-flaws-in-apples-ios-16/ -Oxygen's explanation for its cloud and Android extraction capabilities and training: https://www.oxygenforensics.com/training/events/ofce-on-demand/ https://www.oxygenforensics.com/resources/android-agent/