Former X-Force hackers chase the offensive cyber gold rush

Two former leaders of IBM's X-Force Red, Chris Thompson and Shawn Jones, have founded RemoteThreat, an offensive cybersecurity startup. Backed by $7 million in pre-seed funding, the company utilizes AI to plan, execute, and adapt cyber operations. Formerly part of X-Force Red, Thompson and Jones tested nuclear power plants, critical infrastructure, and major banks.

In May 2024, Thompson revealed that X-Force used AI to breach a semiconductor manufacturer's network in just eight hours. They subsequently organized Offensive AI Con, an exclusive research event. Thompson expressed concerns about AI's potential to generate advanced malware, deploy it swiftly, and on a massive scale. RemoteThreat's 15-person team comprises experts from X-Force Adversary Services, Mandiant, SpecterOps, Dreadnode, Bugcrowd, Microsoft, and defense contractors.

The startup's platform offers defenders and government agencies access to AI-powered cybersecurity capabilities. Customers include a major bank, securities exchange operator, large US healthcare company, and an AI lab. RemoteThreat restricts access to vetted enterprises, defense contractors, and US government customers. The platform comprises eight interconnected systems and can be operated by humans or AI agents.

RemoteThreat has partnered with Talon Defense and Nakasone Group, a national security advisory firm. The launch coincides with the US government's efforts to involve the private sector in offensive cyber operations.