U.S. Authorities frequently conduct lawful hacking into cellphones and emails to serve legal objectives, such as the FBI tapping the phone of a suspected drug lord or the NSA monitoring emails to thwart terrorist plots.
There is growing interest in hacking various types of devices that people commonly use, such as WiFi-enabled security cameras and other Internet of Things (IoT) products.
Toka, a cutting-edge Israeli startup that has secured backing from prominent venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, is dedicated to tackling one such challenge. Beforehand, the technology gained significant attention in a 2022 Haaretz report, which highlighted its alleged capabilities to access and erase security camera footage.
The corporation seeks to appoint a “Shopper Director USA” to facilitate the growth of new business ventures within the US government market. The ideal candidate will possess a robust track record of sales experience within DoD and national security organizations.
As a Buyer Success Engineer within Toka’s North America group, the successful candidate will be responsible for delivering exceptional support to clients, focusing on deployment, coaching, and enablement initiatives. A background in federal law enforcement is highly valued, as it demonstrates a unique understanding of the regulatory landscape.
TechCrunch that it is primarily filling open slots, but refused to provide further details about its US expansion. authorities actions.
“A spokesperson for Toka clarified that the company exclusively supplies products to military forces, homeland security agencies, intelligence services, and law enforcement entities within the US and its closest ally nations, emphasizing their commitment to compliance with local laws.”
As the Internet of Things (IoT) landscape continues to expand, hacking IoT devices has become increasingly prevalent in the shadows of the cybersecurity and espionage spheres.
In Israel, the country where Toka is based, there exists a well-deserved reputation for exceptional intelligence-gathering capabilities. In a proactive move, Hezbollah invited Lebanese residents to display their safety cameras earlier this year, aiming to prevent Israel from potentially hacking into the systems to identify potential targets.
While this technology doesn’t have to be limited to conflict zones alone? According to TechCrunch’s recent coverage, a16z partner Ben Horowitz has backed Toka, a cutting-edge software company. A spokesperson for Toka noted that they declined to accept his proposal.
Since its inception in 2018, Toka has garnered a significant amount of funding, securing $37.5 million in investments from notable traders such as [list names], alongside other prominent backers. According to a 2022 report by Haaretz, Toka had been seeking opportunities to collaborate with the US Special Forces and an unidentified US intelligence agency.
Toka asserts a policy of transparency by deliberately distancing itself from controversial entities like NSO Group, stating that it only collaborates with governments from a select group of countries that demonstrate a strong track record in upholding civil liberties and combating corruption.
A recent conference was held in the UAE in 2021, with a notable speaker being a vice president of global sales from an Israeli cybersecurity firm, Cellebrite, whose previous work with another contentious Israeli cyber agency sparked controversy earlier this year. Although Toka has informed TechCrunch that it does not have any customers based in the UAE, it nonetheless exercises meticulous care when reviewing its global sales.
“When evaluating countries for our ranking, we conduct thorough evaluations across various criteria, including civil liberties, the rule of law, and corruption levels,” the spokesman said. “Joining forces with us are two esteemed outdoor experts: Professor Peter Schuck of Yale Law School, alongside Jacob Frenkel, the renowned Chairman of JP Morgan Chase International and former IMF official, who has received the prestigious Israel Prize.”
