A China-linked espionage group weaponized an NSA hacking tool for its own uses a year before that tool was leaked by a group of hackers called the Shadow Brokers, Symantec reports.
Why it matters: There's a delicate balance governments have to weigh when they develop high tech hacking tools: Every tool relies on a security flaw that a company could fix if the government chose to notify them rather than exploit it for espionage. If third parties like China co-opt the tool or make use of the same vulnerability, that opens the way for other attackers to follow the same route.
Gloss