Xetron
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Defense, Communications, Software Development |
Area served | United States government |
| Products | SPL-60 audio amplifier, MIDS-LVT radio communication system, hacking tools (e.g., Orca malware, Cinnamon implant) |
| Parent | Northrop Grumman Corporation |
Xetron Corporation operates as a subsidiary of Northrop Grumman Corporation and functions as a government contractor with expertise in the development of software and communication systems.
Background
Among its earlier products, Xetron manufactured the SPL-60, a low-noise audio amplifier equipped with an adjustable comb notch filter.
On July 9, 1992, under a contract with the USADR, Xetron's Cincinnati facility conducted the inaugural AM IBOC broadcast.
In the year 2000, Xetron obtained a $2.1 million agreement from ViaSat to create a MIDS-LVT radio communication system.
Intelligence work for the government
In 2011, disclosures indicated that Xetron partnered with HBGary and Palantir to unmask Internet activists associated with the Anonymous collective.
Leaked documents from Edward Snowden revealed that since at least 2010, Xetron has been providing hacking methodologies to intelligence agencies. That same year, they developed "Orca," a Windows-based malware engineered to bypass antivirus defenses.
The 2017 WikiLeaks Vault 7 leaks exposed Xetron's creation of tools facilitating unauthorized access to Cisco routers on behalf of the CIA, including an implant named "Cinnamon" designed for Cisco hardware. Additionally, they developed software allowing control over compromised machines through command servers. By March 2017, nearly 400 leaked files referenced Xetron.
According to The Intercept in 2017, certain employees at Xetron underwent unexpected polygraph examinations, potentially connected to investigations surrounding the leaks or increased security protocols.