Sebastian Kurz and ex-NSO boss: New adventure in cyber security!

Sebastian Kurz and ex-NSO boss: New adventure in cyber security!

Tel Aviv, Israel - ex-Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and Shalev Hulio, the former CEO of the controversial NSO Group, founded a new company called Dream Security. This was announced in an article on Vol.at on April 12, 2025. After the resignation of short in 2021, Hulio, as a co-founder of Dream Security, sat at the top of the cybersecurity industry.

The foundation of Dream Security is carried out against the background of a global surveillance scandal that affects the NSO Group and the exposure of its Pegasus spyware. This software was particularly found on the devices of journalists, opposition and activists. Hulio, who resigned from NSO in August 2022, announced a successful round of financing of $ 33 million for his new company on November 7, 2023. This announcement was made in the Gaza Strip and brought additional controversy with it, since Hulio spoke in a video with a weapon over the shoulder.

Dream Security and their goals

Dream Security has set itself the goal of focusing on artificial intelligence in cyber security. According to The intercept , the focus of the company is to protect critical infrastructures, in contrast to the NSO Group, which is due to its spy software has fallen into disrepute. Even if the company denies to have connections to the former NSO Group, many of the employees, including at least 13 former NSO employees, come from the IT elite unit "Unit 8200" of the Israeli army.

The company has a value of over one billion US dollars and employs around 150 people in Tel Aviv, Vienna and Abu Dhabi. Dream Security offers a platform that recognizes cyber attacks early and can activate countermeasures in real time. The internal advertising materials include models such as the "Cyber ​​Language Model" and "Risk Exposure Module".

Security as a strategic opportunity

The trend towards digitization requires a rethink in cyber security. According to a report by kpmg , companies must adapt their security strategies to ensure sustainable resilience and security. In particular, Identity and Access Management (IAM) is increasing. 85 percent of companies consider this to be the central part of their cloud security strategy. Artificial intelligence can help recognize abnormalities in user behavior and identify unauthorized attempts to access.

Dream Security plans to offer its products on the European market and already has the first customers in a large European cybersecurity authority. With its international networking and its connections to right-wing political actors in Europe and the USA, Sebastian Kurz uses his political experience to position the Dream Security products and strengthen their marketability.

However, the company also faces reviews that state that the NSO Group's scandals may be able to trivialize it. The financial situation of the NSO Group has deteriorated in recent years, while Dream Security competes with great ambitions to establish itself as a leading company in the field of cybersecurity.