By the FBI
With cyber threats to the United States and across globe reaching unprecedented levels, the FBI uses a full spectrum of expertise, technology, and partnerships to root out cyber criminals, FBI Director Christopher Wray said at the annual c in San Francisco yesterday.
“Today’s cyber threat is bigger than any one government agency—frankly, bigger than government itself,” Wray said in an on-stage interview at the cybersecurity conference.
“But I think no agency brings the same combination of scope and scale, experience, tools, and relationships that the FBI has.”
FBI Director Christopher Wray discusses how the FBI’s unique position as the lead domestic US law enforcement and intelligence agency is central to US government efforts to counter criminal and national security cyberthreats to the United States and its citizens. Hear from Director Wray in a fireside chat-style interview discuss the cyberthreats and technological challenges that face America. This video provides highlights from the full discussion. To view the interview in its ENTIRETY – SEE AT BOTTOM. Courtesy of the FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation and YouTube. Posted on Mar 6, 2019.)
From multinational cyber syndicates to foreign intelligence services, hacktivists, and insider threats, Wray explained that the FBI takes a multidisciplinary approach to combating threats.
For example, the Bureau has an elite rapid deployment force and Cyber Action Teams that can respond to incidents anywhere in the world.
In addition, the FBI has joined other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies on Cyber Task Forces to coordinate responses.
Specially trained cyber agents are also embedded in FBI legal attaché offices in more than 60 countries worldwide.
In addition to law enforcement partnerships, Wray also stressed the importance of public-private partnerships, so prevention and response can be swift and coordinated.
“The key is having the private sector start to form relationships with their local field office beforehand,” Wray said.
As the FBI continues to grow its partnerships, the FBI is also developing its workforce’s cyber expertise. Wray spoke about the FBI’s success in recruiting special agents and professional staff over the past year.
“We’re dealing with the most sophisticated, toughest cyber actors in the world, and if you want the ability to take on those people, to be on the front lines of that battle, dealing with incredibly cutting-edge technology … you would be in the right place,” Wray said of FBI cyber careers.
Original post https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/director-wray-speaks-at-rsa-cybersecurity-conference-030619
(FBI Director Christopher Wray participated in a fireside-style discussion with Brookings Institute security analyst, Susan Hennessey, at the RSA Conference in San Francisco, California, March 5, 2019. Courtesy of the RSA Conference and YouTube. Posted on Mar 5, 2019.)
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FBI Eyes Cybersecurity Threats to US
(FBI agent Eric Rommal wants the public at large to be aware of the dangers that cyber-criminals pose to Mississippi River-related businesses and infrastructure. Courtesy of AP and YouTube. Posted on Aug 19, 2018.)
August 15, 2018 – Government News –
Roughly nine months into his job as special agent in charge of the New Orleans office of the FBI, agent Eric Rommal is keenly aware of the dangers that cyber-criminals pose to Mississippi River-related businesses and infrastructure.
And he wants the public at large to be aware as well.
“So the FBI has a number of priorities that we are responsible for. First and foremost obviously is a counterterrorism threat and the counter-intelligence threat.
But, cyber is our third most important investigative priority, and that’s because it’s prevalent – everyone uses the internet,” Rommal told The Associated Press in an interview.
“Everyone uses cyber in some form or fashion. And it’s not exclusive to Louisiana. It reaches far beyond Louisiana” Rommal said.
Rommal, accompanied by special agents Matthew Ramey, who supervises the office’s cyber squad, and Drew Watts, an assistant special agent in charge discussed a litany of vulnerabilities and the ways the FBI in New Orleans is fighting them.
A hacker disrupting those operations could effectively disrupt nationwide and international commerce, he said.
“I think the cyber threat is ever-evolving, unfortunately,” Rommal said.
“So many more technology apparatus are introduced into commerce and into society that we use every day for convenience.”
FBI statistics show some 41,000 victims lost $2.9 billion to cyber-thieves nationally from October of 2013 to May of this year, said Ramey.
“In all of 2017, we saw over $5 million leave the state of Louisiana to computer intrusion actors,” he added. “So far, in 2018, we’re on track to surpass that.”
In addition, the agents acknowledged threats to public utilities _ New Orleans, for instance, draws its drinking water from the river _ and various flood-control structures and pumping systems.
Rommal said more than 20 people working for the FBI headquarters in Louisiana are working on cyber security.
They include experts working at forensics labs in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, doing forensics on computer hard drives, and developing techniques for analyzing computer memories in efforts to fight and find intruders.
Original post https://www.apnews.com/1a9bf76d4c7440d4a73efe8a2debe51d
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FBI Honored in the 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
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‘Excellence in Homeland Security’
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Violent Crimes against Children (VCAC) program
(FBI Special Agent Danielle Messineo, who works in the Crimes Against Children division, tries to prevent future victims by giving presentations to school children. Courtesy of the USA Network and YouTube.)
Additionally recognized in the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Program, Thomas O’Connor, FBI Agents Association (FBIAA) President.
Thomas O’Connor
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‘Excellence in Homeland Security’
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President of the FBI Agents Association
(Hear from FBI Agents Association President Tom O’Connor directly, as discusses how the partial government shutdown was affecting the operations of the FBI. Courtesy of Fox Business News and YouTube. Posted on Jan 24, 2019.)
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