Thread by @AtlanticCouncil

Amy Hess, Executive Assistant Director, Criminal, Cyber, Response, & Services Branch at @FBI: "[Cyber attacks] have become more and more prevalent in every investigation, in everything we do. We see the threat evolving and growing every day." #ICCE 1/

"While the threat may be constantly evolving, the @FBI's approach has been consistent with our experience, our authorities, and our history," says Hess, noting the FBI was originally founded in 1908 to address the threats brought by a new technology: the automobile." #ICCE 2/

Noting recent cyber trends the @FBI has seen, Hess says "We've seen the emergence of a hybrid threat, as we call it, where nation states are hiring criminals to achieve their national security objectives using ransomware and other hackers' tools to do so." #ICCE #ACcyber 3/

"China's goal is simple: to replace the US as the world's leading super power," says Amy Hess of the @FBI, "and they did and will continue to break societal laws and norms to get there. In fact, we have seen an increasing level of [cyber] sophistication." #ICCE #ACcyber 4/

"Going toe to toe with China, in terms of the cyber threat, is Russia," says @FBI's Amy Hess, citing recent indictments of Russians for hacking in retaliation against anti-doping officials. "These activities went well beyond acceptable gov't intel operations." #ICCE #ACcyber 5/

Amy Hess of the @FBI also cites the threat of Iranian cyber attacks, noting the November indictments of two "Iranian national criminal actors" for "deploying ransomeware that crippled hospitals, local governments, to the tune of $30 million in losses to the US." #ICCE #ACcyber 5/

"In indicting foreign nationals from China, Russia & Iran we are sending a message that we will do whatever is in our power to hold these people accountable," says Hess. "Even when those indicted are not immediately accessible… we will work to expose them." #ICCE #ACcyber 7/

"The US has bilateral extradition treaties with over 100 countries," says Hess, "and we also—in coordination with our int'l partners—work to dismantle the criminal infrastructure that is used to conduct cybercrime. Our foreign partners are key to those efforts." #ACcyber #ICCE 8/

"Attribution allows the US gov't to take coordinated action to impose costs on those who violate our laws & threaten our national security," says the @FBI's Hess. "…It enables policymakers to consider using all tools available… and that includes sanctions." #ACcyber #ICCE 9/

"While we can't always apprehend suspects… we will keep at it and we will keep disrupting their lives and activity," says @FBI's Hess. "We have a long memory and an important responsibility to the victims." #ACcyber #ICCE 10/

Hess notes how companies can get help from the @FBI when in need: develop an incident response plan and a relationship with local law enforcement before an incident happens. "An intrusion that may seem insignificant or small, can spiral into a larger attack." #ACcyber #ICCE 11/

"Our people are perhaps our most important cyber tool," says @FBI's Hess. "We've even embedded cyber agents with int'l counterparts in strategic locations to help us build trust with key partners around the globe, because as we all know cyber is a global issue." #ACcyber #ICCE

Closing her remarks, Hess says the @FBI is working on "hiring, retaining, and training our workforce of the future. Our focus for the future is finding new ways to work together and take full advantage of intelligence and technology… to combat this threat.
#ACcyber #ICCE 13/13