Physical threats to the nation’s infrastructure and other sensitive assets aren’t the only ones to keep an eye on.
“Critical threats facing our nation today emanate from the cyber realm,” said Shawn Henry, then Executive Assistant Director of the FBI for cyber security in a speech at the Information Systems Security Association International Conference in Baltimore. The October 2011 speech is transcribed in full on the FBI Web site. “We’ve got hackers out to take our personal information and money, spies who want to steal our nation’s secrets, and terrorists who are looking for novel ways to attack our critical infrastructure.”
Henry, who has since retired from federal service to become president of services at security startup CroudStrike, said, “I believe the cyber threat is an existential one, meaning that a major cyber attack could potentially wipe out whole companies. It could shut down our electric grid or water supply. It could cause serious damage to parts of our cities, and ultimately even kill people.
“Intrusions into corporate networks, personal computers, and government systems are occurring every single day by the thousands.”
While businesses are usually most concerned about disgruntled employees, pranksters, and criminal organizations, he said that businesses face cyber-threats from three primary groups: foreign intelligence services, criminal enterprises, and terrorist groups.
Of those, the first are generally the most capable and often interested in stealing company secrets that they can provide to their own industries. “One company that was recently the victim of an intrusion determined it had lost 10 years worth of research and development – valued at $1 billion – virtually overnight.”
Organized criminals are moving from the physical to the digital world and have “stolen hundreds of millions of dollars from the financial services sector and its customers. Their crimes … create a significant drain on our economy.”
Terrorists have so far been less prominent, but that does not mean they will remain that way. “As 9/11 taught us, we can’t assume that just because something hasn’t been done before, it isn’t a possible threat.” Terrorist organizations may lack the internal capability to do serious damage via cyber attack, “but the reality is that capability is available on the open market. “
And while most companies focus on short term events – the equivalent of a theft in the physical world – a major and less recognized danger is long-term penetration.
“In one of the most sophisticated and organized attacks on the financial sector, an international network of hackers obtained access to a financial corporation’s network and completely compromised its encryption,” Henry said. “They were inside the system for months doing reconnaissance, which enabled them to steal millions of dollars in less than 24 hours when they finally took overt action.”
In another exploit, an international cyber-criminal organization used an Automated Clearing House (ACH) wire transfer system to access online commercial banking accounts and distribute malicious software, stealing nearly $70 million.
And the threat, he said, is growing. The 2011 Norton Cybercrime Report estimated losses to total nearly $400 billion a year with more than one million people victimized daily. The Ponemon Institute reported that the number of attacks on companies in its survey increased 45% from the previous year and cost 70% more. And these studies only cover remote access attacks, not attacks through the suupply chain, those involving trusted employees, or proximity attacks on the network.
Overall, this paints a grim picture that should concern C-level executives more than it usually does. Fortunately businesses do not have to face these threats alone. The FBI, he said, has several programs to provide help including the National Cyber Investigative Joint Task Force (NCIJTF) coordinating the efforts of more than 20 government agencies. It also has partnered with private companies to provide information and prevent attacks before they happen and inform them of breaches in progress that they were not aware of. And it works closely with law enforcement worldwide to arrest cyber-criminals. In 2010 this resulted in 212 such arrests and the first extradition of cyber-criminals from Estonia to the United States.
Dealing with this threat, he said, starts with the basic risk equation: “Risk equals threat times vulnerability times consequence.” An effective risk reduction strategy involves a defense-in-depth designed to decrease all three elements of the exposure. Decreasing the growing threat involves police action to identify, arrest, and convict cyber-criminals. Decreasing vulnerability involves hardening corporate cyber-defenses and when possible taking valuable information off the network entirely. Managing the consequences involves minimizing the harm that a penetration can cause, perhaps by encrypting information and by developing plans to act swiftly when a penetration is identified.
“We must continue to push forward, because our adversaries are relentless,” Henry said. “Together we can turn the tide against them and bolster the security of our nation’s information, networks, and infrastructure.”
[...] the FBI is alarmed by the dramatic increase of online threats. “Critical threats facing our nation today emanate from the cyber realm,” said Shawn Henry, [...]
[...] security threats are on rise, as per former Executive Assistant Director of the FBI for cyber security, Shawn Henry. [...]
BMW X6 Spoiler…
It’s appropriate time to make some plans for the future and it’s time to be happy. I’ve read this post and if I could I wish to suggest you few interesting things or suggestions. Perhaps you could write next articles referring to this article. I des…
[...] April +307 pips (please see previous posts for details) May 3rd +30 4th +45 5th +45 Total +427The ongoing sell trade on the GBP/USD completed for another 60 pip gain. Currently in GBP/USD trade …a USD/JPY trade. For more info please click here GBP/USD April +402 (please see previous posts for [...]
[...] April +307 pips (please see previous posts for details) May 3rd +30 4th +45 5th +45 Total +427The ongoing sell trade on the GBP/USD completed for another 60 pip gain. Currently in GBP/USD trade …a USD/JPY trade. For more info please click here GBP/USD April +402 (please see previous posts for [...]
[...] posts for details) May +366 Total +575 The last 3 days trades with 1minutedaily on the USD/JPY Not long after yesterdays sell trade closed out for a winner the USD/JPY looked like it fell off a c…is the maximum for the GBP/USD. For more info please click here GBP/USD April +402 (please see [...]
Healing’s Dragon…
to uncover difficulties to further improve my web page!I suppose its ok to help make usage of a couple of of your respective principles!!…
find out what you could do to…
increase traffic and online conversions.i suggest that you do the following:research your topic effectively. find out what people are typing into the search engines to find your information. what keywords are they using? how many different variations o…
popular and affordable diet plan for new…
moms. the program has been re-designed in recent years and, in addition to a points system for foods you eat, there is also a quick start program that helps you to lose weight quickly. the support group for this program is…
keep writing great content and you will…
get your readers addicted. and that is a good thing! sharing is sexy…go ahead share with friends! everyone knows that it takes a lot of time and effort to create a good blog but there’s a big difference between having a…
personal experiences is that you can form…
a bond with your readers and that is always good. add photos from holidays and make your blog personal, it’s easy to make a great blog that people can see is about you. add a profile picture to your blog and…
your website?one of the main reasons to…
create a blog or forums is to provide information to readers. sometimes these can be specific to a website you own. however for this article we are not talking about owning blogs or forums as much as posting on sites owned…
to make sure that all students are…
on the same learning level.during the beginning of the class every day, many instructors make students compose a daily writing prompt. at this time, it allows the students to get their brain working and the ideas flowing. this type of exercise…
but i look for opportunities to improve…
and i encourage you to do the same.here are three helpful suggestions for improving your english writing skills:if you have access to the internet do a google search for “english writing” programs, or “learn to write english” programs. there are hu…
world and they subscribe to my articles…
in other not to miss any one.i encourage you to write articles because they enhance your knowledge and writing skills. you articles can even become a book with time because idea expands and can also bring you speaking engagements. whatever i…
they want, something that will be useful…
to them, keep them interested and you will gain their loyalty and expand your audience. the importance of blogs in online marketing is indispensable and crucial. blogs can be written by individuals also, as blogs are like a diary. however, in…
relationship with the visitor but also increase…
the visitors. in addition, first off you comment on every site that leaves one on your blog. by writing comments of value you can be reasonably sure that your comments will be approved. please ensure you do not spam other blogs…
is very difficult to gauge whether comments…
can drive traffic on the blogs; it is certainly a useful thing for establishing involvement with the target audience. readers can post comments and questions which can help in generating curiosity in the minds of the target audience. therefore, it is…
total of nearly 2.5 liters consumed over…
the full dosing period. the total dose of carbohydrate in the cho component of each meal was about 125 grams (containing a 1:1 ratio of glucose to maltodextrin). the added protein total in the chop and chopl formulas was about 83…
you need to do it. if you…
inform them that you are going to be writing in your blog once a week, please don’t disappoint them. your followers will be the reason your blog site becomes successful. in the early stages, you may have several followers, but over…
like to use index cards when organizing…
their researches.13. coffee cup wizard – makes it easy to zip and unzip files.14. foxit reader – a better alternative to adobe reader. it offers most of the features of adobe reader without the memory bloats.15. wordweb – offers dictionary and…
is a window into your thinking. if…
you are with others, but are silent, it is likely those around you will have little or no idea of what you think. even if you speak, talking is an imperfect form of communication because it is quick, typically disjointed, stream-of-consciousness,…
give you options and opinions on things…
that will help you get more blog readers.are you evolving?change is a part of life. do not be so stuck on what you are doing currently that you refuse to be flexible and open to change to the needs of your…
a how-to video. these are becoming more…
and more popular. you are essentially creating a tutorial for your readers. grab a news headline and relate it to your niche. solve a problem. do a q & a. you might even get the questions from the comments on your…
The Absent Game…
In between me and my husband we have owned much more MP3 gamers through the years than I can count, which includes Sansas, iRivers, iPods (classic & touch), the Ibiza Rhapsody, etc. But, the last few years I’ve settled down to one line of gamers….
Google…
usually posts some extremely interesting stuff like this. If youre new to this site…
four hour work week…
[...]we came across a cool internet site which you could enjoy. Take a look in case you want[...]…
carpet cleaners…
Thanks , I have recently been searching for information about this topic for a long time and yours is the greatest I’ve came upon till now. However, what in regards to the bottom line? Are you certain concerning the source?…
MOR AUDIBLE…
[...]the time to study or go to the material or sites we have linked to beneath the[...]…
is mca a scam…
[...]check beneath, are some entirely unrelated internet sites to ours, having said that, they may be most trustworthy sources that we use[...]…
Equipment Malfunction…
[...]always a significant fan of linking to bloggers that I appreciate but really don’t get a lot of link love from[...]…
apple accessories…
Does your site have a contact page? I’m having problems locating it but, I’d like to shoot you an email. I’ve got some recommendations for your blog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great blog and I look forward to seeing it develop o…
See the Link…
Its really a cool and useful piece of info. Im glad that you shared this useful info with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing….
Civic Intake…
[...]one of our guests just lately encouraged the following website[...]…
red label…
[...]although internet websites we backlink to below are considerably not associated to ours, we really feel they’re basically really worth a go via, so have a look[...]…
ZNZ Big Cash…
you are really a good webmaster. The web site loading speed is incredible. It seems that you are doing any unique trick. Moreover, The contents are masterwork. you’ve done a excellent job on this topic!…
einweihungsfeier geschenke…
[...]very few web sites that occur to become comprehensive below, from our point of view are undoubtedly very well worth checking out[...]…
uk roulette online…
[...]please pay a visit to the web-sites we follow, including this 1, because it represents our picks in the web[...]…
vinyl sheds…
[...]Sites of interest we’ve a link to[...]…
Kyle…
[...]one of our visitors recently advised the following website[...]…
San Diego Residential Electrician…
[...]Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine several unrelated data, nevertheless genuinely really worth taking a appear, whoa did 1 find out about Mid East has got much more problerms at the same time [...]…
Professional Shopper shopping made easy for clothes…
I am not sure where you’re getting your information, but great topic. I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more. Thanks for excellent information I was looking for this info for my mission….
Jennifer Jones…
[...]one of our guests recently advised the following website[...]…
secure online hosting…
[...]although internet sites we backlink to below are considerably not associated to ours, we really feel they are essentially worth a go by way of, so have a look[...]…
Geschenkhelfer…
[...]Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine a number of unrelated information, nonetheless really really worth taking a appear, whoa did a single find out about Mid East has got additional problerms at the same time [...]…
steam games…
I additionally believe that mesothelioma is a extraordinary form of cancer that is generally found in people previously exposed to asbestos. Cancerous tissues form from the mesothelium, which is a protecting lining which covers most of the body’s inte…
service vancouver…
[...]here are some hyperlinks to web-sites that we link to for the reason that we assume they are worth visiting[...]…
physical therapist Boston…
[...]Here are several of the web-sites we suggest for our visitors[...]…
Free Download…
[...]Here is an excellent Weblog You might Locate Interesting that we Encourage You[...]…
legal loan in singapore…
[...]below youll find the link to some web pages that we assume it is best to visit[...]…
buy nba2k13…
[...]the time to read or check out the content material or web-sites we have linked to below the[...]…
Insurance Claims Lawyer In Toronto…
Hi there! I could have sworn I’ve been to this site before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Nonetheless, I’m definitely happy I found it and I’ll be book-marking and checking back often!…
Facket…
[...]Every when inside a when we select blogs that we study. Listed beneath are the most up-to-date web-sites that we choose [...]…
Furnace Repair Toronto…
I am not positive where you’re getting your info, however good topic. I must spend some time learning more or working out more. Thank you for excellent info I used to be on the lookout for this information for my mission….
zija reviews…
[...]Here are some of the web pages we advise for our visitors[...]…
find them here http://myloan.com.sg/moneylender-singapore.html…
[...]we prefer to honor many other world-wide-web internet sites around the internet, even if they arent linked to us, by linking to them. Beneath are some webpages really worth checking out[...]…
good…
[...]please take a look at the web-sites we stick to, which includes this one, as it represents our picks in the web[...]…
wedding photography louisville…
[...]very couple of websites that come about to be in depth below, from our point of view are undoubtedly nicely really worth checking out[...]…
Dating Link Exchange…
I do love the manner in which you have framed this concern plus it really does supply me a lot of fodder for consideration. Nevertheless, from what I have seen, I really trust as other feedback pack on that men and women continue to be on point and don…
Driving lessons Ayr…
[...]Here are several of the websites we recommend for our visitors[...]…
footwear…
You have made some decent points there. I checked on the internet to learn more about the issue and found most people will go along with your views on this website….
ladbrookes uk gambling…
Just want to say your article is as astounding. The clearness to your publish is just excellent and i can assume you are knowledgeable in this subject. Well along with your permission allow me to grab your RSS feed to keep up to date with impending pos…
voiture avec poursuite…
[...]check below, are some entirely unrelated sites to ours, nonetheless, they’re most trustworthy sources that we use[...]…
SEO services…
[...]Sites of interest we’ve a link to[...]…
buy twitter followers…
[...]usually posts some very exciting stuff like this. If you are new to this site[...]…