DIRECTOR MUELLER TO CYBER PROFESSIONALS:
Report Your Hacks!
08/12/05
One in five. That’s
how many businesses, universities, and government agencies said they
reported their computer intrusions to law enforcement in the 2005
cyber survey conducted by the Computer Security Institute and the FBI.
On Tuesday, Director
Mueller talked about it in a speech at the annual national conference
of InfraGard, a nearly decade-old
partnership between the Bureau and the private sector.
“We know that
[businesses] have practical concerns about reporting breaches of security,” Mueller
said. “But we must find a way to stop these attacks. Maintaining
a code of silence will not benefit you or your company in the long run.”
He offered
some sobering ways hackers have wreaked havoc on critical infrastructure:
- In
Australia, a hacker accessed an online sewage control system and
released 250 million tons of raw sewage onto the grounds of a public
space.
- In Russia,
hackers took control of a gas pipeline through an electronic control
system.
- In Ohio,
a computer virus infected computers in a nuclear power plant, disrupting
safety systems for five hours.
At the same time,
Mueller thanked the 11,225 members of the InfraGard network and strongly
praised their efforts, calling the program “one of our most important
links to the private sector.”
“From our perspective,
[you give us] 11, 000 contacts…and 11,000 partners in our mission
to protect America,” Mueller said. “We recognize that in
certain areas we lack the expertise you possess. That is why we need
your help.”
What kinds
of help have InfraGard members given to the FBI and its partners? The
Director cited just a few examples:
- In Colorado,
an InfraGard member notified us that computer software templates
used by U.S. energy companies had been stolen.
- In Phoenix,
our investigators turned to InfraGard members for information about
a high-tech issue while working on a highly sensitive counterterrorism
case.
- In San Francisco,
InfraGard members briefed our agents and analysts on risks associated
with power grids, air traffic control, and chemical and nuclear facilities.
- While shopping,
another InfraGard member noticed individuals buying items that could
be used to make a bomb. He took down the license plate number of
their car and called authorities, who later told him his hunch was
right.
“Success stories
like these reinforce the need for vigilance and cooperation,” Mueller
said. “Working side-by-side is not just the best option, it is
the only option.”
Resources: Director’s
Speech | InfraGard
website | Related story
on InfraGard
