Video Transcript

00:00:15:31 - 00:00:27:28
Public Affairs
Greg, another one of the programs that you oversee is our cyber program. So I think this would affect anyone in the United States that has a smartphone or a computer. Can you explain a little bit about that?

00:00:27:28 - 00:00:34:06
FBI Seattle ASAC, Cyber
Sure, we divide our cyber program into two main spheres: our criminally motivated actors and our nation-state actors.

00:00:34:44 - 00:00:49:34
Public Affairs
So what would be the difference to that? I mean, sounds like, you know, nation state actors are almost like counterintelligence and spies type thing, whereas the other ones are kind of criminals that are trying to steal my bank information?

00:00:49:36 - 00:01:12:56
FBI Seattle ASAC, Cyber
Right. So our nation state-sponsored cyber criminals are often attacking our critical infrastructure or trying to acquire information that somehow would empower that country in the event of conflict or just to gain economic or, you know, global geopolitical supremacy. Whereas the criminally-motivated cyber actors are generally trying to make money with a much quicker time horizon.

00:01:13:21 - 00:01:22:30
Public Affairs
So those are the ones that probably the average everyday person would encounter. What are some examples of what tactics cybercriminals use against everyday people?

00:01:22:34 - 00:01:40:04
FBI Seattle ASAC, Cyber
So one thing we're seeing a lot of right now is ransomware, where they will hack into a company. It could be anything from a hospital to a bank and basically freeze the institution's ability to operate until they pay some amount of cryptocurrency.

00:01:40:07 - 00:01:44:59
Public Affairs
Do we see a lot of these cyber criminals coming from outside the United States?

00:01:45:02 - 00:01:49:01
FBI Seattle ASAC, Cyber
Absolutely, most of them. Eastern Europe is a frequent place of origin.

00:01:49:10 - 00:01:54:38
Public Affairs
And is there a way that people that are affected by cyber crime, you know, is there a way to report it or what should they do?

00:01:54:39 - 00:01:56:43
FBI Seattle ASAC, Cyber
Absolutely. Just go to ic3.gov.