Is the FBI a Defensive Function?

Summary

Brian Vorndran (Website, LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss how the FBI has adapted to the digital age. As Brian says, “We are not your grandparents FBI.”

What You’ll Learn

Intelligence

• The evolution of the FBI and cyber 
• Weakening cyber adversaries 
• Motivations behind creating and distributing malware
• How to keep your information safe from cyber attacks

Reflections

• Adapting to change within the intelligence field
• The value of a passionate and committed team

And much, much more…

Episode Notes

When Brian Vorndran attended the FBI Academy in 2003, cyber was not on his personal radar, nor was it on Quantico’s vigorous training schedule. Now, almost 20 years later, Brian serves as the Assistant Director of the FBI’s Cyber Division. 

What changed in those 20 years to bring Brian to the forefront of the cyber battlefield, and how have the tactics and strategies used in this used in this field evolved alongside the ever-changing face of cyber? 

Tune into this week’s SpyCast episode to find out! 

The FBI has historically been associated with law enforcement and criminal justice. How does cyber fit into this world, and what is the FBI’s strategy for defending the country against cyber adversaries? 

And…

Check out the FBI Cyber's Most Wanted list. A look through the details on each of these wanted posters can give you a better idea of the vast array of cyber-crimes committed around the world. 

Quotes of the Week

“We will not arrest our way out of the ransomware problem. We are not going to arrest our way out of the Russia China Nation state cyber vector problem. Right? It's just not going to happen. But again, national tool power is something we will always do, but there has to be a way to degrade the ecosystem to make their life more challenging.” – Bryan Vordran.

Resources

*SpyCasts*

• Sure, I Can Hack Your Organization – with Eric Escobar, Part 1 (2022)
• Sure, I Can Hack Your Organization – with Eric Escobar, Part 2 (2022)
• From the CIA to Strategic Cyber - with Hans Holmer (2022)
• CIA Case Officer, Cyber Entrepreneur, Burning Man Volunteer – with Mike Susong (2022)
• Cyberattacks, Espionage & Ransomware – Inside Microsoft’s MSTIC (2021)
• The Cyber Zeitgeist – Cyberwire Host Dave Bittner (2021)

*Beginner Resources*

• What is cybersecurity?, IBM (n.d.) [Article]
• How does Malware Work?, Peter Baltazar, Malware Fox (2021) [Article]
• Director Wray on FBI Cyber Strategy, FBI (2020)

Books

• Dark Territory: The Secret History of Cyber War, Fred Kaplan (Simon & Schuster, 2017) 
• Spam Nation: The Inside Story of Organized Cybercrime, Brian Krebs (Sourcebooks, 2015) 
• DarkMarket: How Hackers Became the New Mafia, Misha Glenny (Vintage, 2012)
• The FBI: A History, Rhodri Jefferys-Jones (Yale, 2007)

Articles

• FBI: Beware of Cyber-Threat from Russian Hacktivists, Phil Muncaster, Info Security (2022)
• Web shell attacks continue to rise, Microsoft Security (2021)
• Thingbots: The Future of Botnets in the Internet of Things, Paul Sabanal, Security Intelligence (2016)

Video

• Inside the FBI: Decoding the Cyber Threat (2022)
• Made in Beijing: The Plan for Global Market Domination (2022)
• FBI Oregon Cyber Jobs: Cyber Special Agent (2022)
• Life on an FBI Cyber Squad (2020) 
• The Evolving Attack Surface (2020)

Primary Sources 

• Oversight of the FBI Cyber Division (2022)
• Sodinokibi/REvil Ransomware Defendant Extradited to United States and Arraigned in Texas (2021) 
• Bryan A. Vorndran Named Assistant Director of the FBI Cyber Division (2021)
• The FBI’s Role in Cyber Security (2014)

*Wildcard Resource*

• Quiz: Test your knowledge of the FBI in pop culture!

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