Skip to main content

FBI chief on Russian hacking: We 'should have seen this coming'

FBI chief on Russian hacking: We 'should have seen this coming'.


The US government should have anticipated Russia's efforts to meddle in the 2016 elections -- but the FBI is nevertheless working to make sure Russia "pays" for its actions, bureau officials said Wednesday.

FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe said Moscow's efforts were surprising "in some ways," but that the intelligence community had enough information to have foreseen extensive efforts by Russian-government linked hackers and operatives to influence the 2016 election.
"The fact is, the Russians have been targeting us with everything they have over the last 50 years," McCabe said. "We sort of should have seen this coming."



McCabe was speaking at the Cambridge Cyber Summit, held by CNBC and the Aspen Institute, on a wide-ranging panel about the cybersecurity threat. The admission follows repeated statements from the intelligence community reaffirming the assessment a year ago that the Russian government was involved in various attempts to influence the election, including by releasing damaging emails about Democrats and Hillary Clinton's campaign. Russian meddling is the subject of a special counsel investigation by former FBI Director Robert Mueller, which McCabe said the FBI is assisting where it can, and investigations in the House and Senate.

Without getting into specifics about what activities the FBI sees currently, McCabe implied that the meddling hasn't stopped.
"The experience in the 2016 elections allowed us to diagnose the problem," McCabe said. "Have we cured it yet? Absolutely not."

Appearing with McCabe, Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Susan Gordon echoed his remarks and praised recent efforts by social media companies to examine their own use as tools for the Russian effort, citing specifically public comments by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg about what his company could do better.
"I think this is a catalyzing comment," Gordon said. "I think this is exciting."
But beyond the importance of working with the private sector on the problem, the government is also working on how to fight back.

FBI Counterintelligence Division Assistant Director E.W. "Bill" Priestap said that Russia must feel consequences of its actions.
"The FBI is doing everything it can to make sure Russia pays a price for its nefarious activities," Priestap said, adding that could include offensive cyber responses, or hacking back.
"I think the bad actors, in this case, Russia, should be held accountable. So to me all options should be on the table. Should (hacking in return) be one of them? In my opinion, absolutely it should be considered," Priestap said. "The game is changing so as a result we can't just rely on traditional responses, we ought to rely on all possible options."

Those options may be limited, though, White House Cyber Coordinator Rob Joyce said in a separate panel. He, too, said a variety of options should be available to the government, but said the hacking back options may not be sufficient yet.

"We know how to poke using cyber," Joyce said. "What we don't know what to do is knock them down and stand on their chest, hold them down and continue to impress our will in that space. So people who envision cyber as a solution, a complete solution, is a little overblown."
He also said that the government has yet to use a sanctions authority put in place by the Obama administration that allows the government to respond to cyberattacks -- but said that wasn't necessarily because it doesn't intend to.

Sanctions may be more a matter of when, not if, Joyce said.
"It's more getting the campaign lined up. It's important to use tools for maximum effectiveness, so the timing of things is very, very critical," Joyce said. "You want to roll out sanctions at the same time you have a diplomatic plan ... if you can do it in conjunction with law enforcement activities, you do that as well."

Joyce sought to downplay seeming dissension from President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly tweeted about a Russia "hoax." He said the President in fact believes the intelligence community's findings.
"It's really important to understand the President has been briefed on the intelligence and the election intrusions, he accepted that," Joyce said. "He stood behind the intelligence community."
But Joyce also acknowledged that the public's trust in government is critical.

"I think it's terribly important," Joyce said, pointing to a similar assessment that North Korea was behind the 2014 hack of Sony. "It's that kind of definitive statement that's really important that we have that trust."

McCabe also spoke of the dangers of public distrust -- saying that's exactly what Russia and others are hoping to erode.
"When we are tearing ourselves apart and torn from one side to the next and in a state of unrest, physically and emotionally, our adversaries are in a better place and that is where they seek to push us," McCabe said. "The difference is now they've got the platform. ... So forget security professionals, how do we process this as Americans?"

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Trump unveils new strict 70-point immigration enforcement plan

Trump unveils new strict 70-point immigration enforcement plan Foreign nationals being arrested this week during a targeted enforcement operation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) aimed at immigration fugitives, re-entrants and at-large criminal aliens in Los Angeles.  Determined to finally solve illegal immigration, the White House submitted a 70-point enforcement plan to Congress Sunday proposing the stiffest reforms ever offered by an administration — including a massive rewrite of the law in order to eliminate loopholes illegal immigrants have exploited to gain a foothold in the U.S. The plans, seen by The Washington Times, include President Trump’s calls for a border wall, more deportation agents, a crackdown on sanctuary cities and stricter limits to chain migration — all issues the White House says need to be part of any bill Congress passes to legalize illegal immigrant “Dreamers” currently protected by the Obama-era deportation amnesty k
VIRAL: Kate Winslet and Allison Janney's passionate kiss at Hollywood Film Awards Kate Winslet and Allison Janney shared a passionate kiss on the stage at the Hollywood Film Awards this year.It was overflowing love at the Hollywood Film Awards this year. Kate Winslet couldn't hide her delight as she went on the stage to collect the Best Actress award for Wonder Wheel, directed by Woody Allen. After collecting the award, she said that she felt "honoured" to be in the same room as Allison Janney, who plays the role of CJ in the political drama West Wing.  "Allison Janney... I know, I don't really know you, but I just want to be you. Or just stroke you or something. I mean we could always kiss, maybe,"  Kate said. This amorous outburst was greeted by loud cheers. Janney decided to fulfill the Titanic star's wish, and went on the stage, and the two shared a kiss. Clearly ecstatic by the encounter, Kate said, "Thank you very much. Now I'

By Georgia! Toffolo flaunts her sensational bikini body ahead of I'm A Celeb... as 34 secret cameras and 46 hidden microphones are installed in camp to catch out the contestants

By Georgia! Toffolo flaunts her sensational bikini body ahead of I'm A Celeb... as 34 secret cameras and 46 hidden microphones are installed in camp to catch out the contestants She's gearing up to swap the luxurious townhouses of Chelsea for the insect-infested jungles of Australia.  But Georgia 'Toff' Toffolo proved she was having no trouble adjusting to life Down Under as she sizzled in a skimpy bikini for a photoshoot ahead of her I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! stint. The 23-year-old Made In Chelsea star looked sensational as she posed on Surfers Paradise beach in Queensland days before she'll hit the jungle camp - which has been kitted out with 34 secret cameras and 46 hidden microphones.  Toff was a vision of beauty as she paraded her incredible figure down the beach in a tiny black two-piece that showed off her toned physique.  A lace trimmed bikini top showcased her ample cleavage, whilst tie-side briefs highlighted her perky po