A second class of crimes, born with the Internet age, is also a serious
concern for national law enforcement. Those are computer intrusions, denial
of service attacks and cyber terrorism - all crimes with "the potential to
ruin businesses, cause staggering financial losses, threaten our national
security and even cost lives," Mueller said.
The FBI is reorganizing itself to better respond and investigate online
criminal activity, Mueller said, with a particular emphasis on tapping
private sector expertise to help respond to crime.
"We are forming high tech task forces that include private sector
players, law enforcement and in some cases experts from academic
disciplines," Mueller explained to the ITAA audience in suburban
Washington.
"So when there is a local cyber crime problem, the worldwide network of the
FBI and the resources of the other task force participants can work together
to assist."
The FBI director implored the private sector members of his audience to
provide more information to authorities about unauthorized intrusions into
their computer networks. He estimated that the FBI is receiving reports on
only one third of such incidents. Mueller acknowledged business leaders'
concerns that reporting these cases to authorities might make them subject
to investigation, expose protected corporate information or attract
unwelcome media attention that could adversely affect stock prices. Mueller
offered assurances that the FBI would take care to minimize such
consequences.
"We will try to find the origin of the attacker, help you preserve
evidence and avoid counter-surveillance. We will help protect you legally,"
Mueller said. "And we will do what no one else can -- hunt down the
perpetrator and shut him or her down."
Full
text of FBI Director Mueller's speech (as prepared for delivery)