Eric Geller

Eric Geller @ericgeller

Biggs is now pressing Vorndran on whether the FBI knew that Biden was going to give Putin a list of the 16 critical infrastructure sectors, which Biggs describes as "that list of sensitive sectors." Totally disconnected from reality. — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

Andy Biggs delivers what has become a strange GOP talking point, that creating a list of critical infrastructure entities implies that everything else is “fair game for cyberattacks” or hints that there are especially serious vulnerabilities in the listed entities. — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

Lofgren: Do you agree that messaging app interoperability requirements (like in the EU's new Digital Markets Act) could create security vulnerabilities by weakening the encryption that each platform uses? Vorndran: “Yes, ma’am.” — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

Lofgren: But doesn’t that create vulnerabilities in encryption? Is that a worthy tradeoff? Vorndran: “I do think that it’s important that law enforcement has access to that data through official court process." — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

Zoe Lofgren: Is the FBI still pushing for encryption backdoors, and how does that square with its cyber defense mission? Vorndran: We still believe that law enforcement needs the ability to get data pursuant to a warrant, yes. — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

Steve Chabot: Given that ransomware payments fund future attacks, why not ban the payments? Vorndran: Banning payments “creates a triple extortion model.” Hackers can extort for data decryption, not leaking sensitive data, *and* not publicizing that victim broke the law. — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

Vorndran: Companies should “build a proactive relationship” with their local FBI cyber squad and CISA representative. “You can report to CISA. You can report to the bureau. It doesn't much matter to us. We'll synchronize on the back side.” (A generous plug for CISA from the FBI.) — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

Asked about the Biden administration's recent warning re: Russian hackers scanning U.S. energy company networks, Vorndran reiterates that “instances of Russian scanning have increased" in the last month and says scans are important indicators of preliminary reconnaissance. — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

Vorndran: "Yes, the people and technology that FBI’s Cyber Division needs to keep pace with these adversaries are expensive, but they're essential investments because cybersecurity equates to national security.” — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

Vorndran says recruiting and retaining cyber experts is a top priority for the FBI. "We have found our struggles to pay [people] market value, even federal government market value, is often a dealbreaker." — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

Vorndran references the FBI's "move away from an indictment- and arrest-first mentality" toward an approach based on collaboration with other agencies to "impose the greatest possible cost on our adversaries," even if it doesn't end in a traditional prosecution. — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

Vorndran says FBI’s cyber division turns 20 this year. “We have more than 1,000 cyber-trained personnel spread across 56 field offices and more than 350 sub-offices, and we can now put a cyber-trained agent on nearly any doorstep in this country within one hour of an attack.” — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

Nadler, doing an extremely good impression of a man who just heard a bunch of completely normal things, thanks Jordan for his remarks and moves to introduce Vorndran. — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

Jordan continues with Hunter Biden conspiracy theories and complaints about DOJ allegedly spying on parents who speak at school board meetings. — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

Chair Jerry Nadler delivers an opening statement focused on the need to improve critical infrastructure security. Ranking member Jim Jordan talks about alleged FISA abuse and Biden deporting Aleksei Burkov back to Russia. — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

Vorndran's written statement doesn't say much about the cyber incident reporting program that the bureau fought to have changed. Just says FBI officials "look forward to working" w/ CISA "to ensure that all new incident reports are accessible as soon as possible..." — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

The House Judiciary Committee is starting its oversight hearing for the FBI's Cyber Division, with Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran testifying: https://t.co/DsOhESZRNf — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

@Wanderlustin saf, you are one of my favorite people to follow on here, you're funny and smart and passionate about important issues ♥️ — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

@selenalarson Look at that face — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

😭 — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

healthy, reality-based party — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

.@CommerceGov is out with a 2022-2026 strategic plan that includes a section on its cybersecurity agenda, led by NIST. https://t.co/dPJiCghVdR https://t.co/smSwLsvRsw — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

@TweetDeck can you let me search for tweets from one of several lists, instead of just scoping it to one? — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

Previously: — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

Ukraine's cyber agency confirms that it has worked with the country's largest ISP to to stop a cyberattack that severely limited its services. But recovery continues and services are being limited to prioritize availability for military customers. — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

@aedwardslevy ariel no but this is good — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

@eleventhirtyate Totally fair, I don't disagree with your broader point. I just don't think it's far to say that all they're promising is not being murdered. But it'd be interesting to explore how much a galactic govt at this stage of development *can* offer to such a far-flung civilization. — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

@eleventhirtyate To be fair, my sense is it's more like going from 2G to 5G. It's a big deal to be able to talk to people and not feel isolated! — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

@eleventhirtyate if the question is, "what is the Republic offering?" it doesn't seem fair to leave out things that are happening even if they're happening in the background — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

@eleventhirtyate I agree there could be more centering of that aspect, but I don't think it needs to get a lot of story attention in order to qualify as a point in the Republic's favor -- it's out there, happening, even if the storytelling isn't centering it — PolitiTweet.org