Eric Geller

Eric Geller @ericgeller

@WilliamCWest if that's what it takes to live my Star Wars adventure — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

do we think there's any cyber angle to the hotel that could make this a work trip — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

@JoinTheSchwarz omg — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

of course the ultimate way to live my Star Wars adventure would be to hack into the hotel's guest booking system, plant a reservation for myself under a fake name, and show up in an elaborate disguise — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

have never been so frustrated by the fact that I'm not allowed to accept sponsorships — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

@TMSnowsill @HothTakes @Grace_Segers thank you Tristan! — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

@brian_nov @eleventhirtyate "Ever since the 2022 Camry came out, they just aren't in demand..." — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

Just a reminder to check out today's new @HothTakes episode where @grace_segers and I discuss the causes of the Jedi's downfall: https://t.co/CPXYMlX3AU It's one of our most in-depth episodes yet. — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

@KffDogs @darth TILLER!!! — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

"Nearly 18 months into the pandemic, there’s no consensus on how to keep students and staff safe. Local school leaders, whipsawed by changing federal guidance, find themselves building a patchwork of protections based as much on local politics as public health." — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

Here's my story about Neuberger's comments on Russia, China, ransomware, cryptocurrency, and hacking back: https://t.co/7IrkKSHmDg To those saying Neuberger's too optimistic here about CI, note her comment that "the proof will be in the pudding." No one over there is naive. — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

.@grace_segers and I are back with a new episode of @HothTakes, in which we discuss where the Jedi Order went wrong. How did they lose their way, and what could they have done differently? This is one of my favorite episodes so far, so listen now! https://t.co/CPXYMlFsJm — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

@FATFNews Neuberger: “If we want to disrupt ransomware ... we need to be able to rapidly trace and interdict [payments] around the world, and there's a lot of lessons learned from physical know-your-customer and anti-money-laundering global efforts that we're working to apply here." — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

On ransomware, Neuberger says US is a leader, thru Treasury, in working with @FATFNews to promote cryptocurrency regulations "and ensure that illicit use of virtual currencies is addressed with more focus and rigor." Hey, I have a new story about that! https://t.co/5LoTZzIVnt — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

Neuberger says the ransomware group BlackMatter's recent interview (where they said they'd avoid CI) was a sign that Biden admin's warnings worked. "We think we're seeing a commitment, and we will look to see the actions that follow on that commitment." — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

Neuberger on the limitations of hacking back: "One must always consider the interoperability of networks. Having a discrete impact, having confidence in that discrete impact, is often challenging, given how much networks are interconnected within countries and globally." — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

Pressed on criticism that Biden's promises of cyber retaliation have failed, Neuberger says "most effective way" to stop hacks from within a country is to shape its leaders' expectations and calculations. "I think you've seen the President doing that in a very thoughtful way.” — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

Asked why the U.S. has sanctioned Russia but not China for hacks, Neuberger says there's an existing consensus about punishing Russia, but with China, “there's still that building of consensus ... around the need to ... work collectively on defense and ... consequences." — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

NSC's Anne Neuberger is doing a fireside chat right now at the Aspen Security Forum about the Biden administration's cyber strategy. Will tweet highlights. — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

@heathadelphia @jasoncfry @heathdwilliams yeah it was fun! — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

So there are challenges (regulatory patchwork, FinCEN's underfunded, State lacks cyber bureau) but also causes for hope (even self-hosted wallet users eventually want to cash out). And regulation won't solve ransomware. But it can help. Read on here: https://t.co/5LoTZzIVnt — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

@hodgesmr I guess people can disagree about how nuclear it is, but sanctions are always risky, especially when they're aimed at companies headquartered in on-the-fence countries that may not like our approach — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

Imposing sanctions "would be quite devastating to most of these exchanges," @DAlperovitch told me. But there's no indication that the Biden administration is considering this option right now. — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

The U.S. also has a nuclear option: sanctioning noncompliant exchanges. This would make it almost impossible for them to convert BTC/etc. into $/€ — a big part of their biz — as other exchanges connected to broader financial system would refuse to facilitate their transactions. — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

Since that G-7 statement in 2020, major ransomware attacks have led the U.S. and close allies to call ransomware a national security priority, which Painter said creates "much more possibility of action among the big players." — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

The U.S. can also encourage the G-7 and G-20 to offer regulatory training and assistance, and it could push for regulatory agreements in these bodies that would create momentum for broader accords. G-7 leaders recently acknowledged the problem: https://t.co/4rIHpip4oa — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

For some countries, the problem is lack of will, not lack of capabilities. To overcome this, the U.S. could stress that “if they clean up their act, that also helps with the foreign investment,” former top U.S. cyber diplomat @C_Painter told me. — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

So what can the U.S. do? For one thing, offer legal and technical assistance to countries that are struggling to regulate cryptocurrency. Data from FATF and private analysts can help the U.S. target this aid. State & Treasury are already somewhat doing this. — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

Then there's the tech I mentioned that's popular with criminals: wallets hosted on personal computers instead of exchanges; decentralized exchanges where transactions bypass site operators; and Monero and other "privacy coins" with no public ledger for payment tracing. — PolitiTweet.org

Eric Geller @ericgeller

Meanwhile, some countries, such as Nepal and Turkey, have chosen to ban cryptocurrency, but experts say this doesn't actually stop people from using virtual currencies and just makes it harder to stop their abuse. — PolitiTweet.org