Summary: 2023 FBI Atlanta Cyber Threat Summit, FBI Director Christopher Wray

In his keynote address at the 2023 FBI Atlanta Cyber Threat Summit, FBI Director Christopher Wray emphasized the evolving nature of cyber threats and the importance of collaboration between the government, private sector, and international partners. He highlighted the increasing complexity of cyber threats, particularly from nation-states like China and Russia, and the challenges posed by emerging technologies such as AI. Wray also underscored the significance of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), specifically Section 702, in aiding the FBI's cyber investigations. He pointed out the vast scale of China's cyber operations, noting that Chinese cyber hackers outnumber FBI cyber personnel by at least 50 to 1.

1. China poses a significant cyber threat, with its hacking program being more extensive than all other nations combined. Chinese cyber hackers outnumber FBI cyber personnel by a ratio of 50:1.

2. Russia is also a top cyber threat, with its activities in the US energy sector being of particular concern. The effects of Russia's invasion of Ukraine also manifest in the cyber realm.

3. The rapid development of AI technologies has potential misuse. Generative AI, like ChatGPT, can be exploited by criminals to generate deepfakes and malicious code.

4. A Darknet user claimed to have produced malicious code with the assistance of ChatGPT, instructing other cyber criminals on its use.

5. AI is expected to enable threat actors to develop increasingly powerful and sophisticated capabilities. China, in particular, has been leveraging stolen data to train machine learning models, enhancing its hacking capabilities.

6. Russia has also shown interest in AI and machine learning, potentially using these technologies to further blur the lines between state-sponsored activities and cybercrime.

7. The FBI's successful disruption of the HIVE Ransomware group showcased the power of international and private-public partnerships.

8. Section 702 of FISA is vital for the FBI to collect foreign adversaries' communications and has been instrumental in several cyber investigations, including the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack.

9. The FBI relies heavily on partnerships with intelligence, law enforcement, international communities, and the private sector to combat cyber threats.

10. The FBI emphasizes the importance of sharing information and collaboration, as the cyber threat landscape is too vast and complex for any single entity to combat alone.