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Press Release

U.S. Attorney’s Office for the SDFL Hosts Collaborative Symposium To Prevent and Combat Cyber Crime

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Florida

Yesterday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida hosted a symposium to combat cyber crimes with participation from high ranking officials with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Secret Service, as well as approximately eighty representatives from some of the district’s largest companies, hospitals and academic institutions.

Wifredo A. Ferrer, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, and Brian Swain, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service (USSS), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.

Cyber crimes continue to evolve and pose a significant threat to our nation and the privacy and economic security of American consumers and businesses.  In order to derail and block cyber intrusions, it is imperative that businesses, companies and institutions report any suspected breach of a network system, identify and notify victims, minimize the impact of the intrusion and work with law enforcement to prevent and combat cybersecurity threats.   The mission of law enforcement is to thwart cyber attacks, protect trade secrets, safeguard valuable data and prosecute those who seek to steal from and cripple corporations, medical facilities and academic institutions.  Federal law enforcement agencies have joined forces with private entities to protect business ventures and the countless consumers, students and patients who benefit from the services offered by our nation’s industry and business leaders.    

 “The virtual theft of personal consumer data and other valuable business information is a threat to companies of all shapes and sizes,” stated U. S. Attorney Ferrer.  “By bringing together the business and law enforcement communities, we intend to foster our mutual and compelling interest in developing comprehensive and collaborative strategies to prevent and combat cyber attacks.  It is our hope that companies and businesses report intrusions and other types of cyber attacks to law enforcement so that we can continue to protect individual citizens and companies that are too often victimized by cybercrime.”

“Cyber is a vector of attack that touches every FBI program and is a means by which criminals of all sorts accomplish their aims. Through similar meetings we hope to build the kind of public and private partnerships to one day predict and prevent cyber attacks, rather than reacting after the fact,” said FBI SSA Jason Manar.  

Mr. Ferrer commended the collective efforts of the FBI, USSS, corporations, businesses, hospitals and academic institutions to combat cyber crimes.  To report a cybercrime or cybersecurity threat, please visit www.ic3.gov or contact the USSS at (305) 863-5000.  To learn more about how to protect your business and consumers from cyber threats, visit www.us-cert.gov

 

Updated February 4, 2016