FBI Constructs Mock Town for Cyberattack Simulations

Last year, a new Cyber Range was launched in Huntsville, Alabama, designed to simulate cyberattacks. Imagine it as a modern-day Hogan’s Alley, but focused on digital crime training. This expansive 22,000-square-foot facility mimics an entire town, featuring a convenience store, gas station, hospital, and even fully furnished homes.

This training ground allows the bureau to recreate real-world scenarios for both training and research. Each building and facility is set up just like they would be in a real community. There’s also a small data center equipped with over 200 servers that can be hacked, infected with malware, and analyzed. Crucially, all systems within this simulated town are isolated from the outside world, ensuring that no harmful code can escape.

Students engage in forensic investigations on various systems, including car entertainment units, hospital networks, and corporate security setups. They can observe how different cyberattacks might impact power grids or propagate through home networks. Although the facility opened last year, a video was recently released, providing the public with its first look inside.