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FBI appoints first cybercrime expert in Estonia

The FBI is to base a computer crime expert in Estonia later this year, this will be the first time the bureau is placing outside the United States an agent focused purely on cybercrime.

Earlier this year, President Barack Obama announced plans for a major cybersecurity review, describing cybercrime as a risk comparable to nuclear or biological attack. Last year, NATO established a cyberdefense centre in Estonia, and it seems likely that the two organisations will work together.

The FBI says it has picked Estonia because of its well-developed IT infrastructure and expertise in information technology - Estonia is widely regarded as by far the most technologically developed country in Eastern Europe. Its government also has a strong determination to fight cybercrime, which has been particularly prevalent in the region.

Estonia knows all about the problem, after wide-scale attacks on private and public computer systems in 2007, Estonia has led international efforts to fight cybercrime. Estonian authorities have said they believe Russia was behind the attacks.

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