FBI Anchorage Joins Operation Winter SHIELD
•February 10, 2026
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Why It Matters
Operation Winter Shield gives businesses and public institutions a vetted, actionable roadmap to mitigate escalating cyber threats, directly safeguarding national security and economic stability.
Key Takeaways
- •FBI launches Operation Winter Shield for cyber resilience
- •Ten actionable steps target nation‑state and criminal threats
- •Emphasis on anti‑phishing, third‑party risk management for organizations
- •Resources available for individuals, businesses, hospitals, and schools
- •Immediate implementation urged to protect critical infrastructure nationwide
Summary
The FBI Anchorage Field Office, led by Assistant Special Agent Brandon Waddle, announced Operation Winter Shield, a nationwide cyber‑security campaign aimed at bolstering the digital defenses of Alaskans and the broader United States.
The initiative distills lessons from real‑world investigations into a ten‑step guide that addresses both nation‑state espionage and ransomware‑focused criminal activity. It stresses basic hygiene—patching, strong passwords, anti‑phishing training—and advanced measures such as third‑party risk assessments and network segmentation.
Waddle emphasized, “Together, we can freeze them out,” urging workers, hospitals, schools, and government agencies to adopt the prescribed actions immediately. The FBI’s website now hosts the full checklist, offering downloadable resources and step‑by‑step instructions.
By translating investigative insights into practical steps, the program seeks to reduce breach incidence, protect critical infrastructure, and limit the financial fallout from cyber attacks, making it a critical call‑to‑action for any organization handling sensitive data.
Original Description
Brandon Waddle, an assistant special agent in charge of the FBI Anchorage Field Office, introduces the FBI's Operation Winter SHIELD, a cyber resilience campaign that positions industry as critical allies alongside the FBI and our partners in detecting, confronting, and dismantling cyber threats. For more information, visit www.fbi.gov/wintershield.
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