An IACSP Q&A with Eric O’Neill

Interviewer Paul Davis

Eric O’Neill is an author, attorney, security consultant and professional public speaker. In 2001, Eric helped capture the most notorious spy in United States history: Robert Hanssen, a 25-year veteran of the FBI. The remarkable true events of his life are the inspiration behind the critically acclaimed dramatic thriller “Breach,” starring Ryan Philippe as O’Neill. The film is the story of the greatest security breach in US history. 

Eric O’Neill began his career in the FBI as a “Ghost,” an undercover field operative tasked to surveil and monitor foreign, national, and domestic terrorists and spies. During the Hanssen investigation, Eric worked directly undercover with the spy within the FBI’s Information Assurance Division –created to protect all classified FBI intelligence.

Currently, he runs The Georgetown Group, a premier investigative and security consultancy out of Washington, DC. Eric is also the National Security Strategist for Carbon Black, the leader in next generation endpoint protection. He is also the author of “Gray Day,” the story of how Eric helped take down notorious FBI mole Robert Hanssen, the first Russian cyber spy.  Eric O’Neill was interviewed by Journal Contributor Paul Davis

Eric O’Neill

IACSP: To begin with, why do you call the spy and traitor Robert Hanssen the first cyber spy?  O’Neill: He was one of the first spies to drop data. Spies then were pulling out reams of information, photos, and microfilm. H...