The FBI Built a Fake Town to Prepare for Cyber Attacks
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has built a 22,000 square foot replica town in Alabama to train law enforcement in simulating and investigating real-world cyber attacks. This town is equipped with fully furnished houses, a hotel, a gas station, a grocery mart, a courthouse, a hospital, and a power company, all designed to mimic a real US community. The town is used to teach investigators how to respond to cyber attacks in a secure environment, using the latest consumer and enterprise technologies. The aim of this training is to prepare investigators for the increasing number of cyber attacks that are happening every year. According to the FBI's 2025 Internet Crime Report, there were over $20.9 billion in US cyber crime losses, a 26% jump over the previous year. Ransomware is ranked as the top ongoing threat to critical infrastructure. The replica town allows the FBI to simulate ransomware attacks and their real-world consequences, including the high-pressure decisions th...