2025 Cyber Crimes Conference (C3) Agenda
FINRA’s Cyber Crimes Conference (C3) is a one-day event on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, that is designed to help you stay current on today’s cybersecurity challenges, understand vulnerabilities and latest threats and create resilience against cyber-attacks. Whether you work in information security, information technology, cybercrime, compliance or are a business owner, you will learn from leading experts in the industry and participate in engaging sessions to leave you with actionable strategies and valuable information to help you protect your organization.
All times listed are Pacific Time.
Monday, October 27
1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
*Optional – Pre-registration required: Cybersecurity: Data Breach and Privacy Impact Response Workshop and Ransomware and Crypto Payment Tabletop Exercise
This session includes a workshop and a tabletop exercise (TTX) that walks through the cyber response process following a breach of customer data. Workshop topics include breach containment, privacy impact assessments, notification obligations, and coordination with legal counsel, regulators and affected clients in the context of Regulation S-P and related standards.
The TTX explores a ransomware demand requesting payment in cryptocurrency scenario where participants explore decision-making related to payment options, external notifications, wallet tracking, recovery planning and compliance with legal and regulatory constraints in extortion-driven incidents.
3:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Break
3:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
*Optional – Pre-registration required: Elder Cyber Fraud Case Study Workshop
Cyber fraud schemes targeting elder investors are growing more frequent and sophisticated. Join this interactive workshop to gain essential tools to recognize, prevent and counter these increasingly sophisticated cyber fraud schemes. Through practical case studies and collaborative discussions with industry peers, you'll develop actionable strategies to protect vulnerable investors from today's most prevalent threats.
Tuesday, October 28
7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Registration and Breakfast
9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Welcome & Keynote: The Next Wave of Cyber Crimes
Join us as we examine today's rapidly evolving threat landscape where advancements in technology have dramatically increased the sophistication of cyberattacks against financial firms. This session addresses the challenge of keeping pace with these accelerating changes, introduces FINRA's strategic initiatives designed to help firms evolve their security programs and provides context for the day’s discussions on effectively adapting your defenses in this dynamic environment.
9:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Break
10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Inside the Mind of a Cybercriminal: Tactics, Trends, and Techniques
Step into the world of a cybercriminal as our panel explores the sophisticated methods used to target financial institutions and investors in today's digital landscape. This session examines the most pressing threats facing the industry—from AI-powered deepfakes and synthetic identity fraud to business email compromise attacks and cryptocurrency exploitation. Through analysis of a real-world financial cyber crime operation, attendees gain actionable insights to strengthen their defenses against these evolving threats.
10:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Networking Break
11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
The Crypto Factor: Why Every Firm Should Be Alert
Cryptocurrency has fundamentally altered how criminals launder money, execute fraud and launch cyberattacks—tactics now spreading to traditional finance. In this session, panelists unpack high-profile breaches that demonstrate how crypto-based criminal methodologies threaten all financial operations. Walk away with practical compliance strategies that strengthen your defenses, regardless of your firm's direct involvement in digital assets.
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Trending Topics Networking Lunch & Dessert With Exhibitors
1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Live Demo: Cybercriminal Tactics in Action
Witness the sophistication of today's cyber threats as panelists demonstrate how criminals create convincing imposter websites to harvest credentials and execute relationship investment scams involving cryptocurrency. This behind-the-scenes look provides actionable strategies that firms and regulators can implement to detect, prevent and disrupt these increasingly prevalent schemes.
2:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Networking Break
2:45 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Autopsy of a Breach: Actual Cases, Real Consequences, Essential Lessons
Gain insights as industry experts, regulators and law enforcement analyze high-profile cyber fraud cases involving insider threats, cloud security failures and ransomware-as-a-service operations. The discussion reveals how sophisticated threat actors operate and shares proven defensive strategies from firms that have successfully defended against these increasingly common attacks.
3:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Break
3:45 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
CISO Roundtable: The Future of Cyber Resilience
Hear from a panel of Chief Information Security Officers as they share forward-looking strategies for building cyber resilience. This roundtable explores how security leaders are anticipating systemic risks across cloud environments, Software as a Service (SaaS) applications, and critical vendor ecosystems while providing actionable effective practices and immediate steps firms can take to begin transforming their security posture for tomorrow's threat landscape.
4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Together Toward Resilience: FINRA Leadership Panel on Strengthening Our Cyber Alliance
Join FINRA leaders as they close the conference with a collaborative vision for the future. This panel emphasizes FINRA's commitment to partnership with member firms, ongoing intelligence sharing, and the continuous development of resources to combat emerging threats together. Hear firsthand how FINRA plans to engage with your firm as allies in strengthening industry-wide cyber resilience.
5:00 p.m.
Conference Adjourns