FBI Builds Fake Town for Cyberattack Training

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has opened a sprawling 22,000 square-foot replica town, named the Kinetic Cyber Range, at its Huntsville, Alabama campus. This innovative facility is designed to train law enforcement personnel by simulating real-world cyberattacks in a secure environment. The town features fully furnished houses, a hotel, commercial establishments, a courthouse, a hospital, and a power company, all equipped with functioning devices and systems.

Opened in February 2025, the Kinetic Cyber Range has already trained over 1,400 students, including personnel from federal and local agencies. This hands-on approach aims to equip investigators with practical experience in dealing with current consumer and enterprise technologies frequently targeted by malicious actors. The FBI's 2025 Internet Crime Report indicated a significant rise in cybercrime, with losses totaling $20.9 billion, a 26% increase year-over-year, highlighting the critical need for such advanced training.

The facility includes a data center with over 200 servers, reflecting typical corporate environments. It enables the simulation of various threats, including ransomware attacks, allowing investigators to practice making high-pressure decisions during critical incidents. Furthermore, the range facilitates training in digital forensics, a crucial discipline for cracking encrypted devices and building criminal investigations, though it involves controversial tools that exploit undisclosed vulnerabilities.