This DAP highlights – ODNI report – Uyghur Genocide and Concentrated Reeducation Camps in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China / Gate 15’s Weekly Security Sprint EP 89 - Post election texts, terror arrests and threats, and compromised emails / USCIRF hearing – Addressing Entities of Particular Concern: Non-State Actors and Egregious Violations of Religious Freedom. DAP also has More Faith-Based Stories and Select All-Hazard Stories. These updates are shared to help raise the situational awareness of Faith-Based organizations to best defend against and mitigate the impacts from all-hazards threats including physical security, cybersecurity, and natural disasters.
Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 08 November 2023
- cybersecurity, faith, General, Headlines, News, preparedness, resiliency, Resources, security, threat assessment
Faith-Based Security Headlines
These updates are shared to help raise the situational awareness of Faith-Based organizations to best defend against and mitigate the impacts from all-hazards threats including physical security, cybersecurity, and natural disasters.
Violent Attacks on Houses of Worship
A-Mark Foundation reports:
Approximately 3.2% of all congregations nationwide are Jewish and 0.6 are Muslim but those religions were the target of 22% and 17%, respectively, of attacks documented in this report.
Over the past decade, several devastating mass shootings and a rise in hate crimes left houses of worship feeling vulnerable and looking for ways to protect their congregants. Aiming to understand the threat houses of worship face, A-Mark Foundation has identified 59 violent attacks targeting congregants, clergy, or staff at a house of worship between January 2012 and December 2022. This report examines the different types of attacks carried out and the motivations of the 58 total perpetrators of those 59 attacks.
The item also lists violent attacks on houses of worship from 2012 to 2022.
Analyst Comments:
While this item deals with pre-2023 attacks, much of the material is relevant to today’s threat environment. The Israel-Hamas conflict has increased the need for robust security considerations.
The DHS Resources and Information for Faith and Community Leaders Regarding the Israel – Hamas Conflict was update October 19 and provides numerous resources for Faith-Based Organizations.
The FB-ISAO Resource Library has many Physical Threat Security Resources.
Follow up to 06 November Daily Awareness Post about suspicious packages with white powder.
Fox 13 reports that another suspicious letter with white powder was found at a Seattle synagogue. It is the fourth incident involving several synagogues.
The South Seattle Emerald reports that the FBI has taken the lead in investigating the Seattle synagogue suspicious packages.
Analyst Comments:
Faith-Based Organizations should consider preparing for the threat of suspicious packages with white powder. Like earlier swatting incidents and bomb threats, this tactic may spread to other areas and organizations.
FB-ISAO’s 06 November Daily Awareness Post provides guidelines for suspicious packages, especially those with white powder.
FEMA and CISA Release Joint Guidance on Planning Considerations for Cyber Incidents
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released the joint guide Planning Considerations for Cyber Incidents: Guidance for Emergency Managers to provide state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) emergency managers with foundational knowledge of cyber incidents to increase cyber preparedness efforts in their jurisdictions. Emergency managers should be able to understand and prepare for the potential impacts of cyber incidents on their communities and emergency operations. FEMA and CISA encourage emergency managers to review this guide for recommendations on how to plan for and respond to cyber incidents.
In a related item, Fox 4 reports that a Kansas church’s congregation received scam emails asking for donations.
Analyst Comments:
While this guidance is for government emergency managers, the information is good for all cybersecurity leaders to consider, especially those new in the role.
While much consideration is given to physical security, cybersecurity should also be considered. Most FBOs rely heavily on information technology (IT), and a cyber attack could cripple an FBO.
The FB-ISAO Resource Library has many Cybersecurity Resources.
More Faith-Based Stories
A 69-year-old Jew died after a confrontation at a protest. His death offers important warnings
Arson investigation underway at Montgomery County temple
Police investigating vandalism of cathedral in California as potential hate crime
Antisemitic graffiti scrawled across Beverly Grove resident’s garage
Former pro soccer player allegedly flashes Nazi salute at pro-Israel demonstrators in LA
Secure Community Network Logs Record High Antisemitic Incident Reports In October
‘Swift And Forceful Action’: FBI Investigating Violent Threats Made Against Jewish Staff At Ivy League School and U. Penn Alerts FBI of Antisemitic Emails With Threats of Violence Against Jews
As antisemitism surges, Jewish people on Long Island apply for pistol licenses in growing numbers
Local faith leaders proclaim their support for Greater Lansing’s Muslim, Jewish communities
Jewish Schools Around New York City Are Hiring Armed Guards
Evangelical Christians Mobilize To Help Israelis Touched by War
National Jewish groups put out the call for a massive ‘March for Israel’ in DC on Nov. 14
France Investigates Possible Russian Link to Star of David Graffiti in Paris
Graffiti, arson attempt at property linked to Auckland synagogue
Molotov cocktails thrown at Montreal-area synagogue and Jewish center and Photos: Suspected Arson at Montreal Synagogue, Jewish Community Center
Select All-Hazards Stories
CISA Active Shooter Preparedness Webinar – Region 2 – NJ / NY / PR / USVI
The Hamas Networks in America: A Short History
USCP Officers Arrest Man with Rifle Thanks to Citizen Tip and Police Arrest Armed Man Near US Capitol, Respond To Suspicious Package Close To Senate
Rapper who wrote about wanting to kill president, bomb Senate charged with terroristic threats
DOJ: Engineer Indicted for Bombing Energy Facilities in California
House censures Rep. Rashida Tlaib over defense of Hamas, calls to destroy Israel
Israeli diplomat pressured US college to drop course on ‘apartheid’ debate
Israel says it killed a top Hamas weapons manufacturer
Introducing Lantern: Protecting Children Online
Decoding Disinformation: The Spanish Election Information Operation Targeting Russian-Speakers
Phishing PDF Files Downloading Malicious Packages
CISA and FEMA: Shields Ready campaign
Microsoft Authenticator now blocks suspicious MFA alerts by default
Microsoft: Some Outlook.com users can’t send emails with attachments
More Security-focused Content
The FB-ISAO’s sponsor Gate 15 publishes a free daily newsletter called the SUN. Curated from their open source intelligence collection process, the SUN informs leaders and analysts with the critical news of the day and provides a holistic look at the current global, all-hazards threat environment. Ahead of the daily news cycle, the SUN allows current situational awareness into the topics that will impact your organization. To sign-up for The SUN, please sign up below.
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