Resources Archives – Page 40 of 47

Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 10 October 2023

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.

FBI Statement on Hamas Attacks in Israel

While the FBI does not have specific and credible intelligence indicating a threat to the United States stemming from the Hamas attacks in Israel, we are closely monitoring unfolding events and will share relevant information with our state, local, federal and international law enforcement, intelligence and homeland security partners to ensure they are prepared for any impacts to public safety. We will not hesitate to adjust our security posture, as appropriate, to protect the American people. We are closely coordinating with our counterparts in the region as well as other international partners. Through our Legal Attaché office in Israel, FBI personnel are working with our partners on the ground to locate and identify any impacted Americans. Reports of deceased, injured, or missing Americans are being treated with the utmost urgency and aggressively investigated. The FBI’s Victim Services Division is coordinating with the Department of State to assist, as necessary, with family engagement.

Analyst Comments:

Across the county, governments are providing additional funds to protect houses of worship and law enforcement agencies are increasing protection of houses of worship especially Jewish facilities. Some examples are below.

If not already done so, Faith-Based Organizations (FBO) should consider contacting local law enforcement to coordinate more closely during this time of heightened threats. During “normal” levels of threats, FBOs should consider applying for all available non-profit, community, and faith-related grants. FBOs should also consider strengthening their relationship with local and regional law enforcement agencies before an incident or heightened threats.

Past experiences can also help FBOs prepare for today’s threats. A past Israel-Hamas conflict in 2021 increased antisemitic incidents by 75%, as reported in the 2021 article – Antisemitic Incidents Reported to ADL Increase Sharply During Israel-Hamas Conflict. The current hostilities will probably cause many more incidents, over a longer period of time.

If not already a member of FB-ISAO consider joining FB-ISAO and becoming involved with FB-ISAO’s Working Groups and Information Sharing Communities. This is an excellent way to become part of the security solution.

The following resources can help FBOs defend against all types of threats and prepare for attacks.

FB-ISAO members are sharing additional information on this event as well as information about domestic protests and security coordination activities in FB-ISAO Slack. Join here.
FEMA: You Are the Help Until Help Arrives
STOP THE BLEED
Faith-Based Community | Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency CISA with links to multiple resources.
CISA’s Protective Security Advisors (PSA) Security Advisors
Mitigating Attacks on Houses of Worship – Security Guide (cisa.gov)
Protecting Places of Worship: Six Steps to Enhance Security Against Targeted Violence (cisa.gov)
Security of Soft Targets and Crowded Places-Resources Guide.
Nonprofit Security Grant Program | FEMA.gov
FEMA: Take these 4 Steps to Apply for a Nonprofit Security Grant
DHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships | FEMA.gov
Cyber Threats and Advisories | Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency CISA

As always, FB-ISAO’s website has valuable resources at Resource Library – FB-ISAO (faithbased-isao.org).

Weekly Security Sprint EP 37. Conflict in the Middle East, CISA advisories, lessons learned, and more!

The Gate 15 Security Sprint is a weekly rundown of the week’s notable all-hazards security news, risks and threats and some of the key focus areas for organizations to consider behind the headlines. Gate 15 team members discuss physical security, cybersecurity, natural hazards, health threats and other issues across our environment.

In this week’s Security Sprint, Dave and Andy discuss the war in Israel and other security issues.

The above Gate 15 Weekly Security Sprint website also provides links to many security-related items of interest.

More Faith-Based Stories

19-year-old man accused of planning mass shooting at Okeechobee High School, ‘stabbing spree’ at Miami church and Man accused of threatening mass shooting at high school, stabbing spree at church Investigators said he also had plans to drive to a Miami church and go on a “stabbing spree” and kill another 10 people.

American cities ramp up security around places of worship following Israel attacks, and assure residents there are no credible threats

Multiple Utah synagogues receive bomb threats

Salt Lake police confirm no bombs found at Jewish institutions following threats.

South Florida synagogues ramp up security amid conflict in Israel

Church marquee defaced with anti-God graffiti

A place of worship, The Grace Place, has been vandalized

Among American Jews, ‘You See a Lot of Broken Spirits’ After Attacks

US faith groups traveling in Israel:

Alabamians attempt to return home from trips in Israel

A St. Louis-area church group is stuck in Israel after attack

Group of Iowans stuck in Tel Aviv after arriving shortly before attacks against Israel began

Bardstown church group working to come home from Israel amid attacks

Members of Metro Detroit church on religious retreat stuck in Israel following weekend attacks

Tri-Cities residents in Israel amidst surprise Hamas attack: a community’s prayers and concerns

Kentuckians from local churches among those vying to return home from Israel

‘We made it out’: Members of 2 Kenosha churches flee Israel amid war

‘Pray for us’: Fernandina Beach church group trapped in Israel amid armed conflicts

Loganville church groups, Georgia state senator among those in Israel

Christian and interfaith tours to Israel canceled, while some already there are stranded

BYU says students and staff at its Jerusalem Center are safe after rocket attacks stun Israel US citizens living in Israel.

Oklahoma City Muslim Leader Worries For His Family Amid Attack On Israel

‘Treated like a criminal’: Christian teacher fired for refusing to affirm ‘extreme’ LGBT ideology

California governor vetoes bill that would ban caste discrimination

(South Africa) Preacher fatally shot during service; church says ‘faith remains unshaken’

FACT CHECK: Israel did not destroy Greek Orthodox church in Gaza despite social media claims

UK: Kosher restaurant windows smashed…

Select All-Hazards Stories

Fighting escalates in war’s fourth day as Israel ups attacks on Gaza and Hamas vows to kill hostages

Israel pounds Gaza with fiercest air strikes ever and Israel Intensifies Airstrikes on Gaza as It Plans for All-Out War

Supernova festival: How massacre unfolded from verified video and social media

Hamas announces it will begin to EXECUTE hostages and post video evidence online for every Israeli airstrike as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders Israel’s Defence Forces to besiege Gaza

Palestinian Al Quds Brigades claim responsibility for attack at Lebanon-Israel border

Message To Lone Wolves: “Restore The Glory Of Martyrdom Operations Targeting Buses, Hotels, And Gatherings.”

What to know as war between Israel and Hamas militants rages on for a fourth day

‘This is our 9/11’: How Hamas duped Israel as it planned devastating attack

Statement from President Joe Biden on American Citizens Impacted in Israel

U.S. deploys aircraft carrier group to the Mediterranean in bid to prevent escalation

Major airlines suspend flights to Israel after massive attack by Hamas

Iran Revolutionary Guard says it will confront Israel ‘wherever it feels necessary’

WSJ News Exclusive | Iran Helped Plot Attack on Israel Over Several Weeks and Iran helped plan Hamas attack on Israel, gave green light last week: report and No evidence yet of Iran link to Hamas attack, says Israeli military and Hamas Says Attacks Were Backed by Iran…

Video: CAIR Director Says International Community Must Listen to Palestinian Cries for Freedom

Video: CAIR-NJ Calls on Elected Officials to Support Those Suffering in Gaza

Video: CAIR-CT Says Conflict Stems from Decades of Violence and Oppression Targeting Palestinians

Students for Justice in Palestine Endorses Terrorism and ‘Dismantling Zionism;’ Plans Day of Resistance

‘Entirely responsible’: 31 Harvard organizations blame Israel for Hamas attack and Pro-Palestinian letter from Harvard students provokes alumni outrage

Times Square Protests Erupt Amid Escalating Israel-Palestine Conflict

Huge crowd chants ‘free Palestine’ at Israeli embassy in London in chaotic scenes

Sydney Opera House Israel-Palestine protest: Anger as Jews are told to stay home and dragged away from protest – while radical Muslims shout vile anti-Semitic comments, throw flares, and chant ‘gas the Jews’

ADL: Support for Hamas Terror at Anti-Israel Rallies Across the U.S.

Car rams into Chinese consulate in San Francisco and police fatally shoot driver, officers say

Santa Monica pier evacuated after man reportedly claiming to have a bomb climbs up famous Ferris wheel

China declares redoubled commitment to mark decade of belt and road

UK National Protective Security Authority: Be Insider Risk Ready

Bolaven Moving Away from the Mariana Islands; Heavy Rainfall Potential For the Plains and Gulf Coast States National Weather Service

‘He’s shooting more people;’ 911 call released for false active shooter threat at Dayton hotel

A Doctored Biden Video Is a Test Case for Facebook’s Deepfake Policies

FTC Data Shows Consumers Report Losing $2.7 Billion to Social Media Scams Since 2021

ADL: Moderating Content During War: What Online Platforms Should Do Now

X, formerly Twitter, amplifies disinformation amid the Israel-Hamas conflict

Over 17,000 WordPress sites hacked in Balada Injector attacks last month

The Israel-Hamas War Erupts in Digital Chaos; Hacktivism is increasingly a feature of modern kinetic warfare. It’s playing out with particular ferocity in the conflict between Israel and Hamas and Pro-Hamas hackers send fake rocket alerts, knock websites offline

D.C. Board of Elections voter registration data up for sale on dark web (1)

Infostealer Being Distributed via Spam Email (AgentTesla)

ZDI Updates

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October 10, 2023

FB-ISAO Newsletter, v5, Issue 10

TLP:CLEAR | FB-ISAO Newsletter. The October 2023 Newsletter has been directly distributed to members and may be accessed here.

Want this newsletter delivered directly to your inbox each month? Membership in FB-ISAO is open to all Faith-Based Organizations including Houses of Worship, Charities, Faith-Based Schools and their affiliated organizations. Join FB-ISAO!

October 9, 2023

FB-ISAO’s Working Groups and Information Sharing Communities

The Membership Reimagined roll-out was a big success, and now that we’ve got that out of the way, we are looking forward to getting down to the more rewarding work ahead of us. Many former FB-ISAO subscribers have now become FB-ISAO members who are ready to roll-up their sleeves and get down to the business of working with their colleagues to help the community reduce risk while enhancing preparedness, security, and resilience. So, how do we do that exactly?

Two capabilities available to members are Working Groups and Information Sharing Communities. Both capabilities lean heavily on collaboration among members.

Working Groups
Members have the opportunity to join one, or several if they have the time, of FB-ISAO‘s Working Groups. Working Groups provide the vehicle to develop products that build resilience and enhance security for the entire community. By joining a group, members will be able to contribute to each other’s knowledge by way of exchanging experiences, thoughts, ideas, and resources. That exchange lends itself to enhancing professional growth. In addition, working groups are a great opportunity to network with like-minded security practitioners at all levels of the tradecraft.

Currently, there are two groups that are working on two distinct products. One is the development of a Physical Security Maturity Model, and the other is the development of our 2024 Educational Program Series, which will have a focus on “FireArms in the House.” We are certain that many of you have skills to lend to the development of these products. But please don’t feel limited by those two efforts. Perhaps you’ve identified a need such as the development of a volunteer recruitment and retention plan, or, the development of a guide on how to monitor social media accounts and posts? Let your fellow members help you develop a product. Once a product is developed, we can share that product with all members of the community, so they can benefit from it too! The possibilities are endless! On Slack, Working Groups (WG) channel names are prefaced by the letters ‘g‘. Current working groups are:

Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTIG): The CTIG is tasked with identifying information security / cybersecurity-related threats relevant to the community and the associated risks; helping to inform the FB-ISAO cybersecurity threat level; developing actions members can consider given a specific threat level, and other activities relating to enhancing the awareness, security and resilience of our members and community during both routine operations and during incidents relevant to the community. Read more.
Operational Resilience (ORG): The ORG is tasked with identifying non-cybersecurity-related threats – those pertaining to man-made threats, natural hazards and health issues – relevant to the community and the associated risks, helping to inform the FB-ISAO physical threat level, developing actions members can consider given a specific threat level, and other activities relating to enhancing the awareness, security and resilience of our members and their communities during both routine operations and during incidents relevant to the community. Read more.
Threat and Incident Response (TIG): During active threats, incidents, or for other issues identified by FB-ISAO staff, FB-ISAO may convene joint meetings of the CTIG and ORG under the banner of the TIG. Read more.
Preparedness: The preparedness leads and supports preparedness activities, such as seminar and workshop events and facilitates collaboration among members relating to facility and operational preparedness. Read more.
Communications: The Communications group is focused on ensuring effective communications and reporting, both internally from FB-ISAO to members and among members, and then externally with all our FB-ISAO partners. This may include reviewing reports, as well as reviewing the traffic-light protocol and other communications related activities. Read more.
Outreach & Engagement (EOG): The focus of the EOG is on increasing awareness of FB-ISAO among our community of Faith-Based Organizations and partner organizations. The OEG may develop campaigns to increase awareness and engage the community, identify events to help raise awareness and interest in FB-ISAO, and consider member engagement to help ensure FB- ISAO members are being afforded ample opportunities to be involved with FB-ISAO. Read more.

Do you have skills for building presentations, or a gift for writing? Maybe you like the limelight and thus enjoy public speaking? Or maybe you like digging into data and making sense of it to tell a story? How about relationship building? Working Groups meet virtually, at a cadence that everyone agrees on. Please feel free to join a working group channel or ask to be added. You can explore the many Working Groups we offer, but we ask that members eventually settle on one or two which hold their interest so they can make a commitment to contribute time and talent. Bring your unique skills and we’ll put them to work for the benefit of the whole community! We are certain that you will also benefit from the engagement!

Project Team Members working on the Physical Security Maturity Model have built a camaraderie that is just priceless. They’ve shared that they look forward to the bi-weekly meetings. And that they enjoy the collaboration as they challenge each other to think through complex issues. From their comments during meetings, it is apparent that they’ve come to respect each other immensely and that they’ve contributed to their collective professional growth.

Information Sharing Communities
Other than the prolific information sharing that takes place in the general information sharing channels on our Slack workspace, the workspace also hosts several Information Sharing Communities (ISCs.) Information Sharing Communities band people in close geographical areas so that they can share information specific to them. For example, we host an information sharing community for the National Capital Region. There, our members share information, training, and resources pertinent to the Washington D.C. Metro faith-based community. They also share Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) and incidents. On Slack, information sharing community channels names are prefaced by the letters ‘isc.’ The information sharing community for the Washington D.C. Metro is: isc_national_capital_region”. If you find an ISC channel for your area, feel free to hop on or request to be added.

Members who belong to the isc_national_capital_region say that belonging to the National Capital Region ISC allow them to share and receive information that contributes to their regional situational awareness. Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) posted by members have improved the security posture of individual house of worship in the National Capital Region.

In time, we will be creating Information Sharing Communities for all our members. We may have to start with broad areas and then get more specific as we go along. So, for example, if we have 100 members in the pacific northwest but only 10 in the Seattle area, we could create an information sharing community called the Pacific_Northwest which bands those 100 members along with the 10 members from the Seattle area. At the very least, there will be important information about weather and climate threats which can pertain to the larger group. As more members from the Seattle area join, we can carve out an Information Sharing Community for the Seattle area and its immediate surroundings. Over the next few weeks, we will reach out to members to ask if they would like to belong to an information sharing community. Members are encouraged to perform outreach to their neighboring houses of worship in order to build up ISCs.

There’s much to do and we are excited to get to work with your ideas and your energy! Please reach out to the team with any questions – we look forward to working with you.

October 9, 2023

Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 06 October 2023

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.

FBI Highlights Online Safety Tips During Cybersecurity Awareness Month

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and the FBI is reminding the public to be cyber smart all year long. National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, now in its 20th year, is hosted by the Department of Homeland Security and the National Cyber Security Alliance. Multiple agencies, including the FBI, collaborate to raise awareness about cybersecurity and stress the collective effort needed to stop cyber intrusions and online thefts and scams.

As the premier cyber investigative agency, the FBI works to keep the public safe online but there are simple steps anyone can take to better protect themselves and their families, including:

Keeping all systems and software up to date and using a good anti-virus program.
Examine the email address and URLs in all correspondence. Scammers often mimic a legitimate site or email address by using slight variations in spelling.
If an unsolicited text or email asks you to update, check, or verify your account information, do not follow the link provided in the message itself or call the number provided in the message. Instead, go to the company’s website to log into your account or call the number on the company’s official website.
Do not open any attachments unless you’re expecting the file, document, or invoice, and have verified the sender’s email address.
Scrutinize all electronic requests for a payment or transfer of funds.
Be extra suspicious of any messages urging immediate action.
Confirm requests for wire transfers or payment in person or over the phone as part of a two-factor authentication process. Do not verify these requests using the phone number listed in the request for payment.

Analyst Comments:

Faith-Based Organization (FBO), like any other organizations, need to protect themselves from cyber-attacks. Following the FBI’s tips, listed above, will help reduce an FBOs vulnerability to a cyber-attack. CISA’s Secure Our World campaign is another resource to protect individuals, families, and businesses.

FB-ISAO’s 15 September Daily Awareness Post discussed a report of $400,000 stolen from a FBO in a cyberattack and see this week’s FB-ISAO Weekly Advisory on Cyber Warnings for more incidents and resilience information. The Daily Awareness Post also provided the following advice.

“Because this attack is purposefully designed to trick users, one of the best defense methods is cybersecurity awareness training and recurring refreshers to remind staff and volunteers of these types of scams. It is also important that strict security protocols be put in place to verify and validate such requests and that staff and volunteers closely follow established procedures.”

Members may also be interested in these new products from our federal partners:

NSA and CISA Release Advisory on Top Ten Cybersecurity Misconfigurations. The National Security Agency (NSA) and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released a joint cybersecurity advisory (CSA), NSA and CISA Red and Blue Teams Share Top Ten Cybersecurity Misconfigurations, which provides the most common cybersecurity misconfigurations in large organizations, and details the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) actors use to exploit these misconfigurations. The misconfigurations in the CSA illustrate a trend of systemic weaknesses in many large organizations, including those with mature cyber postures, and highlights the importance of software manufacturers embracing secure-by-design principles to reduce the burden on network defenders. Read the Executive Assistant Director at CISA’s blog post on the “Urgency for Software Manufacturers to Incorporate Secure by Design Principles.” Additionally, NSA and CISA encourage organizations to review the joint CSA for recommended steps and best practices to reduce the risk of malicious actors exploiting the identified misconfigurations. For more information on secure-by-design principles, visit Secure by Design and Security-by-Design and -Default.

The FB-ISAO website also provides Cybersecurity Resources.

More Faith-Based Stories

Nationwide: Synagogue bomb threats continue despite arrest of a suspect

CT: Hamden synagogue receives bomb threat

AR: Police investigate threat against Congregation House of Israel

Secure Community Network: SCN SITUATION REPORT: Copycat Bomb Threats Target Jewish Facilities in at Least Four States

TN: Shots fired at Whitehaven pastor, wife near church

FL: Alachua man quickly arrested after breaking into church

OK: Charges field against 2 juveniles suspected of vandalizing church in Okmulgee County

VFC FaithAware Faith-based incidents and articles from Virginia Fusion Center. Also provide resources.

DC police, faith organizations set to unite for community healing amid rising crime rates

CA: Three-Time Convicted Sex Offender, 73, Gets 25 Years for Molesting 5-Year-Old Girl at USD Church

Christian slain, others kidnapped in separate areas of Nigeria

UK: Met Police investigating devastating burglary and arson attack on the Al-Falah Institute

Jews are victims of one in six religious hate crimes, while making up less than 1% of UK population

Pakistan and US look to revive security co-operation following mosque attacks

Select All-Hazards Stories

Man with handgun looking for Tony Evers at Wisconsin Capitol arrested, posted bail and returned with assault rifle

Protesters respond to interaction with Vivek Ramaswamy by ramming their car into his SUV and Police Say ‘No Evidence’ Protester ‘Intentionally Rammed’ Ramaswamy Campaign’s Car; Campaign Stands By Statement

CA: 37-year-old man arrested for vandalizing Ladera Heights neighborhood with swastikas

Frank James Sentenced to Life in Prison for Subway Mass Shooting and Frank James Sentenced to Life In Prison for Subway Mass Shooting in Brooklyn

Readout of the Justice Department’s Meeting on Law Enforcement and Media Interactions During Mass Demonstrations

Regional Overview: United States & Canada, September 2023

Heavy Rainfall Expected In New England; Fire Weather Threats For The Gulf Coast Region National Weather Service

Older adults made up 90% of US COVID deaths in 2023

Fake friends and followers on social media – and how to spot them

Political Disinformation and AI

Chatbot Hallucinations Are Poisoning Web Search

Espionage fuels global cyberattacks

VA: Prince William County elections officials warn of flyers with misinformation and threats

ZDI Updates

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October 6, 2023

Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 05 October 2023

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.

State commission reviewing Virginia Beach mass shooting offers little new insight but recommends more tools for its work

WHRO Public Media reports:

“The state commission created to investigate the response to Virginia Beach’s 2019 mass shooting said in its final report that its investigation was stymied by a lack of resources and inability to interview city employees.

The report gives no further insight into the shooting or the motives of the shooter, a city engineer who opened fire in the government building where he worked. The shooter was shot and killed by Virginia Beach Police after he killed 12 people and injured 4 more.”

While the report does not provide further insight, it does provide good recommendations to prevent and respond to future incidents.

While the report is written for Virginia state legislators and government agencies, some topics and resources are relevant to Faith-Based Organizations (FBO).

The following topics from the report are relevant to FBOs:

Emergency and fire drills (including active shooter drills)
Up-to-date security plan ensuring annual training
Emergency Action Plan (EAP)
First responders’ access to all parts of building
Regular Active Threat Response training, including Run Hide Fight
Computer vision on closed-circuit television (CCTV)
Report concerning comments and behaviors
Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD)

The following resources from the report are relevant to FBOs:

STOP THE BLEED
FEMA’s You Are the Help Until Help Arrives
FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI) Course | IS-904: Active Shooter Prevention: You Can Make a Difference
CISA’s Non-Confrontational Techniques
CISA’s Protective Security Advisors (PSA) Security Advisors
Virginia Fusion Center
CISA’s Pathway to Violence: Warning Signs and What You Can Do
CISA’s Active Shooter – How to Respond Poster

Analyst Comments:

FBOs can consider the above topics and use the above links to obtain valuable resources. Members of FBOs should consider reviewing the report to learn the details of the above topics and recommendations.

The report recommended that local governments engage with regional Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD).

FB-ISAO’s August 8, 2023, Daily Awareness Post included information on VOAD. FBO should consider joining their local VOAD.

FBOs can check out the National VOAD at Homepage | VOAD (nvoad.org).

More Faith-Based Stories

MO: Fenton church anti-abortion display vandalized

CA: Devastating Fire Won’t Slow Holtville Church, Says Minister

MO: Protest scheduled at Tivoli Theatre church for declining to show LGBTQ films, plays

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CITY COUNCIL VIRTUAL MEETING INTERRUPTED BY ANTISEMITIC CALLERS

Church Cybersecurity Starts With the Human Firewall

US DOT: Department of Transportation Joins Seven Other Federal Agencies Working to Combat Religious Discrimination

IL: Pride in the Pews welcomes new board members

Controversy Over New “Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Jain US Congressional Caucus”

ADL Statement Regarding X/Twitter

Liberty U says preliminary DOE report citing alleged rape by past president has ‘significant errors’

MN: Son of former Vineyard Church pastors jailed on charges of sexual abuse of 5 teenage girls

Armenian synagogue defaced in suspected revenge for Israel’s pro-Azerbaijani stance and Militant Armenian Group Tied to PLO Allegedly Responsible for Synagogue Arson

Israeli police arrest five for hostile gestures towards Christians

‘Pope Is Furious’ Over anti-Christian Spitting Incidents, Catholic Church Representative Says

Chief Rabbi Says Ukraine’s Jewish Community ‘Invalidates Russian De-Nazification Narratives’

Select All-Hazards Stories

Multiple people shot in downtown Holyoke

3 officers shot in Philadelphia while responding to 911 call about a domestic shooting

CISA: National School Safety Summit

School shooting hoaxes have terrorized kids across U.S. Who’s behind it? and Schools Report Bomb Threats Following Libs of Tiktok Anti-LGBTQ Posts

NAZI SYMBOL FOUND IN NEW YORK HIGH SCHOOL

LAW ENFORCEMENT PROBING SWASTIKA FOUND IN VERMONT TOWN

Heavy Rain and Flooding in the Southern Plains National Weather Service

Say goodbye to the Covid-19 vaccination card

How TikTok monetizes dangerous health trends in real time

Fake Recruitment Leaflets Promise US Students Debt Relief for Joining Ukraine’s Defense

Podcast: 87. SPECIAL FEATURE: ‘How Al Will Turbocharge Misinformation’ from Humans vs. Machines

‘A deadly societal force’: A Q&A with author Dr. Peter Hotez on the anti-science movement

US sees alarming surge in online scams targeting kids and teens, study shows

Spot and stop dishonest charity fundraisers

Europol and TikTok collaborate to bolster efforts against terrorist content

CISA and NSA Release New Guidance on Identity and Access Management and Identity and Access Management: Developer and Vendor Challenges

ZDI Updates

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October 5, 2023

Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 04 October 2023

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.

FEMA Advisory: FEMA and FCC Plan Nationwide Emergency Alert Test for Oct. 4

Test Messages Will be Sent to All TVs, Radios, and Cells TODAY, Wednesday, October 4 beginning at approximately 2:20 PM ET.

FEMA, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) on Wednesday, October 4 beginning at approximately 2:20 PM ET.
The WEA portion of the test will be directed to all consumer cell phones and will broadcast for approximately 30 minutes, though all wireless phones should receive the message only once within the 30-minute timeframe.
The EAS portion of the test will be sent to radios and televisions and is scheduled to last approximately one minute.
The test message will state: “This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, covering the United States from 14:20 to 14:50 hours ET. This is only a test. No action is required by the public.”

Analyst Comments:

Properly functioning alert systems require regular attention. As BBC reported in 2018, an accidental “BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII…” alert caused widespread, needless panic in Hawaii. To prevent this type of error, alert system procedures must be practiced and tested.

Emergency alerts can increase anxiety in those that receive them. This is even true for tests of emergency alerts, but being aware of upcoming tests can reduce anxiety.

In a related item, on October 19, FEMA is conducting the nationwide ShakeOut Day earthquake drill. Details can be found at Are You Ready to ShakeOut? FEMA is!. Individuals and Faith-Based Organizations can register here.

Weekly Security Sprint EP 36. Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Physical Security issues, Ransomware and much more!

The Gate 15 Security Sprint is a weekly rundown of the week’s notable all-hazards security news, risks and threats and some of the key focus areas for organizations to consider behind the headlines. Gate 15 team members discuss physical security, cybersecurity, natural hazards, health threats and other issues across our environment.

The above Gate 15 Weekly Security Sprint website also provides links to many security-related items of interest.

In this week’s Security Sprint, Dave and Andy discuss:

Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Ransomware
Faith-Based Security – FB-ISAO
Target Closes Select Stores to Prioritize Team Member and Guest Safety

More Faith-Based Stories

IL: Elmhurst Church’s Pro-Life Display Vandalized: Cops

MO: Pro-life display vandalized at St. Louis County parish

FL: Man arrested for disrupting synagogue service in Sunny Isles Beach

NC: ‘The antisemitism is real’: Durham synagogue cleared after hoax bomb threat

CA: Antisemitic fliers distributed across Sonoma Valley

ME: Madawaska man accused of vandalizing Catholic church

MA: Grants to boost security at St. Mary’s schools, Evangelical Church in Westfield

CA: Fellowship Church places Pastor Albert Tate on leave for ‘inappropriate’ texts, comments

Lao officials disrupt worship at house church, threaten Christians with arrest

Belgrade Court Orders Release Of Politician Accused Of Organizing Monastery Attack

Orthodox Jews filmed spitting at Christians in Jerusalem’s Old City

India: Arrested ISIS Terrorists Were Plotting BIG ATTACK On Ayodhya Ram Temple, Mastermind Based In Pakistan

Azerbaijan and Nigeria: Updates on the Persecuted Church – October 3, 2023

India Tells Canada to Remove 41 of Its 62 Diplomats in the Country, an Official Says Continuing conflict over Canadian accusations that India may have been involved in the killing of a Sikh separatist in Canada.

Select All-Hazards Stories

MD: Morgan State University shooting: 5 shot on campus, search for suspect ongoing

DC: USCP Searching for Criminals Who Carjacked Congressman

East Nashville home vandalized with hateful graffiti KKK and NAZI

US Joins List of Top 50 Conflict-Ridden Countries

US Dept of State: Israel, the West Bank and Gaza Travel Advisory

UN: Describing New, Emerging Threats, Speakers Deliberate over Concluding Convention on International Terrorism, as Legal Committee Begins Seventy-Eighth Session

Escape from the rabbit hole: the conspiracy theorist who abandoned his dangerous beliefs

FEMA Bulletin Week of October 3, 2023

Severe Thunderstorm And Flood Threat For The Southern Plains National Weather Service

FDA Authorizes Updated Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine Formulated to Better Protect Against Currently Circulating Variants

DHS: Staying Safe Online

Amazon Gift Card Email Scam (Explained)

Google and Yahoo say they will crack down on spam with new measures

AI Chatbots Are Learning to Spout Authoritarian Propaganda

Celebrities warn followers not to be duped by AI deepfakes

FBI Tech Tuesday: Building a Digital Defense to Protect Your Cloud Accounts

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October 4, 2023

Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 03 October 2023

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.

3 more cities investigating string of Latter-day Saint church burglaries

The investigation into a recent rash of break-ins and vandalism at meetinghouses of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is expanding in the Salt Lake City greater metro region.

Last week, Herriman police reported 22 church burglaries believed to have happened sometime between Sept. 20 and Sept. 22. Now, West Jordan police, South Jordan police and Riverton police say they are investigating close to dozen similar incidents in their jurisdictions during the same time frame.

According to authorities “The person, or group, has been entering the churches by damaging the main door handles. Once inside, a few offices have also been broken into. But again, no money was taken. A few items inside the churches have also been “overturned,” and while the damage at each site has been somewhat minimal, detectives say the combined damage is in the area of $100,000. Two Idaho teenagers were recently arrested for similar acts of vandalism targeting LDS buildings.

Analyst Comments:

For those who have not seen, the Faith-Based ISAO’s website provides resources in the Resource Library, one of which is the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) guidance on Mitigating Attacks on Houses of Worship Security Guide which offers a good security framework that can help organizations solidify their physical security posture.

ADL: Hate in the Prairie State: Extremism & Antisemitism in Illinois

This report explores a range of extremist groups and movements operating in Illinois and highlights the key extremist and antisemitic trends and incidents in the state in 2021 and 2022. It also includes noteworthy events and incidents from the first half of 2023.

There is no single narrative that tells the story of extremism and hate in Illinois. Instead, the impact is widespread and touches many communities. As in the rest of the country, both white supremacist and antisemitic activity have increased significantly over the last two years, but that’s not the whole story.

ADL’s research additionally shows a continued threat to Illinois’s women’s health facilities, which have been targeted with arson and other violent plots by anti-abortion extremists. This reflects the broader, national threat to reproductive rights.

Analyst Comments:

Research reports such as this help provide enhanced situational awareness about the latest threats to our organizations. While the research is specific to Illinois, mainly of these themes are seen in communities across the U.S. Earlier this year, FB-ISAO partnered with Patrick Henry College’s Strategic Intelligence Program to track hostile events targeting faith-based organizations after the Dobbs Supreme Court ruling.

More Faith-Based Stories

South LA church burned in early morning fire

Jennings church vandalized with Satanic graffiti

Oklahoma church discouraged, looks for answers after property was vandalized

CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA TARGETED WITH ANTISEMITIC GOYIM DEFENSE LEAGUE FLYERS (GDL)

SCOTTISH FOOTBALL CLUB PROBES PRESENCE OF NAZI BANNER DISPLAYED AT STADIUM

ANTI-JEWISH PROPAGANDA LITTERED IN PENNSYLVANIA NEIGHBORHOOD

CARS IS MULTIPLE L.A. NEIGHBORHOODS VANDALIZED WITH SWASTIKA

Juvenile accused of arson after Upshur County church damaged by fire

Amy Coney Barrett’s Christian Group Probed by FBI: What We Know

Church in AI takeover as sermon led by ChatGPT in artificial intelligence breakthrough

Select All-Hazards Stories

Weekly Security Sprint EP 36. Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Physical Security issues, Ransomware and much more!

REMINDER: FEMA and FCC Plan Nationwide Emergency Alert Test for Oct. 4, 2023. Test Messages Will be Sent to All TVs, Radios and Cell Phones

FBI Dallas Encourages Hate Crime Reporting; Reveals New Awareness Efforts

Dangerous Organizations and Bad Actors: Order of Nine Angles

European hotel chain says ransomware attack limited by quick response

Don’t Let Zombie Zoom Links Drag You Down

The Biggest Hack of 2023 Keeps Getting Bigger

CISOs push for baseline AI business rules

NHC issuing advisories for the Atlantic on TS Philippe

Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 02 October 2023

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.

Secretary Mayorkas Delivers Remarks at the Protecting Places of Worship Roundtable | Homeland Security (dhs.gov)

The following are excerpts from Secretary Mayorkas’ remarks delivered at the Protecting Places of Worship Roundtable, hosted at the White House in Washington, D.C. on September 28, 2023.

“The reason I came here was to applaud and thank all of you for the work that you do, your partnership and friendship with our Department, and to share a quick thought and maybe take a couple of questions or comments from you – but really I just wanted to come in and say, thank you.

I wanted to underscore two principles that I think underlie our work around this room and around the country …

The first principle is that there is no such thing as a small act of hate – that it can be a defamatory symbol on an elevator, and that defamatory symbol on a single elevator doesn’t only victimize the individuals who see it, when they ride on that elevator. It reverberates and ripples far more broadly than that, and so, the victims of an act of hate are far broader than those directly or are more immediately targeted.

The second principle is that when there is an act of hate, targeted at one community, it is all of us who are impacted, because until we get to a place where we understand that community is all inclusive, we will continue to need to do this work.

I think those are two critical guiding principles of our work in protecting houses of worship, and protecting the communities of which they are a part.

I think all of you are familiar with the work that we do in the Department, certainly some of you helped make it happen – I see a members of our Faith-Based Security Advisory Council here… Let me end where I began, which is just to say thank you for your commitment to this work, so that people can pray in peace and we can achieve the peace we all pray for.

Analyst Comments:

Mayya Saab, the Executive Director of FB-ISAO, was in attendance at this White House roundtable, along with Advisory Board member, Curtis Jones.

Mayya Saab is also Vice-Chair of the Faith-Based Security Advisory Council (FBSAC) Information Sharing Subcommittee, which published the Faith-Based Security Advisory Council: Information Sharing Subcommittee Final Report (dhs.gov) in June of this year.

It is vitally important for the FB-ISAO and its members to be involved with local, state, regional, and federal government outreach programs. This not only provides Faith-Based Organizations (FBO) with the latest security information, but FBO input helps these government organizations design programs that reflect the actual needs of FBOs.

Other FBSAC publications include:

Peruvian National Arrested In Peru For Sending Over 150 Hoax Bomb Threats To Schools And Other Institutions In The United States And Soliciting Child Pornography

Last week, Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced the unsealing of a Complaint charging Eddie Manuel Nunez Santos, aka “Lucas,” with making hoax bomb threats to more than 150 school districts, synagogues, airports, hospitals, and a shopping mall between September 15 and September 21, 2023. The threats spanned multiple states, including New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Arizona, and Alaska, and resulted in massive disruptions to the targeted communities, including evacuations of thousands of schoolchildren, a lockdown of a hospital, and flight delays. Nunez Santos is also charged with attempting to induce a 15-year-old girl to take and send him nude and sexually explicit photographs, and he allegedly sent the bomb threats in retaliation against her and other minors after they refused his requests for child pornography. Nunez Santos, a Peruvian national, was arrested on September 26, 2023, by Peruvian authorities in Lima, Peru, based on the charges in the Complaint.

Analyst Comments:

While law enforcement has apprehended someone who may have responsible for many of the bomb threats to synagogues, Faith-Based Organizations should not drop their guard.

The following resources are presented again for those who missed them in earlier DAPs.

The Maine School Safety Center provides information on Anonymous Threats, Swatting, and more.

An article in The Forward provided steps from security professionals on:

Before a potential swatting or bomb threat incident occurs,
What to do during a swatting incident,
What to do after receiving a bomb threat,
And how to keep your synagogue livestream safe.

For bomb threats in particular, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has made numerous resources available, including through the Bombing Prevention webpage at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). The resources include a Bomb Threat Checklist and videos on how to respond to bomb threats and suspicious or unattended items.

As always, Faith-Based ISAO’s website provides resources in the Resource Library.

More Faith-Based Stories

ICYMI – FB-ISAO: September 2023 Threat Level Statement Update – Threat Levels Remain at GUARDED

TX: 16-year-old charged with arson; church a near total loss

ID: Vandals make mess inside LDS Church building

UT: 3 more cities investigating string of Latter-day Saint church burglaries

Northern Colorado church vandalized with anti-Mormon graffiti

NY: Amidst High Holy Days, Swastika Appears on Carmel High School Tennis Court

Antisemitic graffiti found at Laconia State School; NH Attorney General and FBI investigating

Baltimore County police investigating antisemitic graffiti at Jewish cemetery

DC: Racists spray-painted swastikas across a Black Lives Matter sign outside of the Metropolitan AME Church

CA: Antisemitic, racist remarks sour Ventura council meeting

GA: ‘Calculated risk’ of ministry once again discussed after latest church threat

MA: A man went on an anti-LGBTQ+ vandalism rampage. Now he’s facing hate crime charges. Including destruction of a place of worship.

OH: Man pleads not guilty in Hilliard church sexual assault case

Judge sentences a woman who investigators say burned a Wyoming abortion clinic to 5 years in prison

FBI New York Arrests Long Island Pastor for Production of Child Pornography

5 conservative cardinals challenge pope to affirm church teaching on gays and women ahead of meeting

Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore, facing possible slew of abuse lawsuits, files for bankruptcy

CAIR Releases New Anti-Bullying Guide for Muslim Students and Families for National Bullying Prevention Month (Oct.)

CAIR-Kansas Welcomes EEOC Suit Against Chipotle on Behalf of Muslim Employee Subjected to Assault, Harassment

Fact Sheet: Biden-Harris Administration Takes Landmark Step to Counter Antisemitism | The White House

Federal terrorism watchlist is illegal, unfairly targets Muslims, lawsuit says

An inside look at the ‘Satanic, neo-Nazi’ pedophile cult that ensnared NYC man arrested on gun charges

At Least 42 Dead In Bombing Of Pakistan Religious Rally

Terrorists kill 15 Christians during week of village attacks in Nigeria’s Kaduna state

Church roof collapses in Mexico during Mass, killing at least 9 and injuring 50, officials say

Canada: Stained-glass windows broken at downtown Regina church

Canada: What’s driving robberies at Buddhist places of worship across the GTA?

‘How could somebody do such a thing?’: North Vancouver church’s bees stolen

Unmasking Islamophobic Disinformation in the Aftermath of Sri Lanka’s Easter Sunday Attack

Thousands of Christians criticize antisemitism on Musk’s X platform

Worldwide: Antisemitic incident report: Sept. 23-29 – JNS.org

The Westgate Mall Attack 10 Years Later: How It Changed Ways Kenyans Worship

Anger grows over Ukraine’s largest Orthodox church, aligned with Moscow despite war

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Massive emergency alert test scheduled to hit your phone on Wednesday. Here’s what to know.

Student gunman kills three in Rotterdam university shooting

Man faces terrorism charges after intentionally crashing into New Jersey police station

MAGA Hat Gunman Opens Fire at Rally Over Conquistador Statue: Reports

After Asian American woman attacked on train, she thanks other women for helping her

POLICE: Reports of bomb threats throughout Vt.

After Asian American woman attacked on train, she thanks other women for helping her

Neo-Nazis And White Supremacists Call To Hang, Shoot General Mark Milley For Treason On Extremist Platforms Such As Gab

Tankies: A Data-driven Understanding of Left-Wing Extremists on Social Media

Severe Thunderstorms and Heavy Rainfall Potential for the Plains; Record Temperatures for the Great Lakes and Northeast National Weather Service

Smoke from Canadian wildfires could once again reach NYC Monday

Colorado reports fatal plague infection

CONSUMER ALERT: Attorney General James Warns New Yorkers of Price Gouging on Essential Goods in Aftermath of Heavy Rainstorms in New York

GAO: Antiviral Drugs: Economic Incentives and Strategies for Pandemic Preparedness [Reissued with revisions on Sept. 29, 2023]

COVID-19: USAID Plans to Share Lessons Learned from Efforts to Meet Global Vaccination Goal

Persistent Chemicals: Detecting, Limiting Exposure To, and Treating PFAS Contamination

FBI PSA: “Phantom Hacker” Scams Target Senior Citizens and Result in Victims Losing their Life Savings

USAA, Adobe, Walmart and MORE: Top Scams of the Week

Federal Trade Commission Partners with Latin American Countries to Combat Fraud

Not all business coaches are trying to help you

Phishing via Dropbox

LinkedIn Messaging used by APT to phish aerospace target and plant novel malware

Wordfence Intelligence Weekly WordPress Vulnerability Report

The Thin Line: Educational Tools vs. Malicious Threats – A Focus on The-Murk-Stealer

AI Voice Technology Used to Create Conspiracy Videos on TikTok, at Scale

Musk ousts X team curbing election disinformation

‘MARRIAGES OF CONVENIENCE’ BETWEEN STATE ACTORS AND CYBERCRIMINALS PROVIDE COVER FOR BOTH

The Week in Ransomware – September 29th 2023 – Dark Angels

Vulnerability Summary for the Week of September 18, 2023

CISA: Cyber Training Bulletin

GAO: Cybersecurity Program Audit Guide

9 essential ransomware guides and checklists available for free

CISA Kicks Off 20th Anniversary of Cybersecurity Awareness Month with New Public Awareness Campaign to Secure Our World

AI Security Center to Open at National Security Agency

ZDI Updates

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October 2, 2023

Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 29 September 2023

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.

September 2023 Threat Level Statement Update – Threat Levels Remain at GUARDED – FB-ISAO (faithbased-isao.org)

The FB-ISAO Cyber Threat Intelligence, Operational Resilience (together, the Threat and Incident Response) working groups actively monitor and share information, reports, and perspective regarding our threat environment. We have reviewed the September 2023 Department of Homeland Security Homeland Threat Assessment and considered it alongside our continued observance of a broad array of general threats and hostility to people and places of faith. These include widespread acts of faith-based hostilities and open threats to faith-based organizations based on their religious and political beliefs – (including antisemitism, islamophobia, anti-Christian and anti-Sikh sentiment, etc.), regularly occurring acts of violence such as arson, vandalism, and low-level attacks including Swatting and bomb threats, as well as commodity cyberattacks seen in all communities including Business Email Compromise (BEC) and ransomware. Additionally, the TIG is closely monitoring the COVID-19 threat, events and rhetoric relating to the 2024 U.S. election season, along with other considerations that may pose direct or indirect risks to organizations.

Based on this review, we have determined to maintain threat levels at GUARDED, meaning that FB-ISAO is aware that a general risk of incidents exists, but there are no target or time specific threats requiring an escalation in our overall preparedness at this time.

The Physical Threat Level is “GUARDED.” GUARDED means that FB-ISAO is unaware of any specific impending terrorism events although a general risk of incidents exists.
The Cyber Threat Level is “GUARDED.” GUARDED means FB-ISAO is unaware of any specific or targeted cyber attacks, but a general and pervasive risk of cyber attacks exists.

Analyst Comments:

See the above link for more details on why the Physical Threat Level and Cyber Threat Level remain “GUARDED.”

FBI/IC3 Industry Alert

This Private Industry Notification PDF from FBI/IC3 covers Two or More Ransomware Variants Impacting the Same Victims and Data Destruction Trends

In addition to information on the new variants, this notification provides very useful general information on:

Preparing for Cyber Incidents
Identity and Access Management
Protective Controls and Architecture
Vulnerability and Configuration Management

Analyst Comment:

The above guidance can assist Faith-Based Organizations (FBO) in protecting their cyber operation, even if they do not have cybersecurity staff. Most of the recommendations can be used by non-technical members of FBOs.

In addition, here are four foundational cybersecurity best practices every organization can implement now to enhance their cyber defenses:

Use strong passwords and a password manager.
Turn on multifactor authentication (MFA).
Recognize and report phishing.
Update Software.

Park Valley Church Incident Updates

Rui Jiang Arrested in Haymarket Church with Loaded Weapon

Man arrested ‘minutes’ before mass shooting at Virginia church

Church shooting foiled in Virginia

More Faith-Based Stories

A Historically Black Church’s BLM Sign Was Vandalized By Racists… For a Second Time

Fact Sheet: Biden-Harris Administration Takes Landmark Step to Counter Antisemitism | The White House

A 23-year-old was arrested for gun possession. It led the FBI to a global Satanic cult

DOJ Fails to Charge Activist Who Vandalized Pro-Life Center

Judge sentences a woman who investigators say burned a Wyoming abortion clinic to 5 years in prison

Templeton Foundation funds first-of-its-kind research into the religious ‘nones’

Pakistan blast: 52 dead at gathering of Muhammad’s birthday and In photos: Blast kills dozens at religious gathering in Pakistan and Bombing Outside Mosque in Pakistan Kills at Least 25

Indonesia: Mob Attacks Church in Depok, Forcing Congregation to Shift to Online Worship – International Christian Concern

Select All-Hazards Stories

Senator Dianne Feinstein dies at 90, source confirms: Remembered as ‘icon for women in politics’

Everything You Need to Know about Swatting and Swatting-as-a-Service

U.S. Army reservist with KKK ties faces military review after Raw Story report

Sweden’s leader turns to the military for help as gang violence escalates

CISA: Bomb Threat Management Annex Template Office for Bombing Protection material for Higher Education. PDF

Guns, abortion pill and free speech will top Supreme Court docket in new term

Potential Heavy Rain Event For The Northeast and New York City National Weather Service

El Niño winter weather forecast and impacts to expect in the U.S.

What to know as fall vaccinations against COVID, flu and RSV get underway

COVID.gov – Free at-home COVID-19 tests

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September 29, 2023

Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 28 September 2023

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. Today’s Daily Awareness Post is a combination of updates from 27 September and 28 September 2023.

Peruvian National Arrested In Peru For Sending Over 150 Hoax Bomb Threats To Schools And Other Institutions In The United States And Soliciting Child Pornography

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today the unsealing of a Complaint charging EDDIE MANUEL NUNEZ SANTOS, a/k/a “Lucas,” with making hoax bomb threats to more than 150 school districts, synagogues, airports, hospitals, and a shopping mall between September 15 and September 21, 2023.

Analyst Comment: Though the news story is significant, the individual named in the FBI arrest does not appear to be responsible for the numerous swatting incidents that have occurred since about the middle of August and continuing.

ADL: Online Hate and Harassment: The American Experience 2023

ADL conducts this nationally representative survey annually to find out how many American adults experience hate or harassment on social media. The 2023 survey was conducted in March and April 2023 and spans the preceding twelve months. Online hate and harassment remain persistent and entrenched problems on social media platforms.

Key Findings:

52% of American adults have ever experienced harassment on social media, up from 40% in 2022.
33% of adults experienced some form of harassment, up from 23% in 2022.
47% of LGBQ+ people, 38% of Black/ African Americans, and 38% of Muslims were harassed online.
80% of Jewish people were worried about being harassed for their religion compared to 41% of non-Jews.
51% of teens experienced some form of harassment, compared to 36% in 2022.
76% of transgender people, the most targeted demographic group, have ever been harassed online, 60% severely.
Several key platforms saw a rise in harassment: Reddit, Twitter, TikTok, and WhatsApp.

Analyst Comments: The FBI’s recently released 2021 Hate Crime Statistics report found that hate crimes in the U.S. increased nearly 12% in 2021 compared to the previous year. Racial and religious minorities are the primary groups targeted, with attacks occurring in both the physical and cyber domain.

Historically, violent extremists and other malicious threat actors have conducted hate-based attacks on faith-based organizations (FBOs), events, people, and groups, for a variety of ideological considerations and hate-based grievances. Individuals affiliated with FBOs can reduce the probability of becoming a victim of an attack by remaining vigilant, maintaining awareness of their environment and reporting suspicious behavior that individuals may exhibit. More specific considerations can be found in this CISA resource: Personal Security Considerations Fact Sheet

Those targeted in online harassment should report the incident to law enforcement, document the evidence, and, if necessary, seek protective orders. FBOs and individuals can also report hate crimes to the FBI – with detailed instructions found here.

FBI Tech Tuesday: Protecting Yourself From Fake Barcodes on Gift Cards

Gift cards have become a staple for any special occasion. They are readily available at any store for our shopping ease. Scammers have come up with another way to take money from the gift cards we purchase for family and friends.

Scammers place fake barcodes on the back of real gift card barcodes in the stores. When you purchase the card, the cashier scans the fake barcode at the checkout, which quietly pushes your money into the scammer’s gift card account, leaving you with a zero balance.

Protect yourself by examining the back of the gift card before buying it. Check for signs of tampering. Make sure the gift card’s barcode number, which is visible through the window on the back of the gift card’s packaging, matches the number on the packaging itself. Don’t purchase if the barcode is on a sticker, or if the package is ripped, wrinkled, bent, or looks tampered with.

Analyst Comments: FBOs and individuals affiliated with them are frequently targeted by scammers. It’s important for FBOs and individuals to maintain vigilance for potential fraudulent activity.

CISA Launches National Public Service Announcement Campaign Encouraging Americans to Take Steps to Keep Themselves and Their Families Safe Online

Yesterday, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) announced the launch of “Secure Our World,” a nationwide cybersecurity public awareness campaign to educate all Americans on how to stay safe online. The campaign includes a public service announcement (PSA) that will air on stations around the country, as well as digital content, a toolkit, and other resources. Recognizing that technology is an integral part of our modern lives, Congress tasked CISA with creating this program to provide small businesses, communities, and individuals with the guidance and tools they need to protect themselves online.

The Secure Our World program is focused on four simple steps everyone can take to stay safe online: 

Strong passwords: Use passwords that are long, random, and unique to each account, and use a password manager to generate them and to save them. 
Multifactor authentication: Use MFA for all accounts that offer it. We need more than a password to protect our most important data, including email, financial accounts, and social media.  
Recognize and report phishing: Think before you click! Be cautious of unsolicited emails, texts, or calls asking you for personal information. Resist the urge to click on these links and don’t click on links or open attachments from unknown sources. 
Update software. Enable automatic updates on software so the latest security patches keep our devices continuously protected.

Analyst Comments: Individuals and organizations experience cyberattacks and other cybersecurity incidents every day. Indeed, global cyberattacks increased by 38% in 2022 compared to 2021, underscoring the need for every individual and organization to act now to strengthen their cybersecurity and to be prepared for a cyber incident.

Organizations can access free cyber resources at CISA’s Cyber Resource Hub.

As always, FB-ISAO’s website has valuable resources at Resource Library – FB-ISAO (faithbased-isao.org).