This DAP highlights – GMU student charged in mass-casualty plot targeting Jews. 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 29 September 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.
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.
In a related item, CISA Kicks Off 20th Anniversary of Cybersecurity Awareness Month with New Public Awareness Campaign to Secure Our World.
Park Valley Church Incident Updates
Rui Jiang Arrested in Haymarket Church with Loaded Weapon
Man arrested ‘minutes’ before mass shooting at Virginia church
More Faith-Based Stories
A Historically Black Church’s BLM Sign Was Vandalized By Racists… For a Second Time
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
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
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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This DAP highlights – Police chief: 'Combination of factors' likely fueled motive in Abundant Life Christian School shooting. 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.