Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 12 February 2025

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.

Weekly Security Sprint EP 98. A few of our favorite things: EAP, Ransomware, Phishing 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 covered the following topics:

• CISA Active Assailant Emergency Action Plan Template and Instructional Guide 

• Ransomware & Data Breaches 

• Scams 

Information on other Gate 15 podcasts can be found at here. 

The Risk of a Taiwan Invasion Is Rising Fast 

Inskit Group is recommending that businesses begin making preparatory investments to establish contingency plans in case of a potential Taiwan invasion, particularly if they have operations in Taiwan or China, or rely heavily on Asian supply chains and shipping. Companies based in regions likely to oppose China’s political objectives are especially at risk. While the likelihood of a short-term invasion (2025-2026) currently remains low, the factors shaping Inskit Group’s assessment are rapidly evolving. Starting in 2027 and continuing through the long term (2027-2049), the risk of an invasion is expected to significantly increase, though it is not guaranteed.  

 Analyst Comments: 

Although the immediate threat of a Taiwan invasion is low, the risk of escalation is expected to rise considerably after 2027. Those with operations in the region or reliance on Asian supply chains, should take proactive steps to assess and manage long-term risks. Faith-Based organizations with missions or operations in the region should assess and address long-term risks. Additionally, China-based cyber threat actors are targeting US critical infrastructure in ways that suggest their goal is to pre-position for a potential conflict. We continue to see Faith-Based organizations, as well as non-profits, targeted by ransomware threat actors, which could also increase if China decides to sow mass chaos and uncertainty leading up to a potential conflict. 

California Teenager Sentenced to 48 Months in Prison for Nationwide Swatting Spree 

Alan W. Filion, an 18-year-old from Lancaster, California, was sentenced to 48 months in prison for making over 375 swatting and threat calls from August 2022 to January 2024. These calls targeted religious institutions, schools, and individuals across the U.S., falsely claiming bombs, mass shootings, and dangerous weapons. Filion’s actions caused police and emergency responders to divert attention from other critical incidents. He also made threats for both profit and amusement advertising his “swatting” services online. Filion was arrested in January 2024 after making a threat involving firearms and explosives.  

 Analyst Comments:

The teenager’s swatting campaign involved threats against religious institutions, emphasizing the susceptibility of Faith-Based organizations to online threats. This serves as a reminder for Faith-Based organizations to stay vigilant. We continue to see swatting and hoax threats target the Faith-Based community. We encourage the community to review our “Attacks on Houses of Worship: 2023 Year in Review” if you have not already, and be on the look out for 2024’s report.  

For more resources on securing facilities and safeguarding students, the FB-ISAO resource library provides a variety of helpful materials, which can be accessed here. The Threat Assessment and Reporting | SchoolSafety.gov website provides resources to assist in “Identifying, reporting, and addressing safety concerns can help reduce the threat of targeted violence and enhance student safety.”