Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 22 April 2024

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.

Multiple Cyberattacks Targeting Faith-Based Organizations

As we continue to track the impacts from the ongoing war between Israel and HAMAS, it is important not to lose site of the ever-present cybersecurity threats that faith-based organizations face. Those who subscribe to our Ransomware Data Leak Site Report will have seen Lutheran Social Services of Indiana mentioned today as a victim of INC RANSOM. The Lutheran Social Services haven’t commented on the event, so it’s unclear if they’ve decided to negotiate with the hackers, but the fact that the breach took place 11 days ago and the event is still ongoing suggests that the victim may have at least contacted the hackers.

In addition, the Diocese of Phoenix, Arizona, on April 17 announced that its systems were targeted in a cybersecurity attack and that an unauthorized party accessed sensitive and confidential information on the platform. According to JD Supra, “In response, the Diocese of Phoenix secured its network and then enlisted the help of cybersecurity specialists to investigate the incident and determine what, if any, confidential consumer data was compromised as a result.”

Analyst Comments:

ICYMI, earlier this month CISA published a new dedicated High-Risk Communities webpage comprised of cybersecurity resources to support civil society communities at heighted risk of digital security threats, including cyber hygiene guidance, a repository of local cyber volunteer programs, and free or discounted tools and services.

CISA’s High-Risk Communities webpage provides resources specifically for civil society organizations, such as:

• Project Upskill, a suite of cyber hygiene guides designed to arm individuals of high-risk organizations with simple steps to meaningfully improve their cyber hygiene.
• Cybersecurity Resources for High-Risk Communities, which offers a wide selection of free or steeply discounted tools and services.
• Cyber Volunteer Resource Center, a repository of cyber volunteer programs across the country that provide free, hands-on cybersecurity support to under-resourced organizations.

FBI investigating threats against ‘multiple faith communities’ in Pennsylvania

The FBI is investigating what it says have been multiple threats made against houses of worship, religious schools, and other institutions in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania local media had reported on the alleged threats made last week. An FBI spokesman told Catholic News Agency on Thursday that the bureau “is aware of a number of threats made against multiple faith communities, houses of worship, and schools in Western Pennsylvania recently.”

Investigators have “no information at this time to indicate a specific and credible threat against any faith community, religious institution, or educational facility,” the bureau said.

Also see: FBI investigates violent threats to Pittsburgh Diocese, Jewish community

Analyst comments:

The FBI has encouraged the public to report suspicious activity by calling 911 or leaving a tip for the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or visiting tips.fbi.gov. As a reminder, CISA has developed the Physical Security Performance Goals for Faith-Based Communities to help faith-based communities mitigate the threat of targeted violence and prepare for potential incidents. These goals provide readily implementable, cost-effective solutions and resources to help faith-based communities reduce risk and enhance resilience.

DOJ Report Clears FBI Of Malicious Intent In Anti-Catholic Memo

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has cleared the FBI in a report shared Thursday of malicious intent in an anti-Catholic memo, Fox News reported. The review found investigators did not intend to target traditional Catholics as potential “racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists.” The DOJ Inspector General review noted, however, that analysts “incorrectly conflated” an investigative subject’s religious views with his alleged domestic terrorism activities. 

An FBI Richmond, Virginia, internal memo, titled “Interest of Racially or Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremists in Radical-Traditionalist Catholic Ideology Almost Certainly Presents New Mitigation Opportunities,” was leaked in January 2023 and drew instant criticism from Republicans, who demanded immediate answers from the agency.

According to the inspector general’s report, the memo, which has been dubbed the “Richmond Product,” was circulated amid an investigation of a potentially violent individual who was identified in the report as “Defendant A” and has since been arrested.