Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 25 March 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.  

FB-ISAO Members Inform Our Products: Security Sweeps! 

This article discusses a new product offered by the FB-ISAO related to social media sweeps. This product helps organizations monitor their online presence to assess potential risks and threats. By conducting social media sweeps, organizations can identify mentions of their name or sensitive information that could be exploited by threat actors. The process includes periodic reviews to keep search terms relevant and up-to-date. This initiative was informed by feedback from FB-ISAO members and developed with the expertise of the Cybersecurity Threat Intelligence Working Group. The product is available to FB-ISAO members. 

Ransomware Threat Investigated at Teays Valley Christian School in Putnam County 

According to the Putnam Country Sheriff’s Office, a student received a threatening message stating that if a specific file was not downloaded, a so-called “hit list” would be distributed using the student’s email. The incident is being treated as a cybersecurity threat.  

Analyst Comments: The ransomware threat at Teays Valley Christian School highlights the growing cybersecurity risks faced by Faith-Based institutions, including schools. This kind of attack is concerning for Faith-Based schools because of their reliance on digital systems for communication, administration, and student data management, making them a target for cybercriminals. It is important for Faith-Based institutions to prioritize cybersecurity awareness.  

It is also important to remember that it only takes one member of an organization (in this instance a student) to click the wrong link or download the wrong file to initiate a cyber incident. That is why our friends at Take9 encourage everyone to take a 9 second pause and think before you click, download, and share. And for organizations that have not developed an incident response plan for ransomware incidents, CISA’s #StopRansomware is a good resource to consider.  

‘Systematic targeting’: Sudan interrogates, jails 19 Christians 

In Sudan’s city of Madani, 19 Christians have been arrested in January and February by security forces linked to the Sudan Armed Forced (SAF). The Christians were accused of supporting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), despite no evidence linking them to the group. Arrested while traveling to a prayer meeting, they faced extensive interrogations being transferred to prison. Additionally, 12 Christan’s from Wad Rawah have gone missing under similar charges. Christian rights groups have condemned the arrests as part of systematic effort to target Christians. This follows the government’s 2024 law granting immunity to intelligence officers, further enabling such actions. The situation worsens as Sudan’s civil war continues.  

Analyst Comments: The arrest of 19 Christians in Sudan underscores the ongoing and growing challenges faced by Faith-Based communities, in regions experiencing political and civil unrest. This incident serves as a reminder for Faith-Based organizations of the need for advocacy, international solidarity, and the defense of religious freedom. The International Institute for Religious Freedom has previously published best practices to reduce, resolve and prevent religious conflict. 

Religious Freedom