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.
School Attackers Used Tours to Gain Site Access, Support Preoperational Planning
In the past three years, two attackers at small religious private schools gained access by posing as visitors during facility tours, using this to conduct reconnaissance before their attacks. This approach differs from most school attackers, who usually target their current or former schools and don’t need a pretense to enter. It is difficult to assess how common this tactic may be due to the secrecy maintained in many online communities that discuss school attacks. This report comes from a new FOUO DHS report; to read the full document you can view it on FB-ISAO Slack.
Analyst Comments: These incidents show a concerning shift in tactics, where attackers exploit visitor access policies to conduct pre-attack reconnaissance. Faith-based and private schools may consider being vigilant when offering tours or open houses. Educational institutions may reassess their visitor protocols, consider limiting unsupervised access, and enhance staff awareness to detect suspicious behavior. Alongside virtual tours also pose as risk on faith-based and private schools. On July 24th FB-ISAO shared some considerations related to virtual tours guidance in the weekly report. While there is no broad indication that this tactic is being widely promoted, the operational security of threat actors online makes it difficult to gauge the full extent.
US companies spending record amounts to protect executives as threats rise
U.S. companies have sharply increased spending on executive security in response to a wave of high-profile violent incidents and a surge in threats targeting corporate leaders. Following the shootings in Manhattan and the CEO of UnitedHealthcare. Firms like Citigroup have dramatically enhanced security presence at their offices. Data from Equilar, based on proxy filings from S&P 500 firms, show the median security spend per executive rose 16 percent to $106,530 in 2024, up from prior years. Meanwhile, the share of executives receiving formal security perks climbed 33.8 percent up from 23.3 percent in 2020.
Technology, communication, healthcare, and defense companies are among the sectors accelerating these investments. Firms like Broadcom, Walmart, GM, and American Express disclosed significant increases in executive protection cost including multimillion-dollar security allocation for top CEOs.
Analyst Comments: The rise in executive-targeted violence highlights a shifting threat landscape where high-profile leaders are no longer just business figures but symbolic targets. This has led to security being a component of executive compensation. Companies are adjusting their protection strategies that go beyond physical guards by incorporating social media monitoring, cyber hygiene, and travel risk assessments. For faith-based organization their leaders may also face heightened visibility due to public stances therefore it is important for faith-based organizations to consider safety protocols. Faith-based organizations should consider training staff, conducting regular risk reviews, and establishing relationships with local law enforcement.
Russia Issues Nuclear Weapons Warning: ‘No Limits’
Russian authorities have issued increasingly stringent warnings to the West, declaring they will impose “no limits” on the deployment of nuclear-capable intermediate-range missiles, specifically targeting NATO and U.S. military moves near Russia’s borders. Officials cited U.S. plans to deploy Typhon and Dark Eagle missile systems in Germany, which Moscow views as an existential threat. In response, Russia has withdrawn its self-imposed moratorium on such missile deployments and is preparing to station Mach10-capable Oreshnik missiles in Belarus.
Analyst Comments: Russia’s recent declaration that it will no longer observe limits on the deployment of intermediate-range nuclear-capable missiles shows a shift in its strategic posture, raising tensions with the West. The move triggered by U.S. plans to deploy advanced missile systems in Germany. Russia’s revised nuclear doctrine, which now permits nuclear use in response to certain conventional threats increases the risk of miscalculation in a crisis.
Weekly Security Sprint EP 121. Hostile events and grievances, Cyber reports, and government funding
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.
This week’s Security Sprint Dave and Andy cover hostile events and cyber threat reports.
The above Gate 15 Weekly Security Sprint website also provides links to many security-related items of interest.
Information on other Gate 15 podcasts can be found at Podcast.
Get the Daily Awareness Post Delivered to your Email!
More Faith-Based Stories
Man charged for breaking into Kansas City church, stealing religious items
WV: Suspect charged with setting fire to a Clay County church
Crews extinguish late-night fire at Oklahoma City church
Two Churches Desecrated in Paris in Three Days
Ultranationalist Israel minister draws condemnation for prayers at controversial holy site
New state, local cyber grant rules prohibit spending on MS-ISAC
How Corey Lewandowski’s power at the Department of Homeland Security keeps growing
Gore, Propaganda, and Radicalization Overlap in Extremely Accessible Sites, Researchers Find
Estimating The Number Of Ransomware Attacks
Inside North Korea’s effort to infiltrate US companies
Malicious Packages Across Open-Source Registries: Detection Statistics and Trends (Q2 2025)
AccuWeather Hurricane Tracker – Dexter, Bailu, Henreitte
More Security-focused Content
