Tag: arson

Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 04 August 2023

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.
Texas missionaries escape Niger after coup as State Departments issues Level 4 Travel Advisory
A group of student missionaries from the Harmony Hill Baptist Church in Lufkin, Texas, were safely on their way back to the U.S. Thursday after their return from a mission trip in Niger was delayed by the ousting of the country’s democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum by soldiers last week.
Analyst Comment:
Faith-Based Organizations (FBO) should be aware of geopolitical risks while planning for oversees work. Those operating abroad should also make contingency plans have plans if situations deteriorate.
Wednesday’s DAP had an article from the Christian Post about the kidnapping of a New Hampshire nurse working for El Roi Haiti, a Christian education ministry in Haiti. The nurse’s daughter was also kidnapped.
Yesterday, the DAP posted that the U. S. Department of State advised Americans not to travel to Niger. Travel advisories for all countries can be found at: Travel Advisories (state.gov).
Information about planning safer foreign travel and what to do in an emergency abroad can be found at International Travel (state.gov).
Around the world, geopolitical events can have important effects on individuals and organizations alike. For organizations, it is important to recognize their risks and that real security incidents can occur as a result of them.
Ogdensburg church’s famed Horwood stained glass vandalized
NNY360 reports that an Upstate New York church’s historic stained-glass windows were vandalized. Horwood stained glass is renowned in Canada and the U.S.
A security video captured an adult and juvenile throwing rocks and a baseball at the window. The windows were protected by glass inside and out, which probably reduced the damage.
Analyst Comment:
NBC 4 reported on the Historic St. John’s Church arson fire during the 2020 violent protests near the White house. A fire was set in the basement and graffiti spray painted on the exterior walls. Protective glass over a stained-glass window was broken, but the historic stained glass was not damaged.
Physically securing a FBO’s facilities and utilizing security cameras can reduce vulnerability. Vandals and more serious threat actors are often deterred when they detect outward security measures and as a result will likely seek out a softer target to attack.
The suspects captured on the NY church’s security video may lead to an arrest, which could deter future vandalism.

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More Faith-Based Stories
Man Charged With Homicide Stabbing 22-Year-Old Behind Church In Harrisburg: Police
Two more Pensacola community centers vandalized with anti-Semitic graffiti
Anti-Jewish online hate up by more than a third, says charity
NYPD ARREST MAN INVOLVED IN ANTISEMITIC VANDALISM AT BROOKLYN YOGA STUDIO
ANTISEMITIC, HOMOPHOBIC, BIGOTED FLYERS CANVAS CARS IN ALBANY
Suspect in shooting at Memphis Jewish school was haunted by police killing of father
Youth preacher arrested while protesting Drag Story Hour, reading Bible in Wisconsin
WA & Canada: TRANS WOMAN GOES UNDERCOVER IN SPOKANE HATE CHURCH. WHAT SHE UNCOVERED SHOULD SCARE ALL OF US
Congressmen Call for Investigation of Iranian Control of Mosques in U.S. | Focus on Western Islamism (FWI)
In Tennessee churches, a new message: Gun safety
Tefillin Tables Combat Antisemitism on U.S. Campuses
India: Arson, Vandalism Reported At 2 Mosques In Haryana Overnight: Police
Russian Shelling Blasts Landmark Church in Ukraine

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This New England neo-Nazi group is getting bigger and scarier, experts say. Most troubling: Military vets fill its ranks. – The Boston Globe
Scores injured after protesters against Eritrea’s government attack cultural festival in Sweden
Myanmar’s military said it bombed ‘terrorists.’ It killed children.
ISIS says its leader was killed by militants in Syria and names successor
A new report reveals the 9-1-1 profession stressed and stretched to its limits. EMR-ISAC InfoGram Aug. 3
Sweltering South; Northeast Storms: Heavy Rain in the North Plains NWS
Colorado State University: CSU released its final forecast for the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season on Thursday, 3 August
USPS, UPS, DHL, and Booking.com: Top Scams of the Week
Eleven scam alerts from the Virginia Fusion Center: ScamAware
Oklahoma Man Pleads Guilty to Twitter Threats to Kill Sen. Cruz and Govs. Stitt, Sanders, and DeSantis
CISA, NSA, FBI, and International Partners Release Joint CSA on Top Routinely Exploited Vulnerabilities of 2022
2023 State of Ransomware
Ransomware Roundup – DoDo and Proton

More Security-focused Content

Read a report detailing attacks on Faith-Based organizations following the Dobbs ruling.

Access the latest FB-ISAO Newsletter for additional threat analysis and upcoming event announcements.

Access all-hazards resources from public and private sector partners, curated by the FB-ISAO team.

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.

Subscribe to the SUN!

August 4, 2023
Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 03 August 2023

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.
FAQs: What is Generative AI and How Can It Help Ministry Leaders?
A Church Tech Today article explains the basic concepts of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and how it can help ministry leaders.
“Generative AI refers to a type of artificial intelligence that can generate new content and insights. It utilizes machine learning and natural language processing to analyze large datasets, identify patterns, and produce original text, images, audio, video, and more. Generative AI models like ChatGPT are trained on massive amounts of data from the internet, books, and other sources to learn how to respond to prompts with high-quality outputs.”
The article provides examples of current AI uses, practical applications for ministry leaders, and limits of use. The article also argues that AI is unlikely to replace ministry leaders and offers potential ways to start benefiting from generative AI.
Analyst Comment:
Generative AI is a tool that the faith-based community should understand and consider using. Reading the above article would be a good start to evaluating its usefulness, but before using AI, the risks of AI should be fully appreciated.
The risks associated with generative AI are significant and rapidly evolving. The risks are present for those creating material with AI and those receiving AI material.
A wide array of threat actors have already used the technology to create “deep fakes” or copies of products, and generate artifacts to support increasingly complex scams.
Gartner provides additional information and further explains the risks of AI.
Below are articles on an incident related to the synagogue “swatting incidents” highlighted in Friday and Monday’s Daily Awareness Post
Report of Shooter Panics Capitol Hill, but Police Find Nothing
After an urgent search on a quiet day at the Capitol, the police said the threat report might have been a “bogus call.”
The Senate went into a shelter-in-place and partial evacuation following reports of an possible active shooter on the Capitol campus.
The Senate went into lockdown Wednesday afternoon following reports of an active shooter on the Capitol campus, sparked by “a concerning 911 call,” according to Capitol Police.
Details: Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger said that officers were able to respond “in seconds” after receiving a 911 call at 2:30 p.m. saying there was an active shooter. But in the end, there was no confirmation that an active shooter was on campus.
“This may have been a bogus call,” Manger said.
The USCP Remains Vigilant Following False Active Shooter Report
Analyst Comment:
It is impossible for Faith-Based Organizations (FBO) to have the type of protective measures and security protocols at the US Capitol complex, but the persistent, heightened threat environment indicates that FBOs should plan and prepare for all potential contingencies.
A valuable resource for protecting FBO facilities is CISA’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency: Security of Soft Targets and Crowded Places-Resources Guide.

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More Faith-Based Stories
OH: Local church vandalized twice, 2 juveniles arrested
NY: Ellenville police investigating vandalism of Jewish flag as possible hate crime
Antisemite captured in NY after disgraceful rampage
DOJ: Missouri Man Sentenced for Setting Fire to Islamic Center
CAIR Condemns Distribution of White Supremacist Flyers in Birmingham, Ala., Welcomes Dropping of Confederate School Mascots in Montgomery, Ala.
Rudy Giuliani: Jewish Men Have ‘Small’ and ‘Unused’ Genitalia, Transcripts Reveal
Pittsburgh synagogue shooter who killed 11 and wounded 6 others sentenced to death
US Supreme Court Justice Jackson to Speak at Church Bombing Anniversary in Birmingham
MD Muslim and Christian Parents clash over LGBTQ+ books at MCPS board meeting
‘Deeply alarming’: Communists, LGBT activists target Christian-owned coffee shop over ‘biblical stance on sexual sin’
Catholic Diocese Agrees to Pay $100 Million Settlement to Hundreds of Abuse Victims
Leah Remini sues Church of Scientology, says she’s been threatened and subjected to ‘psychological torture’
Former pastor who allegedly hired transgender sex workers has pleaded guilty to murdering trans woman
Lead Defendant in Federal Case Charging White Supremacist Group with Violence at Political Rallies Extradited from Romania
Sweden and Denmark consider ban on Quran-burning protests as security fears rise
Canada: Jews remain most targeted religious group for hate crime

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Most drugs made at tornado-ravaged Pfizer plant available from other suppliers, experts say
13 injured in South Korea when a man rams a car onto a sidewalk, stabs pedestrians
Donald Trump: Security ramped up ahead of court appearance
Maryland man facing multiple charges after stealing explosive devices from job
Niger: Travel Advisory Raised to Level 4 – Do Not Travel
Summer Heat Across the South and Southwest; Severe Thunderstorm Threats Increasing and Expanding. National Weather Service
Extreme Heat Threatens the Health of Unborn Babies
The CDC sees signs of a late summer COVID wave
Two New York Men Sentenced for Operating Mass Mailing Fraud Scheme Targeting Elderly and Vulnerable Victims
Pig butchers caught using ChatGPT to con victims
Midnight Blizzard conducts targeted social engineering over Microsoft Teams
New variants found of malware that targets Facebook business accounts
Midnight Blizzard conducts targeted social engineering over Microsoft Teams
What is the Difference Between Ransomware and Data Wipers?
Meta releases an open source AI kit that creates audio from text prompts
Microsoft’s AI-infused sidebar rolls out to Windows 11 beta testers
Mozilla Releases Security Updates for Firefox and Firefox ESR

More Security-focused Content

Read a report detailing attacks on Faith-Based organizations following the Dobbs ruling.

Access the latest FB-ISAO Newsletter for additional threat analysis and upcoming event announcements.

Access all-hazards resources from public and private sector partners, curated by the FB-ISAO team.

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.

Subscribe to the SUN!

August 3, 2023
Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 31 July 2023

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.
Shawn Brokos: Creating and spreading the ‘Pittsburgh model’ for Jewish community security
The Pittsburg Post-Gazette reports that the Jewish Federation, along with the Secure Community Network (SCN), has been working to ensure that Jewish institutions have the resources, training, and connections to make safety a reality. The three critical pillars of their approach, which has come to be called the “Pittsburgh model,” are physical and operational assessments of each organization and community; a robust training and drill program; and a threat mitigation program which consists of law enforcement engagement, community reporting and incident response.
In a related story, Sky News reports that synagogues are conducting shooter drills and employing armed security guards.
Analyst Comment:
All Faith-Based Organizations can learn from the Pittsburg Tree of Life Synagogue tragedy. The “Pittsburg model” can be a valuable guide to protecting places of worship.
DHS’ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) also provides Mitigating Attacks on Houses of Worship – Security Guide.
In addition, the U.S. Government’s First Responder Toolbox report “Threats Against Houses of Worship Highlight the Importance of Religious Community Outreach,” details potential violent extremist threats to faith-based organizations and offers mitigation resources.
“Someone’s going to end up dead”: New evidence emerges in Travis Scott Astroworld tragedy
The Texas Tribune reports that the Houston Police Department released a 1,266-page redacted report on the 2021 Travis Scott concert where 10 people died and hundreds were injured. The victims were reportedly pinned against barriers after thousands of concertgoers had squeezed together. The artist continued to perform for 37 minutes after police and fire officials declared the situation a “mass casualty event.” The report describes, in vivid detail, that no one seemed to know how to stop the tragedy as it unfolded.
Spectrum News reported that a Texas task force, created to study concert safety and crowd control measures, determined that un-ticketed fans had entered the concert area hours before the concert began and overwhelmed the staff. The task force recommended, among other proposals, that event organizers create a command center that is authorized to pause or cancel a show in response to safety concerns.
Analyst Comment:
Faith-Based Organizations that have large gatherings should consider reviewing the Houston report to have an understanding of the
risks and safeguards involved in large gatherings. Individuals also need to know the risks of attending a large gathering.
CISA has a Securing Public Gatherings webpage. CISA’s resources include Mass Gathering Security Planning Tool, Mass Gatherings: Security Awareness for Soft Targets and Crowded Places, and Mass Gatherings: Take Charge of Your Personal Safety.
1 woman dead, 8 other women injured in North Lawndale shooting
As posted in FB-ISAO Slack, “note church role in community recovery/resilience plans.” From the article: “She encouraged anyone involved or affected by the shooting to attend victim services outreach Monday between 1 and 7 p.m. at Deliverance Temple Church, 1457 S. Komensky Ave. Attendees will be able to receive confidential counseling, visit with therapy dogs, talk with detectives and more.”
Below is an article related to Friday’s Daily Awareness Post
Swatting Incident at Congregation B’nai Israel On Sat. Morning, Man with a Gun
According to Township of Millburn officials, a swatting incident occurred Saturday morning at a New Jersey synagogue. Responding police officers searched the premises and determined there was no gun in the building and that the synagogue and its occupants were safe.
ICYMI:
Recently an FB-ISAO member organization was the victim of a swatting incident. On 08 August, there will be a review of that incident during FB-ISAO’s 2023 Educational Series: A Culture of Security. Representatives from the member organization will be on hand to discuss how the swatting incident unfolded, what it was like in the moment, what was learned from the incident itself, the subsequent response, and other takeaways. The session is only open to members of FB-ISAO. Link to the membership page: https://faithbased-isao.org/membership/

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More Faith-Based Stories
Oakland’s 61st homicide discovered in a church parking lot
Crews respond to early morning church fire in St. Louis
Peoria church suffers sudden collapse
Swastika-covered brick hurled through window of Pensacola’s Chabad Jewish Center
CAIR-NY Condemns Suspected Hate Crime Targeting Yoga Center in Brooklyn
Burglars steal priceless cross from Pasadena church
Nazi propaganda, explosive device, ammunition seized in L.A. raid, prosecutors say
CA: Costa Mesa police investigating after swastikas found spray-painted on car
More white supremacist flyers found in Visalia
Tracking neo-Nazis: How a NY veteran infiltrated extremist groups across the U.S.
Cults and Online Violent Extremism
Oregon girls under 15 can now obtain abortions without parental consent if they fear ‘emotional abuse’
Pittsburgh synagogue shooter is dismayed not to have inspired more attacks on Jews, psychiatrist testifies
IL: Wicker Park Lutheran Church plants hundreds of Pride flags after months-long vandalism
ID: City pays $300K in settlement after arresting Christians for singing hymns during COVID-19 lockdowns
After refusing to let Sikh trooper grow beard, New York State Police accused of flouting state law
Upstate New York Catholic diocese announces $100 million settlement for sexual abuse victims
The Grandfather of Modern Neo-Nazism Is Fighting With Satanic Neo-Nazis Now
Harrison Smith Likens Prosecution Of Charlottesville Tiki Torch Marchers To Nazi Persecution Of Jews
Shirtless man pumping gas in Brooklyn stabbed to death by offended Muslim stranger: witness
China using families as ‘hostages’ to quash Uyghur dissent abroad
ORTHODOX JEWISH BOY BRUTALLY ASSAULTED IN FRANCE
Terrorist attack on Chabad House in Mumbai averted
Denmark to seek legal means to prevent Quran burnings

Select All-Hazards Stories
Driver Plows Car Into Migrant Workers in ‘Intentional Assault,’ Police Say
Over 1,800 terrorist attacks in the first 6 months of 2023 in West Africa
American nurse and child kidnapped in Haiti
From human to hybrid: Why augmented guards are the future of security
NWS From Serious Heat to Powerful Typhoons.
Study: COVID wastewater signals more accurately predict hospitalizations
FDA Approves Second Over-the-Counter Naloxone Nasal Spray Product
WordPress Vulnerability & Patch Roundup July 2023
Data breach reported in Arizona’s school voucher program
How to spot and avoid post-disaster scams in the Northeast
USPS Phishing Scam Targeting iOS Users
X placed ads from Discovery, Showtime and USA Today on a neo-Nazi account | Engadget
Twitter Threatens Legal Action Against Nonprofit That Tracks Hate Speech
FBI warns of broad AI threats facing tech companies and the public
Researchers find ‘universal’ jailbreak prompts for multiple AI chat models
Ransomware Delivery URLs: Top Campaigns and Trends
The Week in Ransomware – July 28th 2023 – New extortion tactics
New Threat Research: Cyberattacks by the Numbers
U.S. Hunts Chinese Malware That Could Disrupt American Military Operations
Exclusive: Pentagon Investigates ‘Critical Compromise’ Of Air Force Communications Systems
Army officially creates new offensive cyber and space program office
New Threat Research: Cyberattacks by the Numbers
Android malware steals user credentials using optical character recognition
Google: Android patch gap makes n-days as dangerous as zero-days
Attackers exploit Windows-based ‘search-ms’ protocol
ZDI Updates

More Security-focused Content

Read a report detailing attacks on Faith-Based organizations following the Dobbs ruling.

Access the latest FB-ISAO Newsletter for additional threat analysis and upcoming event announcements.

Access all-hazards resources from public and private sector partners, curated by the FB-ISAO team.

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.

Subscribe to the SUN!

July 31, 2023
Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 28 July 2023
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.
ADL Report
ADL Report (shared in FB-ISAO Slack): The ADL Center on Extremism has issued the following Community Alert:
Overview: Since July 22, several apparent swatting incidents have occurred at synagogues and ADL offices across the country, including those in California, Michigan, New York and Denver.
Swatting is the deliberate and malicious act of reporting a false crime or emergency to evoke an aggressive response from law enforcement, sending officers to a target’s home or work to harass and intimidate them. Each of these incidents involved the threat of gun violence, either an act of suicide or an attack targeting other people. While local law enforcement did reach out, none of the incidents resulted in a full-scale police response.
At this time, the ADL Center on Extremism (COE) believes that at least some of these incidents are connected and has shared that intelligence with law enforcement. However, COE does not believe there to be a credible physical threat against Jewish institutions at this time. ADL is continuing to monitor social media platforms and work with law enforcement to address this issue.
Analyst Comment:
Whether a hostile event is real or due to swatting, current law enforcement procedures call for a rapid and forceful response. An Incident Response Plan could prove to be useful regardless of what type of hostile event may occur. https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Incident-Response-Plan-Basics_508c.pdf
Recently an FB-ISAO member organization was the victim a swatting incident. On 08 August, there will be a review of that incident during FB-ISAO’s 2023 Educational Series: A Culture of Security. Representatives from the member organization will be on hand to discuss how the swatting incident unfolded, what it was like in the moment, what was learned from the incident itself, the subsequent response, and other takeaways. The session is open to members of FB-ISAO. Link to the membership page: https://faithbased-isao.org/membership/
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More Faith-Based Stories
SEC Charges Florida Resident with Operating $35 Million Ponzi Scheme that Targeted Church Members
WA: Arson suspected in Pasco church fire
IL: Suspect arrested in connection with arson at vacant Carbondale church building
Man charged with setting Arizona church fires acted out of sexist and homophobic views, federal prosecutors say
Man charged with setting Arizona church fires acted out of sexist and homophobic views, federal prosecutors say
Biloxi church vandalized again; investigators searching for suspects
MORE ANTI-JEWISH ‘GOYIM DEFENSE LEAGUE’ (GDL) LEAFLETS DISTRIBUTED IN CALIFORNIA
MICHIGAN PARK VANDALIZED WITH NAZI SYMBOLS
ANTISEMITIC ‘GOYIM DEFENSE LEAGUE’ (GDL) FLYERS DISCOVERED IN SAN DIEGO
NEW JERSEY SKATEPARK DEFACED WITH SWASTIKAS
Ohio Man Indicted for Threatening a Reproductive Health Services Facility
Abortion opponents bring protest tour to Montgomery County with grisly fetal images
Crisis Pregnancy Centers File Lawsuit Against Vermont Shield Law; Act 15 prohibits crisis pregnancy centers from using ‘false and misleading advertising about services’
Most Sikh Americans reject pro-Khalistan violence, Rep. Krishnamoorthi says
Judge orders 3 of the ‘Newburgh Four’ freed in New York synagogue bomb plot
Virginia Fusion Center: – FaithAware
Sweden Ups Terrorism Preparedness Following Koran Protests
Zelenskyy visits Odesa church attacked in Russia strike
Ben Gvir visits Temple Mount on Tisha B’Av, drawing rebuke from US, Jordan, Saudis
Jewish pilgrims clash with Christian worshipers outside iconic Haifa church
‘Our biggest challenge is simply to exist’: atheist society fights for legal recognition in God-fearing Kenya
Women paraded naked, villages burned and looted: Report lists assaults on Christians in Manipur

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1 dead, 2 injured in reported shooting at San Antonio’s South Park Mall
‘Multiple explosive devices’ used in bombing at encampment outside Seattle hospital
Video shows barrage of gunfire between Cedar Hill police and medical clinic shooting suspect
On the Front Lines: How Law Enforcement, Private Industry and the Nonprofit Sector are Leading the Fight Against Human Trafficking; A Presentation of the InfraGard National Members Alliance and NEC National Security Systems Sponsor Series
Hate crimes in Los Angeles rose by 15% in 2022, LAPD report says
Oxford school shooter (name deleted)’s twisted journal entries revealed in court: ‘suffer just like me’
Hezbollah in Latin America: An Update
US Orders Government Personnel, Family Members to Leave Haiti
Dangerous Heat and Humidity Building into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. NWS
Nearly 200 million people in the US are under heat or flood advisories
Nearly half a million in US may have been affected by tick-bite meat allergy
Investors in the Crypto Asset Markets Should Exercise Caution With Alternatives to Financial Statement Audits: Investor Bulletin
University Cask Review (scam!)
Apple, Costco, Airbnb, and Booking.com: Top Scams of the Week
TikTok Has Pushed Chinese Propaganda Ads To Millions Across Europe
Facebook Bowed to White House Pressure, Removed Covid Posts
A new study found that Facebook’s Pages and Groups shape its ideological echo chambers
WordPress Ninja Forms plugin flaw lets hackers steal submitted data
Wordfence Intelligence Weekly WordPress Vulnerability Report
US contractor says info of up to 10 million leaked in MOVEit breach
ReliaQuest’s Q2 2023 Ransomware Report: Victim Count Hits New Heights
Chrome Dev for Desktop Update
ZDI Updates

More Security-focused Content

Read a report detailing attacks on Faith-Based organizations following the Dobbs ruling.

Access the latest FB-ISAO Newsletter for additional threat analysis and upcoming event announcements.

Access all-hazards resources from public and private sector partners, curated by the FB-ISAO team.

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.

Subscribe to the SUN!
July 28, 2023
Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 27 July 2023

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.
Axis Door Controller Vulnerability Exposes Facilities to Physical, Cyber Threats
Excerpts from the article:
A potentially serious vulnerability affecting a network door controller made by Axis Communications can expose facilities to both physical and cyber threats. The flaw, tracked as CVE-2023-21406 and rated ‘high severity,’ impacts the Axis A1001 network door controller. The company has released patches and additional security improvements to address the vulnerability.
Axis produces network cameras and other physical security products that are used by government and private sector organizations around the world.
Analyst Comment:
Many FBOs, including houses of worship, go to great lengths to physically secure their buildings. Security measures often include network-based physical security products and building access controls such as doors and cameras. Given the technology-based nature of these products, cybersecurity vulnerabilities are often discovered that could impact the security and usability, potentially resulting in reduced physical security. To keep facilities and people safe, it is important for FBOs to maintain an awareness of the vulnerabilities regarding the building control systems implemented in their buildings and address (patch, update, upgrade, replace) accordingly.
New Nitrogen malware pushed via Google Ads for ransomware attacks
Excerpts from the article:
The Nitrogen malware campaign starts with a person performing a Google or Bing search for various popular software applications. Depending on the targeting criteria, the search engine will display an advertisement that promotes the searched-for software. Clicking the link brings the visitor to compromised WordPress hosting pages that imitate the legitimate software download sites for the particular application.
The goal of the Nitrogen malware is to provide the threat actors initial access to corporate networks, allowing them to conduct data-theft, cyberespionage, and ultimately deploying the BlackCat/ALPHV ransomware.
Analyst Comment:
At present, this malware is primarily targeting technology and non-profit organizations in North America. Google or Bing searches for popular software like AnyDesk, Cisco AnyConnect VPN, and TreeSize Free have been manipulated to impersonate the legitimate products with fake pages. These fake pages contain malware, including ransomware to gain access to business networks. Threat actors have the ability to manipulate any web search they want, and often leverage trending or business specific search terms. As many employees and volunteers frequently perform internet searches, members are encouraged to remind users to be careful when clicking on search engine results.

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More Faith-Based Stories
IL: Wicker Park Lutheran Church’s pride flags targeted by vandals
MT: Century-old Crow Agency church vandalized
WA: Police Say Vandalism at Veradale United Church of Christ was a Hate Crime
CA: Police investigate possible hate crime at Congregational Church of Belmont
NEO-NAZI RECEIVED 18 MONTHS PRISON SENTENCE OVER ANTISEMITIC VANDALISM IN ALASKA
ELDERLY JEWISH MAN ASSAULTED IN SAN DIEGO
CAIR-CT Condemns Distribution of Antisemitic Flyers in Westport
FBI gives documents to Congress relating to memo targeting Catholics
‘God loves us as we are’: Pope says in latest message of outreach to LGBTQ community
Good News Alert: CAIR Welcomes Kentucky Detention Center’s Pledge to Change Hijab Removal Policy
Church sex abuse revelations are unwelcome distraction as Pope Francis visits scandal-hit Portugal
Over 115 Holy Sites Damaged in Ukraine Since Start of Russian Invasion, Top UN Official Tells Security Council, Urging Respect for Religious Freedom
On pause for Jewish mourning fast, Israeli protesters plan escalation
Police officer killed as suicide bomber detonates explosive vest at mosque in northwest Pakistan
DC: Pro-life activists assaulted on video outside Planned Parenthood say police won’t press charges
NY: Attorney General James Takes Action to Stop Anti-Choice Group from Blocking Access to Abortion Care

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Secretary Mayorkas Opening Statement, as delivered, at a House Judiciary Committee Hearing on July 26, 2023
Dangerously Hot Conditions Continue in the Southwest U.S. and Shifting from the Central to Eastern U.S.
US Grid Operator PJM Declares Level One Emergency Amid Scorching Heat
Salmonella outbreak tied to ground beef sickens people in 4 states
Tuberculosis at the border: Doctors issue warnings of ‘drug-resistant strains’
US Department of State Travel Advisories
Israel president urges calm amid plans for further protest at judicial overhaul
DHS S&T Awards Funds to PNNL to Research the Future of Emergency Management
Family of man allegedly stabbed by model believes condo security could have prevented killing
FTC: Job offer through Telegram Messenger? Not so fast
Spotlight on shadow IT
Latest MOVEit Data Breach Victim Tally: 455 Organizations
Akira ransomware compromised at least 63 victims since March, report says
Infostealer incidents more than doubled in Q1 2023
CISA Adds to Known Exploited Vulnerability Catalog (Impacts: Apple and Zimbra Collaboration)
PaperCut security advisory (AV23-441)
Chrome Beta for Desktop Update
Understanding the Evolution of Modern Business Email Compromise Attacks

More Security-focused Content

Read a report detailing attacks on Faith-Based organizations following the Dobbs ruling.

Access the latest FB-ISAO Newsletter for additional threat analysis and upcoming event announcements.

Access all-hazards resources from public and private sector partners, curated by the FB-ISAO team.

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.

Subscribe to the SUN!

July 27, 2023
Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 26 July 2023

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.
Nothing significant to report.

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More Faith-Based Stories
TX: ‘It was rather shocking’ : Man injured, church van damaged during shooting near Motiva in Port Arthur
MI: Abortionist Charged With Assault for Running Over Pro-Life Advocate With His Car
TX: 6-alarm fire at east Oak Cliff church leaves extensive damage & a community heartbroken
TX: Anti-LGBTQ YouTubers trolled a progressive Plano church. It was firebombed weeks later
MN: Statue Of Mary Destroyed During Break-In At Duluth Church
Biloxi Pastor looking for answers after church is vandalized
MT: Historic Big Horn County Church Vandalized Over the Weekend
TX: THREE ARRESTED IN FAYETTE CO. BURGLARY, VANDALISM CASE
CA: Police investigate possible hate crime at Congregational Church of Belmont
Vandals target Las Vegas pregnancy center
TX: Thieves Leave Local Church Without A/C
ANTI-JEWISH PROPAGANDA LITTERED THROUGHOUT GEORGIA TOWN
FAR-RIGHT INFLUENCER DEDICATES ‘ANTI JEW SONG’ TO WHITE SUPREMACIST NICK FUENTES
SAN DIEGO HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSIONER BLASTED FOR ANTISEMITIC RANT
Police Officer Killed, Several Injured In Mosque Blast In Pakistan: Report
‘Please don’t deface it that way, it is just a sad thing to do’: church sends message to vandals
Sweden Warns Terror Threat Has Grown After Koran Burnings
Egypt summons Swedish envoy over Quran protests

Select All-Hazards Stories
A Question of Notoriety: Should Media Withhold the Names of Extremist Killers?
Website: Dont Name Them
Pro-LGBTQ Radicals Threaten to Kill, ‘Dismember’ School Board Chief Over Parental Rights Policy
Jury finds 6 people guilty of terrorist murder in 2016 Brussels extremist attacks that killed 32
Joint Statement from Mexico and the United States on Shared Efforts to Combat Illicit Fentanyl, Disrupt Arms Trafficking, and Humanely Manage Migration
CISA Establishes Regional Election Security Advisors to Strengthen Front Line Support to the Election Community
Southwest Continues to Bake; Central & East U.S. Heat Wave; Storms in the Great Lakes. National Weather Service
Deadly Mediterranean wildfires kill more than 40
New AI phishing tool FraudGPT tied to same group behind WormGPT
American United Life Insurance Company Confirmed Data Breach Leaked Consumers’ SSNs
How Generative AI is Changing the Way We Work—and the Risks It Presents to Organizational Data
IRS: Security Summit: Identity Protection PINs are an important tool against tax-related identity theft
CISA Adds One Known Exploited Vulnerability to Catalog
Vulnerability Summary for the Week of July 17, 2023
Flipper Zero now has an app store to install third-party apps
Apple Releases Security Updates for Multiple Product

More Security-focused Content

Read a report detailing attacks on Faith-Based organizations following the Dobbs ruling.

Access the latest FB-ISAO Newsletter for additional threat analysis and upcoming event announcements.

Access all-hazards resources from public and private sector partners, curated by the FB-ISAO team.

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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July 26, 2023
Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 25 July 2023
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.
Gate 15’s Weekly Security Sprint
Weekly Security Sprint EP 26. Welcome to The Mosh Pit! Cybersecurity, scams, CISA on preparedness, a new White House Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy (just in time for new malaria threats?) and more.

Police Arrest Mississippi Serial Arsonist Who Allegedly Set Fire To Seven Buildings, Including Two Churches
The Daily Caller article reports that an alleged arsonist was arrested Tuesday in connection to seven structure fires, including fires at two churches in Jackson, Mississippi.
One of the churches, Epiphany Lutheran, was completely destroyed, while the other, Greater Bethlehem Temple Church, suffered severe fire damage to the historic portion of its structure.
Analyst Comment:
Faith-Based Organizations (FBO) are too often victims of Fire as a Weapon attacks. NBC recently reported a that a man pled guilty to two charges of arson at an Austin, TX synagogue in 2021. Fox 4 reported that an arson fire damaged the front door of a Plano, TX church on July 23rd. Church leaders stated that the church has been working with police since a June 25 incident with a hate group intruding on worship services. WND reported last month, that in the year after the Dobbs decision, attacks against pro-life organizations, including church arson, topped 300.
U.S. Fire Administration (fema.gov) outlines an arson progression:
Trespassing
Vandalism
Minor Arson
Serious arson
FBOs should consider watching for indicators of a threat and taking steps to protect against Fire as a Weapon attacks and accidental fires.
CISA’s Protecting Places of Worship: Six Steps to Enhance Security Against Targeted Violence and Fire As A Weapon Action Guide provide valuable information on protecting FBOs.
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More Faith-Based Stories
Jewish Man Assaulted Shabbos Morning in Crown Heights
Investigators link Dickinson church fire to forgery case
FanX co-founder found guilty of email bomb threats targeting multiple locations in Utah: Including a “sacred temple.”
SD Jewish Community ‘Appalled’ by Human Relations Commissioner’s Antisemitic Rant
Texas churches, religious groups to have more protections when it comes to threats
Video: CAIR Says Women Forced to Remove Hijab by Kentucky Jail Felt ‘Terrorized’ and ‘Abused’
Federal Grand Jury Charges Three in Molotov Cocktail Attack Last Year on Planned Parenthood Clinic
Former pastor charged with killing 8-year-old girl who was walking to Bible camp nearly 50 years ago
Nashville school shooter’s writings reignite debate over releasing material written by mass killers
Texas churches, religious groups to have more protections when it comes to threats
Online Hate and Harassment: The American Experience 2023
Dad begs church to step in as religious school teaches kids can be born into wrong body
27 Questions About AI & The Church
Plano church continues with services despite reported firebomb attack earlier Sunday
6 Christians killed by terrorists amid worsening trend in Nigeria’s Benue state
Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws Target, Kill Religious Minorities
Unholy horror of churches torched in Indian ethnic violence
Palestinian Youth Confront Israeli Extremists Attack at Catholic Church for Second Time in Week
Top Jewish Advocacy Organizations in Seven Countries Form J7 Global Task Force on Fighting Antisemitism
UK charges Muslim preacher Anjem Choudary with ‘terror’ offences
Thousands of Muslims Protest Quran Desecration in Sweden
Two protesters burn Koran in front of Iraqi embassy in Denmark
Iranian woman defying hijab law says there’s ‘no turning back’ despite ‘morality police’ resuming patrols

Select All-Hazards Stories
‘Anger and radicalization’: rising number of Americans say political violence is justified
‘Active’ neo-Nazi hate groups growing in the US, experts warn
The Allen, Texas, Attack: Ideological Fuzziness and the Contemporary Nature of Far-Right Violence
Exclusive: China Influence in America Reaches ‘Red Zone’
MI5 foil IS plot to target Isle of Wight Festival on 90,000 people
Driver Plows Into Crowd of Israeli Pro-democracy Protesters, Injuring Three; Police Arrest Suspect
Record-Breaking Heat Continues; Severe Weather in the Mid-Atlantic and Northern Plains. National Weather Service
A Tropical Depression Could Form And Head Toward Southeast Coast Later This Week
Misinformation Monitor: July 2023
Truth Decay Is Putting U.S. National Security at Risk
Mastodon Has a Child Abuse Material Problem, Like Every Other Major Web Platform
This one’s for job-searching military spouses: Spot scams before you apply
2023 Cofense Phishing Intelligence Trends Review: Q2
Beware Your ChatGPT Plugins
WOW Fans Trick ‘AI’ ‘News’ Scraper Into Covering Fake New Game Feature
America Is Struggling to Safeguard Water Supply From Hackers, New EPA Data Shows
Microsoft Warns of Office Zero-Day Attacks, No Patch Available
Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) and Cyber Insurance War Exclusion Clauses
Spyhide stalkerware is spying on tens of thousands of phones
Is Your Peloton Attracting Security Threats?
Apple security advisory (AV23-433)
Apple ships that recent “Rapid Response” spyware patch to everyone, fixes a second zero-day
Apple releases iOS, iPadOS, and macOS updates to fix bugs and shore up security
IBM security advisory (AV23-431)
Beta Channel Release for ChromeOS / ChromeOS Flex
ZDI Updates

More Security-focused Content

Read a report detailing attacks on Faith-Based organizations following the Dobbs ruling.

Access the latest FB-ISAO Newsletter for additional threat analysis and upcoming event announcements.

Access all-hazards resources from public and private sector partners, curated by the FB-ISAO team.

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.

Subscribe to the SUN!
July 25, 2023
Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 24 July 2023

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.
Follow up to Friday’s DAP Headline.
Man who ambushed Fargo officers likely had bigger and bloodier attack in mind, attorney general says | AP News
Excerpts from the article:
Over the past five years, Barakat, 37, searched the internet for terms including “kill fast,” “explosive ammo,” “incendiary rounds,” and “mass shooting events,” state Attorney General Drew Wrigley said Friday during a news conference in Fargo, a city of about 125,000 people. But perhaps the most chilling search was for “area events where there are crowds,” which on July 13 brought up a news article with the headline, ”Thousands enjoy first day of Downtown Fargo Street Fair.”
Had Officer Zach Robinson not killed Barakat, authorities said they shudder to think how much worse the attack might have been. All evidence suggests that Barakat came upon the traffic crash by “happenstance” and that his ensuing ambush was a diversion from his much bigger intended target, Wrigley said.
On the day of the attack, the downtown fair was in its second day and was less than 3 miles (5 kilometers) from the crash scene. It’s unclear if it was the intended target, though, as Barakat also searched for information on the Red River Valley Fair, which was just a 6-mile (10-kilometer) drive from the scene, the attorney general said.
Analyst Comment:
As Gate 15’s White Paper: The Hostile Event Attack Cycle (HEAC) describes, attackers usually spend a great deal of time planning their attacks. The attacker can change plans when an easier target presents itself or when the original target is too well protected.
Faith-Based Organizations should not only consider increasing the security of their facilities but should consider providing increased security for their outdoor events with large crowds.
For additional information, CISA provides a 2-page bulletin – Active Shooter Attacks: Security Awareness for Soft Targets and Crowded Places (cisa.gov).
Also, the Faith-Based ISAO website provides Physical Threat Security Resources.
DHS Announces Funding Allocations for FY 2023 Preparedness Grants | Homeland Security
One of the available grant areas is:
Nonprofit Security Grant Program: provides $305 million to support target hardening and other physical security enhancements for nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of a terrorist attack. This year, $152.5 million is provided to nonprofits in Urban Area Security Initiative-designated areas, and $152.5 million is provided to nonprofits outside those designated urban areas located in any state or territory.
Analyst Comment:
FEMA security grants are available to nonprofit organizations. Faith-Based Organizations should consider researching grant opportunities at Nonprofit Security Grant Program | FEMA.gov.

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More Faith-Based Stories
TX: Plano fire officials investigating blaze at entrance of church Sunday morning
CA: Investigation into mosque vandalism reopens after video is shared online
FLORIDA CHABAD JEWISH CENTER VANDALIZED
Atco, NJ pastor increasing security at church after 2 acts of vandalism
Hate motivated vandalism reported on 2 University of Michigan fraternities.
TENNESSEE BLACK CHURCHES FIND KKK FLYERS OUTSIDE OF BUILDING
ANTISEMITIC NAZI BANNERS SPOTTED ON PENNSYLVANIA FREEWAY OVERPASS
Antisemitic incident report: July 15-21 – JNS.org
Operation Save America anti-abortion event offers mixed messages of calls to violence
‘It’s open season, and we know where your operations are’ – 1 year after Roe repeal, suspected church arson tops 300+ pro-abortion crimes
Massachusetts Pregnancy Centers Form Alliance in Face of Campaign Against Them
Detroit Man Gets Probation After Scamming Black Church, Retiree
Canada: ‘I Am Disgusted’: Teacher Berates Muslim Students for Skipping Pride Events
The Proud Boys Vandalized His Church … Rev. Bill Lamar Filed a Lawsuit
Ponte Vedra teen accused in antisemitic attack could be headed back to jail
Muslim woman allegedly forced to remove hijab after arrest by Kentucky police
The Keys to Mental Illness May Be Hiding Within Amish Genes
What happened at a church forum that focused on white Christian nationalism?
Waikiki church resuming lunch ministry after pause to appease city safety concerns
‘Judeo-Christian’ roots will ensure U.S. military AI is used ethically, general says
UK: Church in Shock After Wooden Cross Burnt in Graveyard, Threats Made
Overnight Russian strikes on Odesa caused significant structural damage, destroy church
Israel settlers storm Greek Orthodox Church in Jerusalem
MORE THAN 50 CHRISTIAN CONVERTS ARRESTED IN IRANIAN CITIES
Nigeria: Heavy security in Osun churches over threat of planned massacre
Terrorists Kill 37 Christians in Benue State, Nigeria
Hindu temple in Bangladesh vandalised, idols desecrated
Christians in Pakistan flee homes for safety after blasphemy accusation
Viral video Christian women paraded naked, raped searing Indian conscience
Oppenheimer’s use of sacred text in sex scene angers Hindu right wing in India

Select All-Hazards Stories
The Gate 15 Interview: Dr. G. Keith Still on crowd security, drinking whisky, smashing ashtrays in Saudi Arabia, the Land of Ice and Fire, and what not to ask a Scotsman.
Man who ambushed Fargo officers searched online for ‘kill fast’ and for crowded area events, AG says
United States tops 400 mass shootings in 2023 | CNN Politics
Police fatally shoot suspect after stabbing spree leaves at least four injured in Maryland
Investigation underway after Rand Paul’s Kentucky office destroyed in fire
Are self-driving cars a national security risk?
The military ordered big steps to stop extremism. Two years later, it shows no results
Booz Allen Agrees to Pay $377.45 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations
Excessive Summer Heat Likely This Week National Weather Service
ACT SHEET: White House Launches Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy
Mosquitos Are Moving to Higher Elevations—and So Is Malaria
Zoonotic Disease Creep In The United States
Listeria outbreak kills three adults in Washington state, health department confirms
8 infectious diseases that made a comeback in 2022 unexpectedly — and illnesses that could surge in 2023
Pro-PRC HaiEnergy Campaign Exploits U.S. News Outlets via Newswire Services to Target U.S. Audiences; Evidence of Commissioned Protests in Washington, D.C.
Hateful Usernames in Online Multiplayer Games
Scammers impersonate delivery service support to rip off drivers and restaurants
Walmart, American Express, Amazon Prime Day, and MORE: Top Scams of the Week
Online scammers are turning analog to steal users’ money; Tech support scammers are trying a novel offline approach
How Older People Get Scammed
Drinking borax is the latest TikTok trend medical authorities working feverishly to debunk
Twitter is now X as the little blue bird disappears
IBM Report: Half of Breached Organizations Unwilling to Increase Security Spend Despite Soaring Breach Costs
Stolen Microsoft key offered widespread access to Microsoft cloud services
DOJ merges cyber, cryptocurrency units to go after ransomware attacks
Take the First Steps Towards Better Cybersecurity With these Four Goals | CISA
Ransomware Roundup – Cl0p
QILIN Ransomware Report
The Week in Ransomware – July 21st 2023 – Avaddon Back as NoEscape
ZDI Updates

More Security-focused Content

Read a report detailing attacks on Faith-Based organizations following the Dobbs ruling.

Access the latest FB-ISAO Newsletter for additional threat analysis and upcoming event announcements.

Access all-hazards resources from public and private sector partners, curated by the FB-ISAO team.

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.

Subscribe to the SUN!

July 24, 2023
Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 21 July 2023

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.
A man with thousands of bullets and a grenade attacked police and killed an officer. What was his plan?
The armed assailant who ambushed first responders and murdered a North Dakota police officer was armed with 1,800 rounds of ammunition, numerous firearms, and a grenade.
Two other police officers and a woman were wounded. Fargo Police Chief David Zibolski said it might have been worse had there not been emergency crews already there, including an ambulance. As soon as the firing stopped, “firefighters bounced out and they were applying first aid immediately to our officers,” Zibolski said.
“When you look at the amount of ammunition this shooter had in his car, he was planning on more mayhem in our community,” Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney said.
Analyst Comment:
If the well-armed shooter had attacked a “soft target” where police were not present, the death toll may have been much higher.
As was discussed in Wednesday’s Daily Awareness Post, Faith-Based Organizations (FBO) that have been hardened, stand less of a chance of being victimized. FBOs should consider increasing the security of their facilities, to include additional physical security measures, create emergency action and incident response plans, and build awareness of suspicious activity indicators, to ultimately improve the ability of your organization to prevent, detect, deter, and disrupt potential plots.
The article notes that without immediate medical care, the death toll may have been higher. FBOs should consider receiving basic first aid training. FEMA’s You Are the Help Until Help Arrives program can prepare FBO staff and members if a tragedy occurs. A wide variety of trauma bleeding control kits are also available.

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More Faith-Based Stories
MN: Bishop Issues Statement Following Alleged Arson at St. Edwards Catholic Church
CA: Belmont police investigate vandalism of Pride banner at church
Red Bluff police to conduct training at Highpoint Church today
Religious accommodation policies on college campuses lacking: report
California megachurch taps AI-based system for weapons detection, campus security
Swedish embassy in Baghdad stormed, set alight over Koran burning plans
Jewish Israelis storm Catholic monastery, perform prayers
Australia: Antisemitic Incidents Rock Victorian State Schools
Iraq expels Swedish ambassador as man desecrates Quran in Sweden; Swedish embassy earlier attacked
Iraq tells Sweden it will cut ties if Koran burned again
The Political Rise of Ultra-Orthodox Jews Shakes Israel’s Sense of Identity
Egyptian Christian rights activist pardoned of 3-year sentence

Select All-Hazards Stories
Extremist Violence Against the Trans and LGBTQI+ Community in Australia: A Review of Recent Events
Far-right terror plot suspects printed 3D guns to ignite Finland ‘race war’
Tornado damage to Pfizer plant will probably create long-term shortages of some drugs hospitals need
Severe Storms, Flash Flood Threats, and Persistent Dangerous Heat: National Weather Service
Judging How U.S. States Performed in the COVID-19 Pandemic Depends on the Metric
Teen Suicide Plummeted During Covid-19 School Closures, New Study Finds
Wordfence Intelligence Weekly WordPress Vulnerability Report
How to Recognize & Avoid Phishing Emails: A Cautionary Tale
Phishing via Google Ads
Is it a legitimate investment opportunity or a scam?
United Refund Scam Explained
Virginia Fusion Center: VFC – ScamAware
As Many As 700,000 Turkish TikTok Accounts Were Hacked Before The Country’s Presidential Election

More Security-focused Content

Read a report detailing attacks on Faith-Based organizations following the Dobbs ruling.

Access the latest FB-ISAO Newsletter for additional threat analysis and upcoming event announcements.

Access all-hazards resources from public and private sector partners, curated by the FB-ISAO team.

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.

Subscribe to the SUN!

July 21, 2023
Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 20 July 2023

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.
In case you missed it: Nerd Out Security Panel Discussion: EP 38. ISACs, ISAOs, and the Faith-Based community with FB-ISAO Executive Director Mayya Saab
In the latest episode of Nerd Out, Dave welcomed Mayya Saab, the Executive Director of the Faith-Based Information Sharing and Analytics Organizations (FB-ISAO). The pair discussed Mayya’s path to working in security and preparedness and how it prepared her for her current role. Then Mayya talked about the importance of Information Sharing and Analysis Centers and Organizations, and specifically the FB-ISAO. Mayya, talked about how their community of faith works, and why it is important that these organizations work together with their government partners. Finally, Mayya talked about the collaboration within FB-ISAO, and what’s next.
New Zealand shooter kills two ahead of Women’s Soccer World Cup
“There was no identified political or ideological motivation for the shooting and therefore no national security risk,” said New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins. The gunman is believed to be a 24-year-old male who was employed at the construction site where the shooting occurred, Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said at a news conference. He was armed with a pump-action shot gun and moved through a building site shooting. After reaching the upper levels he contained himself within an elevator shaft and fired more shots before being found dead a short time later. An officer was injured in the shooting, as well as four members of the public. The gunman had been under home detention but had an exemption to work at the site.
Analyst Comment:
Early reports indicate that this incident was workplace violence and not related to the Women’s Soccer World Cup. The US Woman’s National Team are all safe and accounted for.

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More Faith-Based Stories
Fire damages historic Dallas church in East Oak Cliff
MN: 12-year-old boy is focal point of church fire investigation
TX: Navarro County Sheriff’s Office arrests suspect in church arson case
Milwaukee Brew City Church vandalized
TX and CO: Two more anti-Catholic attacks: church in El Paso and school in Denver
MI: Vandals shred Pride flag at Charlotte church in latest in string of incidents
New Jersey Man Admits Posting Broad Online Threat to Synagogues
GA: Antisemitic, anti-LGBTQ and racist flyers thrown out in several neighborhoods in Floyd County
CA: Flyers for white supremacist group found in Visalia neighborhood
GA: Antisemitic bags in Oglethorpe County
ANTISEMITIC GOYIM DEFENSE LEAGUE (GDL) FLYERS DISCOVERED ON SOUTH CAROLINA COASTLINE
HOLOCAUST DENIER NICK FUENTES WAGES ‘HOLY WAR’ AGAINST AMERICAN JEWS
MICHIGAN NEO-NAZIS TARGET MEMBERS OF THE JEWISH AND LGTBQ+ OHIO COMMUNITIES
Christians arrested for maskless outdoor church service in liberal college town score big legal win
Rock Church named in lawsuit over death of former elder’s 11-year-old daughter
Third Georgia city sued for censoring ‘God bless the homeless vets’ sign
Swedish embassy in Baghdad stormed, set alight over Koran burning plans
Canada: Man pleads guilty to 3 charges after Mississauga mosque attack last year
Canada: ‘Something has to give’ Thieves strike Ukrainian Church parking lot, taking religious relics
Flooded with sightseers, Europe’s iconic churches struggle to accommodate both worship and tourism

Select All-Hazards Stories
‘Active club’ hate groups are growing in the U.S. — and making themselves seen
North Texas Man Who ‘Idolized’ Mass Shooters Pleads Guilty to Possessing Homemade Bomb
NC Man Found Guilty of Teaching Bomb Making to Person Targeting Authorities
French stations closed after fake terror alert
‘Difference between life and death’: Inside the staffing crisis at 911 dispatch centers
How Do We Make Early Warning and Early Action for Food Security More Effective?
Dangerous Heat Continues in the Southern and Southwest U.S. National Weather Service
More drenching storms in store for Northeast, but some good news is in the forecast
High temps and hot tempers: US road rage boils over as country sizzles
2023 Hurricane Season Outlook Update: Record Atlantic Ocean Warmth Could Override El Niño Influence
A Puerto Rican town avoided blackouts at key buildings during Hurricane Fiona
Pfizer Plant Damaged by Tornado SPOTREP
Scammers trick mom using AI tech to think daughter was kidnapped, held at ransom for $50K: ‘Sheer panic’
FCC chair talks biggest cyber issues, ‘modern meaning’ of old authorities
The Promise—and Pitfalls—of Researching Extremism Online
Critical infrastructure workers more likely to detect, report phishing
“Human Cyber-Risk Report: Critical Infrastructure”Chrome 115 Patches 20 Vulnerabilities
ZDI Updates
CISA Adds One Known Exploited Vulnerability to Catalog
Google Is Restricting Internet Access for Some Employees to Combat Cyberattacks

More Security-focused Content

Read a report detailing attacks on Faith-Based organizations following the Dobbs ruling.

Access the latest FB-ISAO Newsletter for additional threat analysis and upcoming event announcements.

Access all-hazards resources from public and private sector partners, curated by the FB-ISAO team.

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.

Subscribe to the SUN!

July 20, 2023