Please enjoy our newest podcast, the Weekly Security Sprint, on Spotify for Podcasters, Spotify, Apple, Google, as well as other locations accessible via the Spotify for Podcasters link or almost anywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts.
In this week’s Security Sprint, Dave and Andy talked about the following topics:
Main Topics:
- What Memorial Day means to them.
- National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS)
- DHS Issues National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin & National Terrorism Advisory System Bulletin – May 24, 2023 | View PDF Version.
- The United States remains in a heightened threat environment. Lone offenders and small groups motivated by a range of ideological beliefs and personal grievances continue to pose a persistent and lethal threat to the Homeland. Both domestic violent extremists (DVEs) and those associated with foreign terrorist organizations continue to attempt to motivate supporters to conduct attacks in the Homeland, including through violent extremist messaging and online calls for violence. In the coming months, factors that could mobilize individuals to commit violence include their perceptions of the 2024 general election cycle and legislative or judicial decisions pertaining to sociopolitical issues. Likely targets of potential violence include US critical infrastructure, faith-based institutions, individuals or events associated with the LGBTQIA+ community, schools, racial and ethnic minorities, and government facilities and personnel, including law enforcement.
- A Vehicle Ramming in DC and a new Hostile Events Preparedness Resource.
- U-Haul Truck Crashes into Security Barrier Near White House; 1 in Custody: Secret Service: “There were no injuries to any Secret Service or White House personnel and the cause and manner of the crash remain under investigation,” the department said in release…Investigators seized a Nazi flag from the scene, according to video and a law enforcement source. A bomb squad responded, and a robot was used to open up the U-Haul. After a search, the Secret Service said the truck was deemed safe.
- U-Haul driver identified, charged after crashing truck into barriers near White House. U.S. Park Police say Sai Varshith Kandula of Chesterfield, Missouri, was taken into custody at the scene.
- UK: Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM) NPSA have released a new Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM) video. HVM puts a protective barrier around your site protecting you, your people, and your infrastructure.
- U-Haul Truck Crashes into Security Barrier Near White House; 1 in Custody: Secret Service: “There were no injuries to any Secret Service or White House personnel and the cause and manner of the crash remain under investigation,” the department said in release…Investigators seized a Nazi flag from the scene, according to video and a law enforcement source. A bomb squad responded, and a robot was used to open up the U-Haul. After a search, the Secret Service said the truck was deemed safe.
- Protecting Places of Worship
- Protecting Places of Worship: Six Steps to Enhance Security Against Targeted Violence; Protecting Places of Worship: Six Steps to Enhance Security Against Targeted Violence Fact Sheet.
- The product details how taking these six steps can help protect places of worship against potential threats of targeted violence in a cost-effective manner that maintains an open and welcoming environment. The product also provides training, exercise, and grant resources, and interagency contact points to assist places of worship in identifying their security needs, develop actionable plans, obtain funds for security improvements, and recognize and report potential threats in their area.
- ICYMI: Security Debrief, 15 June 2020: A Letter to the Trump Administration – Establish a Faith-Based Sector of Critical Infrastructure
- Blended Threats
- COSMICENERGY: New OT Malware Possibly Related To Russian Emergency Response Exercises. Mandiant identified novel operational technology (OT) / industrial control system (ICS)-oriented malware, which we track as COSMICENERGY, uploaded to a public malware scanning utility in December 2021 by a submitter in Russia. The malware is designed to cause electric power disruptionby interacting with IEC 60870-5-104 (IEC-104) devices, such as remote terminal units (RTUs), that are commonly leveraged in electric transmission and distribution operations in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
- The Cybersecurity 202: This newly-discovered malware could disrupt power generation — and do physical damage
- When Natural Disasters Cause Network Threats. Record-breaking Tonga undersea volcano disrupted satellite signals in space.
- U.S. and International Partners Release Advisory Warning of PRC State-Sponsored Cyber Activity & People’s Republic of China State-Sponsored Cyber Actor Living off the Land to Evade Detection. Targets and breached entities span a wide range of critical sectors, including government, maritime, communications, manufacturing, information technology, utilities, transportation, construction, and education. Download the PDF version of this report (723 KB)
- COSMICENERGY: New OT Malware Possibly Related To Russian Emergency Response Exercises. Mandiant identified novel operational technology (OT) / industrial control system (ICS)-oriented malware, which we track as COSMICENERGY, uploaded to a public malware scanning utility in December 2021 by a submitter in Russia. The malware is designed to cause electric power disruptionby interacting with IEC 60870-5-104 (IEC-104) devices, such as remote terminal units (RTUs), that are commonly leveraged in electric transmission and distribution operations in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Quick Hits:
- Ransomware
- Ransomware Research Reveals 12 Vulnerabilities Have Become Newly Associated with Ransomware in Q1 2023 (18 May) and see Am I Vulnerable to Ransomware?
- CISA and Partners Update the #StopRansomware Guide, Developed through the Joint Ransomware Task Force (JRTF).
- IT Worker Admits Piggybacking on Hacker’s Extortion Attempt
- Ransomware resurgence after ‘strange year’ in 2022, insurance data shows
- THE MONEY MESSAGE GROUP – A NEW RANSOMWARE THREAT
- New Ransomware Wave Engulfs over 200 Corporate Victims
- NOAA predicts a near-normal 2023 Atlantic hurricane season; El Nino, above-average Atlantic Ocean temperatures set the stage.
Read more about Gate 15’s full podcast menu at our Podcast page. You can subscribe and enjoy all the Gate 15 Podcasts on Spotify for Podcasters, Apple, Spotify, Google, as well as other locations accessible from the Anchor link. Week-to-week, you can hear and learn more about our all-hazards threats, risks, mitigation and other issues impacting homeland security risk management from our team as well as our regular and special guests. The full podcast menu includes:
- The Security Sprint is our 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.
- The Risk Roundtable is a recurring monthly discussion among our team and occasional guests as we explore the all-hazards threats and risks impacting the United States and internationally.
- The Cybersecurity Evangelist, with Jennifer Lyn Walker, is a cybersecurity-focused discussion with Jen and invited guests.
- Nerd Out! Security Panel Discussion, moderated by Dave Pounder, focuses on physical security topics including terrorism, extremism, hostile events, and other pertinent topics.
- The Gate 15 Interview is a monthly interview between Gate 15’s founder and Managing Director, Andy Jabbour and guests from throughout the homeland security risk management community addressing a wide range of all-hazards topics and issues.
We hope you’ll subscribe, listen and share your ideas and other feedback! Reach out to us on Twitter, LinkedIn or via email at: [email protected].