Threats
FBI: Cyber-enabled strategic cargo theft on the rise
The Federal Bureau of Investigation announced cyber tactics enabling cargo theft have surged recently. In a Public Service Announcement, the FBI said cyber threat actors are increasingly using cyber-enabled tactics to impersonate legitimate businesses as a means to hijack freight, steal... Read More »
Defense Department announces agreements with AI companies on classified network deployment
The U.S. Department of Defense, referred to as the U.S. Department of War by the Trump administration, announced that it has entered into agreements with eight of the world’s leading artificial intelligence companies to deploy AI capabilities on the department’s classified networks. The... Read More »
CISA, partners release guidance for Zero Trust adaptation in operational technology
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), in partnership with the U.S. Departments of War, Energy, State, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, have published a guide to applying Zero Trust principals to operational technology systems within organizations. The guide,... Read More »
Investigation launched into national security risk posed by AI models from Chinese companies
U.S. Reps. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) and John Moolenaar (R-MI) announced the launch of a joint investigation into the national security risks posed by artificial intelligence models developed by Chinese companies. Garbarino, chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security, said his committee... Read More »
CBP officers seize nearly $2.8M in narcotics at San Ysidro Port of Entry
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the San Ysidro Port of Entry between San Diego and Mexico recently seized nearly $2.8 million in fentanyl and methamphetamine during two seizures in April. “Smugglers use complex techniques to conceal dangerous narcotics like fentanyl and... Read More »
Legislation to strengthen data security, protect public officials introduced
Legislation that would protect public servants across all levels of government introduced. U.S. Rep. French Hill (R-AR) and Dan Goldman (D-NY) introduced the Providing Resources and Oversight to Ensure Confidentiality of Those who serve (PROTECT) Act to strengthen data security and prevent... Read More »
Coalition to address production code vulnerabilities
Project QuiltWorks, a tech industry coalition, recently launched to assess, prioritize and continuously remediate production code vulnerabilities that frontier artificial intelligence models are uncovering. Project QuiltWorks uses the CrowdStrike Falcon platform with remediation input from... Read More »
Coast Guard seizes 7,050 pounds of cocaine
The U.S. Coast Guard recently seized approximately 7,050 pounds of cocaine worth more than $53 million during two interdictions, one in the Caribbean and one in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The Cutter Escanaba’s crew offloaded the contraband on Monday at Port Everglades. “The crew’s... Read More »
CISA, global partners issue warning on Chinese government-linked covert networks
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) joined the United Kingdom’s National Cyber Security Centre and other federal and international partners to release a new cybersecurity advisory about China. The advisory, “Defending Against China-Nexus Covert Networks of... Read More »
Scam Center Strike Force conducts actions against criminal organizations
The Scam Center Strike Force recently conducted a series of coordinated actions against Southeast Asian criminal organizations operating scam centers that have defrauded Americans of billions of dollars. “We have charged the Chinese bosses who ran a scam compound in Burma, where trafficked... Read More »
Defense Department shows off Golden Dome progress
Officials with the U.S. Department of Defense, referred to by the Trump administration as the Department of War, and other federal agencies gathered Thursday at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story to show off the DoW’s progress on Golden Dome for America. Golden Dome is President... Read More »
U.S. Air Force moves step closer to Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations initiative
In conjunction with the Defense Innovation Unit, the U.S. Department of the Air Force announced it has selected three companies to potentially develop and operate a microreactor on a DAF installation. The move is part of the department’s Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations initiative.... Read More »
Florida man pleads guilty to being ransomware negotiator
The U.S. Department of Justice announced a Florida man has pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit ransomware attacks after being employed as a ransomware negotiator. According to court documents, Angelo Martino, 41, of Land O’Lakes, Fla., collaborated with the operators of the Blackcat/ALPHV... Read More »
State, Justice Departments convene 35 governments to take action against Iranian terrorism
The U.S. Departments of State and Justice convened the fifth meeting of the Countering Transnational Terrorism Forum in Budapest, Hungary to take action to counter Iranian terrorism. The meeting brought together 35 governments from the Americas, Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe to... Read More »
CBP launches Mobile Passport Control at four Washington state border crossings
U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced the launch of Mobile Passport Control at four pedestrian border crossings in Washington state. The MPC mobile app allows U.S. citizens, and others, to use their mobile devices to submit passport and travel information in advance, which will speed up... Read More »
Coast Guard seizes 3,825 pounds of cocaine
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Tampa’s crew offloaded approximately 3,825 pounds of cocaine worth more than $28.7 million on Thursday that was the result of two interdictions in international waters in the Eastern Pacific Ocean as part of Operation Pacific Viper. “This crew's performance over... Read More »
FEMA holding emergency preparedness exercise this month
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) plans to hold a biennial radiological emergency preparedness exercise at Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station in Pennsylvania during the week of April 27. The exercise will assess Maryland and Pennsylvania’s ability to respond to an emergency that... Read More »
Treasury sanctions cartel-linked casinos on U.S.-Mexico border
The U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Controls (OFAC) sanctioned targets linked to alleged money laundering and cash smuggling by the Cartel del Noreste (CDN), officials said. The CDN is one of Mexico’s most violent drug trafficking organizations, the office said, and... Read More »
Marine Corps award $21M contract for cyber services
Marine Corps Installations Command (MCICOM) awarded a Pennsylvania nonprofit organization specializing in applied scientific research and development professional services, a $21 million contract to provide facility-related control systems cyber services in the Marine Corps Installations Pacific... Read More »
Reps. Fong, Garbarino host cybersecurity roundtable in California
U.S. Reps. Vince Fong (R-CA) and Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) hosted a cybersecurity roundtable last week with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), local military installations and local community members. As part of the discussion, attendees focused on current, existing, and... Read More »
Federal grand jury indicts 52 gang members on drug, firearm charges
A federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment on March 17 charging 52 gang members with intent to distribute, possession and distribution of controlled substances, and firearms violations. Forty defendants were charged with possession of firearms in furtherance of a... Read More »
Defense Department, FAA complete safety assessment of laser counter-drone system
The U.S. Department of Defense, referred to as the U.S. Department of War by the Trump administration, and the Federal Aviation Administration said they have completed a safety assessment of a high-energy laser counter-drone system that validates safety controls that pose no undue risk to passenger... Read More »
Lockheed Martin receives $4.7B federal contract for accelerated production of PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement
The U.S. government recently awarded global defense technology company Lockheed Martin a $4.7 billion, multibillion-dollar contract to continue critical accelerated production of PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE). Under the contract, Lockheed Martin will be able to accelerate production... Read More »
Multi-national law enforcement campaign disrupts cryptocurrency fraud scheme
A multi-national effort, Operation Atlantic, has identified more than $45 million (US) in cryptocurrency fraud schemes around the world, the U.S. Secret Service said recently. The law enforcement effort carried out with agencies in the U.S., United Kingdom and Canada identified and contacted... Read More »
Coast Guard seizes 4,510 pounds of cocaine
The U.S. Coast Guard seized 4,510 pounds of cocaine, valued at $33.9 million, during a routine patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean on April 5. The crew of a U.S. maritime patrol aircraft notified U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba that they suspected a narco-terrorist vessel was throwing... Read More »
CISA issues advisory on Iran-affiliated cyber threat to U.S. infrastructure
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) on April 7 issued a public advisory warning of cyberthreats to American critical infrastructure sectors from Iran-affiliated threat actors. The agency joined the National Security Agency (NSA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of... Read More »
FBI, DOJ dismantle Russian GRU cyber operation targeting U.S. home and office routers
The Department of Justice and FBI said Tuesday they have successfully disrupted a Russian military intelligence operation that hijacked thousands of small office and home office routers across the United States to conduct espionage against government, military, and critical infrastructure... Read More »
Bill introduced to bolster Taiwan drone production
Legislation to expand opportunities for the development of unmanned aerial systems between the United States and Taiwan has been introduced in the Senate. The Blue Skies for Taiwan Act, introduced by U.S. Sens. John Curtis (R-UT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Andy Kim (D-NJ) would... Read More »
New Florida law prohibits courts from enforcing foreign or religious laws
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law on Monday that strengthens protections against the application of foreign and religious laws. HB 1471 reinforces that Florida courts may not apply or enforce foreign or religious law, including Sharia law, that violates constitutional rights. It... Read More »
FEMA awards North Carolina more than $103M for storm recovery efforts
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently provided North Carolina more than $103 million for Tropical Storm Helene and Hurricane Florence recovery efforts. Funding was awarded to more than 50 public assistance projects that help repair and protect critical infrastructure. Public... Read More »
FBI, CISA warn of Russian intelligence phishing campaign
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) warned Russian intelligence is using commercial messaging applications to gain access to individual’s accounts. In a joint public service announcement, the agencies said Russian... Read More »
BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin to increase production of THAAD interceptor
The U.S. Department of Defense, in partnership with defense contractors BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin, will quadruple the production of seekers for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor. Under the terms of the agreement, BAE Systems will guarantee the component is... Read More »
GAO: Government agencies not using dashboard created to address IT professional shortages
According to a new report by the Government Accountability Office, a shortage of IT professionals in the face of growing need for a talented cyber workforce is one of the federal government’s most important challenges. But a dashboard created by the Office of Personnel Management to help... Read More »
DoD, Honeywell agreement would increase ammunitions stockpile
The U.S. Department of Defense and Arizona-based Honeywell Aerospace, a diversified technology and manufacturing company, recently partnered to create a framework to increase production of critical components for the ammunitions stockpile. Honeywell Aerospace will accelerate the delivery of... Read More »