Weekly Security Sprint EP 89. Post election texts, terror arrests and threats, and compromised emails

In this week's Security Sprint, Dave and Andy covered the following topics.

Warm Start:

• US cybersecurity chief says disinformation surge hasn't impacted election

• FBI Statement About Fabricated Videos and Statements Falsely Attributed to the FBI.

• Food and Agriculture Sector Eyes Cybersecurity Threats

• Food and Ag Sector 2024 Cyber Threat Report (PDF)

Main Topics:

Black people are receiving racist text messages about picking cotton 'at the nearest plantation.' The FBI and the FCC have weighed in on the messages that multiple Black people across the country received on Wednesday.

• FBI Statement on Offensive and Racist Text Messages

• FB-ISAO reports Antisemitic text messages

• Louisiana attorney general reveals new findings on racist texts

• Text service says it shut down accounts allegedly behind racist messages

Be security curious amid enduring extremism & terrorism threats, mass gatherings:

• Man Arrested and Charged with Attempting to Use a Weapon of Mass Destruction and to Destroy an Energy Facility in Nashville

• Cholo Abdi Abdullah Convicted for Conspiring to Commit 9/11-Style Attack at the Direction of Al Shabaab

• Florida Man Indicted for Posting Threats on the Internet

FBI Cyber Threat Updates:

• Easy Access to Information for Conducting Fraudulent Emergency Data Requests Impacts US-Based Companies and Law Enforcement Agencies. As of August 2024, FBI noted an uptick in criminal forum posts regarding conducting fraudulent emergency data requests and is releasing this notification for industry awareness. Cybercriminals are likely gaining access to compromised US and foreign government email addresses and using them to conduct fraudulent emergency data requests to US based companies, exposing the personal information of customers to further use for criminal purposes.

• HSI and Partners Announce Return of $1.8 Million Stolen During Business Email Compromise Scam

Quick Hits:

• Israel to collect soccer fans from Amsterdam after apparent antisemitic attacks

• Israeli soccer fans attacked in Amsterdam, in what Dutch authorities call antisemitic incidents

• Dave’s Severe Weather threat and preparedness reminders

• China Hack Enabled Vast Spying on U.S. Officials, Likely Ensnaring Thousands of Contacts

• U.S. Agency Warns Employees About Phone Use Amid Ongoing China Hack

• Russia Suspected of Plotting to Send Incendiary Devices on U.S.-Bound Planes

• Mystery fires were Russian 'test runs' to target cargo flights to US

• Halliburton misses profit estimate, buyback target as cyber attack hurts. Halliburton missed Wall Street estimate on a previously disclosed cyber hack that forced the oilfield services provider to pause a share repurchase program, executives said on Thursday.

• Unwrapping the emerging Interlock ransomware attack

• NEWPARK RESOURCES INC. Newpark Resources, Inc. is a worldwide provider of value-added drilling fluids systems and composite matting systems used in oilfield and other commercial markets. NEWPARK’s 8K.

• Major Oilfield Supplier Hit by Ransomware Attack

• 764 Terror Network Member Richard Densmore Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison