NJOHSP Seeks Community Survey Participants; NJOHSP Launches Drone Dashboard to Promote Safer Skies in New Jersey; Fraudulent Bank Account Activity Continues; Planning Underway to Enact 2023 National Cyber Strategy

The New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, in collaboration with State law enforcement partners, launched an Unmanned Aircraft Systems dashboard on its website April 26, bringing greater visibility of safety standards and resources to the public. “The popularity of drones has soared in recent years, both for hobbyists and within the commercial sector,” said NJOHSP Director Laurie Doran. “Part of the challenge for law enforcement is distinguishing harmless drone usage from those who intend to do harm. Bad actors can use drones for reconnaissance, property damage and even an attack; the public’s adherence to local and FAA requirements and restrictions is paramount to the safety and security of national airspace and our critical infrastructure.” NJOHSP partnered with the New Jersey State Police and the New Jersey Department of Corrections to develop the dashboard and provide novice and experienced operators and the general public with support tools and guidance regarding FAA regulations and applicable laws. The dashboard also includes guidance to heighten the public’s awareness surrounding drone-related suspicious activities. Visit the UAS dashboard for more information and resources at njohsp.gov/uas. Read the full press release at njohsp.gov.

Threat actors are impersonating financial institutions in new banking-themed phishing and SMiShing campaigns. The New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell observed multiple phishing emails that are targeting New Jersey State employees to steal account credentials or personally identifiable information. In one campaign, threat actors spoofed the display name for Customers Bank, which has locations in New Jersey. The email informed recipients of a temporary hold on their account and directed them to click on a link to unlock it. The link led to a phishing web page that mimicked Customers Bank and collected sensitive information, including usernames, passwords, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, email addresses and email passwords. The NJCCIC also received reports of SMS text messages purporting to be from financial institutions, such as PNC Bank. The messages claimed a banking transaction was on hold and included a phone number to call to approve or decline the transaction. NJCCIC advises users to refrain from clicking links or opening attachments from unknown senders, urging them to exercise caution with communications from known senders. If unsure of a message’s legitimacy, contact the sender using a different means of communication before taking action. Additionally, users should visit websites directly by manually typing the legitimate URL into a browser and refrain from navigating to online accounts using links delivered in emails and SMS text messages. More information regarding these campaigns can be found on the NJCCIC’s website.

Acting National Cyber Director Kemba Walden said planning is currently underway to enact the Biden Administration’s recently released 2023 National Cyber Strategy, according to an April 26 cyber security news service report. Speaking at the annual RSA Conference last week, Walden said the plan, which is expected to roll out this summer, will include new legislation to uphold the strategy’s goal of shifting responsibility for cybersecurity from users and smaller businesses to larger corporations that drive most tech development. The conference brings together the world’s top cybersecurity, government and business leaders to learn, discuss emerging trends and formulate best strategies to help organizations and communities address current and future cyber threats. Experts say businesses should make provisions now for the expected changes by taking inventory of their organization’s cloud-based infrastructure and data vendors, developing a plan to meet security requirements and by familiarizing themselves with their company’s cyber insurance policy. Walden said securing the space ecosystem is also a priority for lawmakers, noting that the first “shot” in the current Ukraine conflict was a cyberattack against a U.S. space company. U.S. lawmakers expressed concerns about vulnerabilities in the space sector after recently released documents revealed China is working on cyberweapons capable of taking over other nations’ satellites. The national cyber strategy, released in March, is an initiative to make U.S. cyberspace fortified and resilient by creating defense strategies for critical infrastructure, disrupting and dismantling threat actors, shaping market forces to drive security and resilience, investing in a resilient future and forging international partnerships to pursue shared goals.