NJOHSP: Holiday Safety Staples – Vigilance, Cyber Hygiene, Sign Up Today for the CyberStart Achievement Awards, U.S. Considers Reinstating Houthi Rebels’ Terrorist Designation

With the holiday season in full swing, the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, along with its cybersecurity division, emphasizes the need for public awareness regarding both physical and cyber threats. In its latest press release, NJOHSP highlights the potential for threat actors to exploit indoor and outdoor holiday festivities and urges the public to maintain situational awareness at mass gathering events. The agency’s "See Something, Say Something" campaign encourages the public to report suspicious activity, especially if it involves soft target locations like houses of worship, malls and parades, to local police or to NJOHSP at 866-4-SAFE-NJ or tips@njohsp.gov. In light of an uptick in suspicious activity reports related to houses of worship, NJOHSP advises faith-based communities to keep congregations informed, implement emergency operations plans and conduct facility vulnerability risk self-assessments. The cyber arm of NJOHSP’s operation, the New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell, recommends online shoppers practice cyber hygiene and exercise caution when clicking on links and attachments in emails, interacting with social media ads and using public Wi-Fi. The NJCCIC's annual holiday report provides information on common cyber threats and best practices. Consumers are warned about social media scams and fraudulent websites mimicking legitimate retailers, with scammers advertising through social media platforms. The public can report cyber incidents to NJCCIC and access alerts and advisories by signing up for free membership. For comprehensive information on staying safe during the holidays and year-round, visit njohsp.gov and cyber.nj.gov.

The CyberStart Achievement Awards are back! The New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell will award New Jersey’s top-performing high school students for outstanding achievements in the national CyberStart America competition. Winners will be announced in January 2024. To qualify for these awards, students must register using NJCCIC's online form. More information regarding the CyberStart Achievement Awards can be found on the NJCCIC website.

About CyberStart America

CSA is a free, online cybersecurity gaming competition where students across the United States in grades 9-12 can level up their cyber skills, compete for training scholarships and prepare for their future careers. Over 1,800 students from more than 150 schools in New Jersey have already registered for this year’s CSA program. Spread the word about this exciting and educational opportunity. Students can play now through Jan.11, 2024. Register at cyberstartamerica.org to get started.

The U.S. government is actively considering reimposing a terrorist designation on Houthi rebels in Yemen after the group reportedly hijacked a cargo ship in the Red Sea Nov. 19. Amid rising geopolitical tensions, the Biden administration is reassessing its stance on the Houthi group, considering potential terrorist labels in response to the recent maritime aggression. Sources indicate that the review is prompted by concerns over the Houthi rebels' ties to Iran and the potential threat they pose to regional stability. The seized ship is a Bahamas-flagged car carrier chartered by Japan’s Nippon Yusen, a firm with Israeli ties. However, critics of the redesignation are concerned that a terrorist label could impact a country that is often considered one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with some 21.6 million people - about two-thirds of the population - dependent on aid. Tensions have also mounted since the Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for recent ballistic missile and drone attacks waged at Israel. One of the first acts of the Biden administration was revoking terrorist designations of the Houthis in January 2021 over fears that the sanctions could worsen Yemen's humanitarian crisis.