NJOHSP Conducts Active Shooter Emergency Drill at Rider University; Common HR Themes Exploited in Recent Phishing Campaigns; US Declares Houthi Rebels a Terrorist Organization

The New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, in conjunction with the Mercer County Rapid Response Partnership, Mercer County Office of Emergency Management, the New Jersey State Police and Rider University, conducted a full-scale emergency preparedness exercise Jan. 12 at the university in Lawrence Township, New Jersey. Approximately 250 exercise staff, observers and volunteers participated in the four-hour drill, which simulated an active shooter incident at a mass gathering event on the university’s campus. Volunteers included Rider and New Jersey National Guard personnel. NJOHSP facilitated the drill to test the MCRRP and county response plans and identify strengths, areas for improvement and corrective actions, if needed. Public notification systems, university communication platforms and signage alerted Lawrence Township residents and Rider staff and students of the impending drill.

The New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell has observed an uptick in scams using HR-themed lures in phishing campaigns, including salary and benefits adjustments, 401(k) updates, tax documentation and more. The phishing emails contain attachments, QR codes and malicious links to steal credentials or download additional malware. They may also include personal information exposed in recent data breaches, making these messages harder to identify. In one campaign, targets received emails purportedly from the IRS with a PDF attachment attempting to deliver Qbot malware. The NJCCIC advises users to exercise caution as tax season approaches and refrain from opening attachments, scanning QR codes or clicking links provided in emails, even those that appear to be sent from trusted contacts. Users can find additional information and resources in the NJCCIC Beware of Tax Scams product and the IRS Tax Scams article.

The U.S. redesignated the Houthi rebel group as a terrorist organization Jan. 17 in response to the organization’s ongoing drone and missile attacks on U.S. military ships and commercial vessels operating in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, calling the attacks “the textbook definition of terrorism,” said, "The designation is an important tool to impede terrorist funding to the Houthis, further restrict their access to financial markets and hold them accountable for their actions.” The declaration will take effect Feb.16 to give the U.S. time to limit the impact on Yemen’s residents. After Israel started bombing Gaza in retaliation for HAMAS’ Oct. 7 attack, the Yemen-based militants began launching missiles at Israel and attacking ships in the Red Sea. The U.S. and its allies countered the attacks by targeting Houthi-controlled sites in Yemen with airstrikes. The U.S. first designated the Iran-backed group a terrorist organization in January 2021; however, President Joe Biden quickly rescinded the order after taking office in an effort to end Yemen’s ongoing civil war.