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Biweekly Homeland Security Insights for a Safer New Jersey |
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NJOHSP Wishes a Safe and Happy Thanksgiving to All!
 Recent Agency Announcements
NJOHSP, NJCCIC Encourage Vigilance for a Safe and Secure Holiday Season
NJOHSP and the New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell are reminding the public to remain vigilant for signs of physical and cyber threats targeting individuals, organizations, and businesses across the state during the upcoming holiday season. While there are currently no known specific or credible threats to New Jersey, additional information and resources can be found in the full press release.
NJOHSP Relaunches ‘See Something, Say Something’ Holiday Highway Campaign
 NJOHSP has once again partnered with the New Jersey Department of Transportation during the 2024 holiday season to display a reminder on digital billboards along the state’s highways asking the public to help keep the holiday season safe by reporting suspicious activity.
Somerset County Houses of Worship Receive ‘Stop the Bleed’ Training
On October 30, NJOHSP partnered with Somerset County to administer a STOP THE BLEED® training course to faith-based communities. Nine bleeding control kits were distributed at the completion of the training. Since the initiative was launched in March 2024, more than 1,000 bleeding control kits have been distributed to faith-based communities in New Jersey. Houses of Worship can register to receive a bleeding control kit utilizing the Houses of Worship Distribution Survey. NJOHSP’s initiative was funded through the Homeland Security Grant Program and is based on the national STOP THE BLEED® awareness campaign. For more information, please visit NJOHSP’s Houses of Worship Bleeding Control Kits web page.
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Authorities Arrest Extremist for Plotting Against the New York Stock Exchange
On November 20, federal authorities arrested Harun Abdul-Malik Yener, of Coral Springs, Florida, after he attempted to build an improvised explosive device (IED) to use in an attack against the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). According to the criminal complaint, Yener told law enforcement that he had experience building “rockets” and “bombs” and that he desired to join an anti-government militia. FBI agents searched Yener’s storage unit, which he also used as his residence, and found bombmaking sketches, watches with timers, electronic circuit boards, and other electronics that could be used for constructing IEDs.
According to the criminal complaint, Yener informed an undercover FBI agent that he planned to attack the NYSE the week of November 18, to create a “reboot” or “reset” of the U.S. government. Yener also asked an individual, who he believed to be part of a militia, to provide the explosive material for the IED. Furthermore, Yener sought to join the Boogaloo Boys and Proud Boys. However, both groups turned him down due to his desire to “pursue martyrdom.” Yener told law enforcement that ISIS attempted to recruit him in 2015 but decided not to join because he thought the organization would be unsuccessful in achieving its objectives.
Analyst Comment: NJOHSP assessed anti-government extremists as a moderate threat in its 2024 Annual Threat Assessment. Yener’s desire to target the NYSE to “reboot” the U.S. government exemplifies similar anti-government extremists who have sought to collapse society and express their opposition to government policies through threats or acts of violence. Anti-government extremists will typically cite a wide range of personal grievances and conspiracy theories to justify their motives. Common targets have included law enforcement, government institutions, and private-sector infrastructure that contributes to public safety.
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NJCCIC: ’Tis the Season for Infostealing
 Threat actors actively seek methods to conceal their identities in information-stealing campaigns, aiming to lure individuals into downloading malicious software or revealing sensitive information. One recent campaign infects Windows devices with Lumma Stealer and infects macOS devices with AMOS infostealing malware. Both infostealers can steal cookies, credentials, cryptocurrency wallets, credit cards, and browser history from many popular browsers. Read more on the latest New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell alert and advisory.
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Upcoming NJOHSP Webinars for NSGP-NSS Grant Applicants
NJOHSP will be hosting webinars regarding the Nonprofit Security Grant Program - National Security Supplemental (NSGP-NSS) on December 6 and December 13. The webinars are intended to provide insight on the proper submission of an application, including some of the new conditions imposed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The application period is currently open and will close on December 22, 2024.
Register now for a webinar:
Additional information about the NSGP-NSS is available on the NJOHSP Grants web page.
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NJOHSP-Coordinated Training
All NJOHSP-coordinated training courses are posted on the NJOHSP State Training Calendar. The calendar provides a course description, training location, target audience, and point of contact.
Cybersecurity Incident and Response Management Training
NJOHSP and the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) are offering the new PER371 – Cybersecurity Incident and Response Management course at the Emergency Operation Training Center in College Station, Texas. This three-day course, offered at no cost to participants, utilizes NIST 800-61r2 to introduce participants to the cyber incident lifecycle. Through the use of a cyber range, participants will acquire hands-on experience responding to simulated, real-world cyberattacks and gain a better understanding of the importance of information sharing during cyber incidents.
Target Audience: It is essential to have representation from cross-sector public and private entities who coordinate with emergency management to address local jurisdiction cybersecurity emergencies or disasters.
PER371 will be offered on the following dates:
- January 27-31, 2025
- February 17-21, 2025
- March 24-28, 2025
- May 12-16, 2025
- June 16-20, 2025
- August 11-15, 2025
Fall 2025 dates will be posted in the spring. For more information, please review the attached flyer. For registration information, please visit https://teex.org/class/per371/.
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Contact Information
For more information or to share feedback, please contact the Communications Bureau at communications@njohsp.gov.
The NJ Security Spotlight is a biweekly newsletter of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness and is intended to provide constituents with important agency updates, publications, and announcements. Please visit njohsp.gov/connect/nj-security-spotlight to read previous newsletters.
Report Suspicious Activity: Call 1-866-4-SAFE-NJ or email tips@njohsp.gov.
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