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Biweekly Homeland Security Insights for a Safer New Jersey |
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Recent Agency News
New Jersey Experiences Historic Increase in UAS-Related Suspicious Activity Reporting
NJOHSP, through proactive initiatives, robust information-sharing, and the enhancement of collaborative relationships with federal, State, and local law enforcement partners and the private sector, worked throughout this past year to mitigate threats and enhance preparedness statewide. These efforts and the strategies they entail – such as community vigilance, information sharing and analysis, and collaboration – were put to the test in late 2024 as the state and NJOHSP observed a historic spike in the reporting of suspicious unmanned aerial system (UAS) sightings. This spike began in mid-November and continued into late December.
The FBI, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released a joint statement in December, reporting the FBI received more than 5,000 drone sighting reports with approximately 100 leads generated. The reports prompted federal support for State and local investigations, though no security risks or credible threats were identified. The statement also emphasized that in the U.S., over one million drones are registered with the FAA, including commercial, hobbyist, and law enforcement drones, and their numbers are expected to rise. Despite some sightings near military facilities, the DoD is actively coordinating with authorities to manage airspace security, and federal, state, and local governments, including NJOHSP, are urging legislators to support counter-UAS legislation, which would expand resources for state and local law enforcement.
Ultimately, the public was instrumental during this event in the process of reporting suspicious activity. The reports of potential drone sightings were crucial in alerting authorities and offering a comprehensive understanding of the situation. NJOHSP encourages the public to continue participating in its "See Something, Say Something" campaign. This initiative promotes a vigilant, informed, and proactive community, significantly enhancing the safety and security of New Jersey.
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'See Something, Say Something' Program Helps to Ensure State Security
NJOHSP oversees a statewide system which is used to receive, investigate, and evaluate reports of suspicious activity with a nexus to terrorism or targeted violence. These suspicious activity reports (SAR) are received daily from the public, as well as from law enforcement, government agencies, transportation entities, retailers, and entertainment venues. Voluntary reporting from the public is one of NJOHSP's most important sources of information and vital to the mission of counter-threat mitigation. Of the thousands of reports received on a yearly basis, one quarter of the reports are from the public, who chose to "see something" and "say something." Each of these tips is carefully reviewed and evaluated by NJOHSP and FBI personnel, and many of them have resulted in complex investigations and arrests.
While many citizens are familiar with the phrase "See Something, Say Something," NJOHSP provides further clarification through a 40-minute presentation that covers specific behavioral indicators that may be suspicious or threatening and how to report them effectively. The "See Something, Say Something" presentation is available to first responders, volunteer organizations, community groups, colleges, businesses, and State or municipal departments. To schedule a presentation, please email NJOHSP's Intelligence Management Bureau at intelmgt@njohsp.gov. Visit NJOHSP’s website for more information on New Jersey's "See Something, Say Something" campaign, including recent examples of SAR success stories.
To report suspicious activity in New Jersey, please contact NJOHSP's 24/7 Counter-Threat Watch Unit at 866-4 SAFE-NJ (866-472-3365) or tips@njohsp.gov.
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NJCCIC: 2024 Key Cybersecurity Takeaways
 The New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell (NJCCIC) reflects on the cyber threats experienced over the past year to strategize cyber defenses for the year ahead. Here are some key highlights:
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Ransomware: Throughout 2024, ransomware continued to evolve and grow despite the significant impact of Operation Cronos, which dismantled LockBit's ransomware operations. Ransomware trends include data exfiltration, extortion without encryption, and primarily targeting small and medium-sized businesses.
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Critical Infrastructure: Attacks upon critical infrastructure and operational technologies continued to advance throughout 2024. American Water Works Company, based in New Jersey, was attacked in October with a focus on its internet-facing assets. American Water said water and wastewater services appeared unharmed during the attack.
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Election Interference: Numerous attempts were made to interfere with the 2024 elections around the world. Romania released a report stating that its election infrastructure was the target of over 85,000 cyberattacks. Credentials for Romanian election sites were stolen and leaked onto a Russian hacker forum a few days before the first round of the presidential election. The U.S. also experienced various attempts at election interference leading up to this year’s presidential election. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the FBI released a joint statement warning citizens about a fabricated video that depicted mailed ballots in Pennsylvania being destroyed before the election.
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Looking to the Future: Threat actors continue to find new and innovative attack techniques. A well-informed team that includes users and information security is essential to maintain a strong line of defense against incoming attacks. Effective communication, training, and defense-in-depth will help keep systems and information secure throughout 2025 and beyond.
For more in-depth insights into the 2024 Key Cybersecurity Takeaways, visit the NJCCIC website.
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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.
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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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