Point(s) of Contact
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DoD Hotline
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SOURCE: Federal News Network by Justin Doubleday – October 18, 2024
The Pentagon didn't introduce any groundbreaking changes in the final Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification rule, but CMMC observers say the Defense Department made several key updates and definitions to help companies as they work to comply with the requirements.
Meanwhile, industry groups are now turning their attention to potential challenges with implementing the CMMC requirements through the contracting process.
The Defense Department published the final CMMC rule in the Federal Register earlier this week. The rule establishes the underlying processes and governance for the contractor certification program.
As many expected, the final rule maintains the three tiers of the CMMC requirements, and the certification program's alignment with National Institute of Standards and Technology cyber standards.
SOURCE: CNN by Associated Press – November 5, 2024
This undated photo provided by the U.S. Marshals Service shows Leonard Francis, also known as "Fat
San Diego (AP) - Former military defense contractor Leonard "Fat Leonard" Francis was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in prison for masterminding a decade-long bribery scheme that swept up dozens of U.S. Navy officers, federal prosecutors said.
U.S. District Judge Janis L. Sammartino also ordered Francis to pay $20 million in restitution to the Navy and a $150,000 fine, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office. He was also ordered to forfeit $35 million in "ill-gotten proceeds from his crimes," the statement said.
Prosecutors said the sentence results from Leonard's first guilty plea in 2015 concerning bribery and fraud, his extensive cooperation with the government since then, and another guilty plea Tuesday for failing to appear for his original sentencing hearing in 2022.
Shortly before he was due to be sentenced in September 2022, Leonard cut off a GPS monitor he was wearing while under house arrest and fled the country. He was later arrested in Venezuela and brought back to the U.S. in December 2023.
SOURCE: Barron's by AFP - Agence France Presse – October 31, 2024
Latvia on Thursday sentenced a taxi driver to seven years' jail for passing images and information about NATO troops to a ring accused of spying for Russia.
According to the Latvian security services, Sergejs Sidorovs "used his discreet appearance and his profession as a taxi driver to move around and take photos of NATO ships and cargo unloaded in the port of Riga, as well as to spy on NATO bases and their multinational personnel".
The Riga court heard that in March 2023 Sidorovs passed on reports of various NATO activities around Riga as he was hired at the airport to drive military personnel to two bases, among other acts.
SOURCE: Cleveland Jewish News – October 31, 2024
The Times of Isreal: Illustrative: Police officers in Jerusalem on October 11, 2024 (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
Israeli authorities have arrested a married couple from central Israel on suspicion of carrying out espionage for the Islamic Republic.
Rafael and Lala Guliyev, both 32 years of age, from Lod, were taken into custody after an investigation by the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and Israel Police revealed they had been in direct contact with an Iranian intelligence operative.
The duo allegedly tracked sensitive security installations and conducted surveillance on a prominent defense researcher.
Prosecutors were expected to file charges on Thursday.
According to investigators, Rafael Guliyev was recruited by Elshan (Elkhan) Agayev, 56, an Azerbaijani-born operator known to be working for Iranian intelligence as part of a network targeting Israeli citizens of Caucasus origin.
SOURCE: Select Committee on the CCP house.gov by AUTHOR – October 31, 2024
Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party called on the University of Michigan to close its joint institute with the PRC institution Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Shanghai Jiao Tong University has helped drive China's military modernization and intelligence capabilities, including by contributing to the development of nuclear weapons, carrier rockets, nuclear submarines, and fighter jets.
In September, Chairman Moolenaar unveiled findings of an investigation into American universities' collaboration with China: 'CCP on the Quad: How American Taxpayers and Universities Fund the CCP's Advanced Military and Technological Research.' As a result of these findings, schools like U.C. Berkeley and Georgia Tech have begun the process of shuttering their research partnerships with Chinese schools. But the University of Michigan has not taken action to address the national security risks posed by its joint institute with a Chinese defense-linked university.
The University of Michigan also hosts students from Shanghai Jiao Tong University on its campus as part of the ongoing joint institute, posing an espionage risk. This past month, five of these students were charged for lying to federal investigators after they trespassed onto a U.S. National Guard installation.
SOURCE: FTC Consumer Advice
Scammers pretend to be from government agencies like the FTC, Social Security Administration, and IRS — or say they're calling about your Medicare benefits. They contact you and say that, if you don't pay or give them your personal information, something bad will happen. Or maybe you'll miss out on some government benefit. But it's a scam. Learn the signs and avoid the scam.
The FTC will never threaten you, say you must transfer your money to "protect it," or tell you to withdraw cash or buy gold and give it to someone. That's a scam. Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
A government impersonation scam often starts with a call, email, text, or social media message from someone who says they're with a government agency. They might give you their "employee ID number" to sound official. And they might have information about you, like your name or home address.
SOURCE: NSA
Threats to mobile devices are more prevalent and increasing in scope and complexity. Users of mobile devices desire to take full advantage of the features available on those devices, but many of the features provide convenience and capability but sacrifice security. This best practices guide outlines steps the users can take to better protect personal devices and information.
SOURCE: CISA - Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency
During the holiday season, criminals will try to scam us with too-good-to-be true deals or even fake charities. Their tactics typically include malicious links that install malware on our devices or fraudulent websites that can steal our money or even our identities.
The good news is that Secure Our World has tips to protect you and your family, friends and business from these scams.
Share our "12 Days of Safe Holiday Online Shopping" tips with your community! Download our social media toolkit today.
Let's look at what we know and ask some questions: