Director, Counterintelligence 

 

 Current Terrorist 

 Threat Condition

NASA CI/CT MONTHLY NEWS UPDATE – October 2015 

This monthly newsletter is published to increase NASA personnel awareness of significant current 

issues related to counterintelligence, counterterrorism, and counterintelligence cyber matters. To 

learn more about CI/CT awareness, or to schedule a CI/CT presentation, please contact the CI 

POC located on the last page. 

Significant Counterterrorism (CT) Issues: 

DESPITE ATTENTION TO ISLAMIC STATE, AQ MAY BE BIGGER THREAT 

Recently, the Sunni jihadi group calling itself Islamic State has gained the 

lion’s share of attention given to violent Islamic extremist groups by the 

military and the media. But a new report suggests that Al-Qaida (AQ) may 

very well remain the bigger long-term threat. 

http://www.tbo.com/list/military-news/altman/despite-attention-to-islamic-state-alqaida-may-be-bigger-treat-report-says-20150920/

THE ISLAMIC STATE’S SUSPECTED INROADS INTO AMERICA

Over the past two years, U.S. authorities have charged 64 men and women 

around the United States with alleged Islamic State activities. This trend 

has accelerated over the past twelve months and shows no sign of slowing. 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/national/isis-suspects/ 

Significant Counterintelligence Issues: 

ACCUSED RUSSIAN AGENT PLEADS GUILTY IN U.S. OVER TECH SMUGGLING 

A Texas man, whom U.S. authorities said was a Russian agent and a central 

figure in a scheme to illegally export microelectronic components for use by 

Russia's military and spy agencies; pled guilty on 9 September 2015 to all of 

the charges against him. 

http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/09/09/usa-russia-fishenko-idINKCN0R92DR20150909

 

 

 

EXCLUSIVE: MURDER, MONEY, AND SPIES 

The Epoch Times has been investigating the shadowy organizations behind 

the Chinese regime’s cyber-attacks. It has exposed the structure of China’s 

spy organizations and how they developed a system to steal innovation from 

the West. 

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/murder-money-and-spies/

(b) (6), (b) (7)(C) (b) (6), (b) (7)(C)
Significant Cyber Issues: 

RUSSIA: 7-YEAR CYBER WAR AGAINST NATO, EU & US BY KREMLIN 

SPONSORED HACKERS “THE DUKES” EXPOSED 

Cybersecurity researchers have uncovered a state-sponsored Russian 

hacking group named "The Dukes" that has allegedly carried out attacks 

against foreign governments and organizations over a seven year period. 

A new report, details how cyber-attacks were launched to support 

Russian intelligence gathering. 

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/russia-7-year-cyberwar-against-nato-eu-us-by-kremlin-sponsored-hackers-dukesexposed-1520065

U.S.: CHINA CYBER ESPIONAGE PUTS ‘ENORMOUS STRAIN’ ON TIES 

Cyber espionage for economic gain by China is putting "enormous strain" 

on U.S.-China relations and needs to stop, the President’s national security 

adviser said on 21 September 2015. China was urged to join the U.S. in 

promoting responsible forms of state behavior in cyberspace. 

http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/pentagon/2015/09/21/us-china-cyberespionage-puts-enormous-strain-on-ties/72580452/

Analyst Notes – Items to Watch: 

 ISIS as an organization has shown tremendous resilience in the face of U.S. and allied 

bombing attacks, as well as Iraqi and Syrian Army actions. Its success has bred a steady stream 

of new reinforcements, including an increasing number of U.S. and Western recruits. ISIS plots 

in the United States have shown no sign of declining and the FBI believes that more “lone wolf” 

type attacks will be forthcoming. Although cyber espionage is on the rise from nation states 

competing with the U.S., conventional espionage and illegal technology transfer continues 

through “old fashioned” espionage efforts. It also appears that the cyber espionage onslaught the 

United States faces has been going on long before U.S. experts first detected it. The NASA 

CI/CT division will continue to monitor these threats and any others that emerge in the future 

that have the potential to harm NASA or its equities. 

NASA CI Offices:

Ames Research Center:

Armstrong Flight Research Center:

Glenn Research Center: 

Goddard Space Flight Center:

Jet Propulsion Laboratory:

Johnson Space Center: 

Kennedy Space Center:

Langley Research Center:

Marshall Space Flight Center:

NASA Headquarters:

Stennis Space Center: 

(b) (6), (b) (7)(C) (b) (6), (b) (7)(C) (b) (6), (b) (7)(C) (b) (6), (b) (7)(C) (b) (6), (b) (7)(C) (b) (6), (b) (7)(C) (b) (6), (b) (7)(C) (b) (6), (b) (7)(C) (b) (6), (b) (7)(C) (b) (6), (b) (7)(C) (b) (6), (b) (7)(C)