Director, Counterintelligence 

 

 Current Terrorist 

 Threat Condition

NASA CI/CT MONTHLY NEWS UPDATE – December 16, 2014 

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: 

ISIS'S STAY-AT-HOME RADICALS 

Across Europe and America, governments and intelligence officials are 

struggling to address the problem of Western Muslims who join the jihad 

in Syria – and then come back home again. But in the process, they may 

be missing the bigger threat: the ones who never left. 

http://www.investigativeproject.org/4697/isis-stay-at-home-radicals#

PAKISTANI ARMY KILLS SENIOR AL QAEDA COMMANDER 

The Pakistani military said it killed Adnan Shukrijumah, a senior al Qaeda leader who 

was tasked with plotting attacks in North America, during a night raid in South 

Waziristan. Shukrijumah was a member of al Qaeda's external operations council and 

was involved in multiple plots to bomb targets in the U.S.

http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/12/pakistani_army_kills_1.php

Significant Counterintelligence Issues: 

FBI CHARGES SAUDI-BORN NAVAL ENGINEER OVER PLANS TO SINK 

AIRCRAFT CARRIER

A Naval engineer is facing espionage charges for allegedly giving an 

undercover FBI agent secret documents on a new aircraft carrier being 

built in Norfolk, Va. 

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/dec/6/fbi-charges-saudi-born-navalengineer-over-plans-s/#ixzz3L9kBvQ6J

CHINESE ENGINEER FACING CHARGES OF STEALING US FIGHTER F-35 DESIGN 

DATA 

(b) (6), (b) (7)(C) (b) (6), (b) (7)(C)
The new designs of the U.S F-35 would have been in Chinese hands but for the 

timely arrest of a Chinese national. Yu Long, an engineer aged 36, was charged on

9 December for stealing the documents from a defense contractor in Connecticut 

where he has been working. 

http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/575976/20141215/advanced-fighter-jet-f-35-chinese-national.htm

Significant Cyber Issues: 

CYBERSECURITY THREATS 2015: MORE ESPIONAGE, MORE APPLE MALWARE 

Cybercriminals will train their gaze on Apple more often next year. Attacks on OS X 

have begun to rise. Apple's security problems are compounded by its reputation as a 

"safe" platform. 

http://www.technewsworld.com/story/81432.html

COORDINATED CYBER ATTACKS ON GLOBAL CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE 

EXPOSED 

Coordinated attacks have been conducted by hackers based in Iran on more than 

50 targets in 16 countries around the globe. Victim organizations were found in 

a variety of critical industries, with most attacks on airlines and airports, energy, 

oil and gas, telecommunications companies, government agencies and 

universities. 

http://net-security.org/secworld.php?id=17709

Analyst Notes – Items to Watch:

 The overall CT threat situation facing the United States and NASA remains largely the same 

as last month. Although combat operations against ISIS in Iraq and Syria continue, ISIS has not 

ended their offensive operations and have actually continued to score combat successes in Iraq. 

Although ISIS dominates the headlines, the “stay at home Jihadist” poses a significant threat as 

well (i.e. “Lone-Wolf” attacks). The death of Adnan Shukrijumah, a historic Al-Qaeda (AQ) 

leader and operative will significantly reduce the threat of AQ “Central” towards the U.S. 

Homeland. AQ affiliates such as Boko Haram in Nigeria and Al-Shabab in Somalia have 

continued a deadly spree of attacks and show no sign of weakening. Foreign espionage operations 

against the United States, especially concerning military and dual use technology continues

unabated. Recent reporting concerning Iranian and North Korean cyber operations indicate that 

both countries have more advanced cyber capabilities than previously thought. 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:

Dryden Flight Research Center: 

Glenn Research Center: 

Goddard Space Flight Center:

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