Director, Counterintelligence 

 

 Current Terrorist 

 Threat Condition

NASA CI/CT MONTHLY NEWS UPDATE – June 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: 

ISIS VICTORIES DISPEL HOPE OF A SWIFT DECLINE 

In the past two weeks, the Islamic State has proven its resilience once 

again. Last weekend it solidified its hold on Iraq’s Anbar Province with 

a carefully choreographed assault on the regional capital, Ramadi. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/24/world/middleeast/with-victories-isis-dispelshope-of-a-swift-decline.html?_r=0

LONE-WOLF TERROR ATTACK COULD COME AT ANY TIME: DHS SECRETARY 

A lone-wolf terrorist could attack the United States at any time, 

Homeland Security Secretary Johnson warned recently. 

http://nypost.com/2015/05/11/lone-wolf-terror-attack-could-come-at-any-timehomeland-security-secretary/

Significant Counterintelligence Issues: 

WOMAN IN DUPONT ECONOMIC ESPIONAGE CASE PLEADS GUILTY

A woman accused along with her husband and former DuPont engineers of stealing 

trade secrets and selling them to China, has pleaded guilty to a related charge. 

Authorities say the woman and her husband paid retired DuPont engineers thousands 

of dollars for sensitive company documents about how to make a white pigment 

known as titanium dioxide. 

http://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2015/05/06/woman-in-dupont-economic-espionage-casepleads-guilty

CHINESE PROFESSORS AMONG SIX CHARGED WITH ECONOMIC ESPIONAGE

Two Chinese professors, who for years worked as engineers in the U.S., are 

among six Chinese nationals accused by federal prosecutors of economic 

espionage. They were sponsored by their home government in the alleged 

theft of radio frequency filter technology developed by two U.S. companies. 

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/05/19/china-espionagetechnology/27570735/

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Significant Cyber Issues: 

SPEARFISHING: A NEW WEAPON IN CYBER-TERRORISM 

Spear phishing and its evolutions like the “watering hole” attack represent 

one of the most insidious attack techniques adopted by the majority of threat 

actors in cyber space. According to the experts at Trend Micro security firm, 

spear phishing is the attack method used in some 91 percent of cyber-attacks. 

http://resources.infosecinstitute.com/spearphishing-a-new-weapon-in-cyber-terrorism/ 

ARE WE EXAGGERATING CHINA’S CYBER THREAT?

So how much should we worry about China’s cyber capabilities? Not much, 

according to a professor’s new policy brief, published by Harvard 

University’s Belfer Center. Public record on U.S. and Chinese cyber 

capabilities remains scant, but the professor suggests that the U.S. is gaining 

an “increasing advantage,” evidenced by a new DARPA program launched in 

2012, and the use of the Stuxnet worm against Iran. 

http://thediplomat.com/2015/05/are-we-exaggerating-chinas-cyber-threat/

Analyst Notes – Items to Watch:

 The reports of the decline of ISIS have turned out to be extremely premature. Western 

indecisiveness and lack of effective military resistance, coupled with recent ISIS offensives have 

led to significant ISIS successes in both Syria and Iraq. In addition, the widespread use of social 

media by ISIS has resulted in new recruits flocking to their cause; as well as an increased threat 

of “lone wolf” attacks against the West, including the United States. Although Al Qaeda (AQ) 

has not had the “flashy” success of ISIS as of late, AQ continues to have success in Syria 

through their affiliate Al-Nusra and in Yemen, with battlefield victories as well as expanded 

membership. Economic espionage against the United States has yielded the Chinese a treasure 

trove of advanced technology, with some being gathered by agents (old school) and some being 

stolen via computer networks. 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:

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