Director, Counterintelligence 

 

 Current Terrorist 

 Threat Condition

NASA CI/CT MONTHLY NEWS UPDATE – November 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: 

PUTIN: 20 TERROR PLOTS FOILED IN RUSSIA THIS YEAR 

Intelligence agents have foiled 20 terror plots in Russia this year, 

President Vladimir Putin said recently, and asked officials to increase 

their efforts to prevent attacks. 

https://news.yahoo.com/putin-says-20-terrorist-plots-foiled-russia-115309155.html

FBI: DOZENS OF TERRORISTS HAVE USED ENCRYPTION TO HIDE 

FBI Director Comey has in recent months repeatedly asked tech companies to 

create products that allow law enforcement to access encrypted communications if they obtain a warrant, warning that strong encryption allows terror 

suspects to “plot in the dark”

http://www.nationaljournal.com/s/84344/fbi-dozens-terror-suspects-have-usedencryption-hide-from-law-enforcement?mref=home

Significant Counterintelligence Issues: 

IN RUSSIA SPY CASE, EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT MEMBER LOSES IMMUNITY

The European Parliament stripped one of its members of his immunity so 

Hungarian prosecutors can pursue an inquiry into whether he spied for 

Russia. A spokeswoman for the EU Parliament said she knows of no other 

immunity case in the assembly’s history involving espionage.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-14/in-russia-spy-case-europeanparliament-member-losses-immunity

REPORT: IRAN-BASED HACKERS SPY USING FAKE LINKEDIN PROFILES

A group of suspected Iranian hackers are using a sophisticated network 

of fake LinkedIn profiles to spy on unsuspecting targets worldwide --

including the U.S. -- according to a new report. 

http://www.secureworks.com/cyber-threat-intelligence/threats/suspected-iranbased-hacker-group-creates-network-of-fake-linkedin-profiles/

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Significant Cyber Issues: 

CHINA CYBERSPYING ON U.S. - AFTER NO-HACKING DEAL 

Three days after Obama and Xi Jinping signed a historic agreement to 

curb online economic espionage, the FBI issued a fresh warning about 

Chinese spies in U.S. corporate networks. China’s computer spies are 

still targeting hundreds of American companies working for the U.S. 

military, prompting an urgent warning from law enforcement officials. 

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/10/08/china-cyberspying-on-u-s-after-no-hacking-deal.html

KREMLIN’S TIES TO RUSSIAN CYBER GANGS SOW US CONCERNS 

The relationship between Moscow and Russian 

cyber gangs may be tightening, spurred by 

international sanctions and disputes with the 

United States over military action in Ukraine and 

Syria, experts and federal lawmakers warn. 

http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/256573-kremlins-ties-russian-cyber-gangs-sow-usconcerns?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=New%20Campaign&utm_term=%2ASituati

on%20Report

Analyst Notes – Items to Watch:

 The introduction of Russian forces into the Middle East has made a confusing situation 

chaotic. ISIS is not the primary target of Russian airstrikes and has actually been strengthened 

by Russian operations against other groups. A new study shows that ISIS led or inspired attacks 

have increased 42% in the last 90 days, showing that ISIS continues to inspire others to conduct 

terrorism operations. ISIS plots in the United States continue and the FBI and DHS believes that 

more “lone wolf” type attacks will be forthcoming. Conventional and cyber espionage continue 

unabated, despite signed international agreements. Both Russia and China continue their 

espionage offensives against the United States and other Western countries, often employing 

surrogate contractors to conduct the operations. The NASA CI/CT division continues to monitor 

these threats and any others 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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