From the NJ Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness

Vigilance Is Key To Keep NJ Holiday Events Safe. The New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (NJOHSP) and its cybersecurity division, the New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell (NJCCIC), urge the public to stay alert for signs of physical and cyber threats that target individuals, organizations and businesses across the State. Public Gatherings Remain Attractive Targets.

Restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic continue to ease, and crowds of all sizes will have the opportunity to attend indoor and outdoor gatherings this year. A multitude of holiday-themed events scheduled across the State, as well as increased crowds at retail establishments, can be attractive targets for those who wish to harm others.

Although there are no known credible threats to New Jersey at this time, the “See Something, Say Something” message remains pertinent to thwarting potential incidents. “The holiday season is filled with moments to cherish along with our loved ones, but those with nefarious intentions can take advantage if we let our guards down,” said NJOHSP Acting Director Laurie R. Doran. “While we enjoy all that this time of year has to offer, let’s not lose focus of the key steps that keep us all safe and secure. I ask everyone to do their part and alert the proper authorities to activity that seems out of the ordinary.”

NJOHSP offers numerous resources to help identify and report terrorism-related suspicious activity on its website. A list of 15 terrorism indicators, details about the New Jersey Suspicious Activity Reporting System and various posters and brochures that inform communities about the need to recognize and report suspicious behavior are all available at https://www.njhomelandsecurity.gov/njsars. The public can also find a recently released video that reinforces the role each person plays in preventing the next terrorist attack on the webpage. Faith-based communities should remain cognizant that houses of worship are still extremist targets. Religious leaders preparing services for holiday observances and other functions can learn the best ways to protect their congregations and facilities on NJOHSP’s Interfaith webpage at https://www.njhomelandsecurity.gov/interfaith. Anyone who observes suspicious activity should immediately contact local law enforcement or NJOHSP’s Counterterrorism Watch Desk at 1-866-4-SAFE-NJ (1-866-472-3365) or tips@njohsp.gov.

Cybersecurity Paramount for Online Shoppers

Shopping online is often quick and easy, but it also comes with significant risk if users are not careful. Accounts and devices that lack strong security settings are as enticing as a doorbuster deal for cyber criminals. Over the past few years, individuals and businesses have increasingly fallen victim to cyber attacks, including ransomware. Compromised or spoofed websites, unsecured Wi-Fi networks, gift card scams, phishing schemes and spoofed emails are more than mere inconveniences; they often result in data theft and large financial losses. “Consumers shopped online at a record pace last year, and experts are forecasting an uptick in this activity for 2021,” said NJCCIC Director Michael Geraghty. “Making cybersecurity a top priority is an effective way to limit vulnerabilities to cyber attacks that are mostly preventable. Customers who focus on cyber best practices, such as being wary of links and attachments in emails, taking caution with social media ads, avoiding public computers and public Wi-Fi and enabling multi-factor authentication wherever possible, will ensure their holiday shopping experience is more cyber secure.”

Supply chain issues have also caused shipment and delivery delays this year, resulting in scams that try to dupe nervous shoppers into opening links or attachments infected with malware. Given the volume of e-commerce shopping, cybercriminals will continue their efforts to target online shoppers for financial gains.

The NJCCIC’s updated annual holiday report, Stay Cyber Safe This Holiday Season, lists common attack vectors and recommendations to combat threats this holiday season at https://www.cyber.nj.gov/…/stay-cyber-safe-this-holiday….

Users experiencing cyber incidents can report them to the NJCCIC via the Cyber Incident Report form at https://www.cyber.nj.gov/report. Signing up for an NJCCIC membership at https://www.cyber.nj.gov/members comes at no cost and provides alerts and advisories, bulletins, training notifications and other updates on the latest cyber activity and best practices.

For more information on staying safe this holiday season and year-round, visit njohsp.gov and cyber.nj.gov