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Cipher Brief
Highlights and Exclusives
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TODAY'S OPEN
SOURCE COLLECTION -- DHS puts the white supremacy threat to national security
back in the headlines; the UK's Prime Minister gives it a final go on
Brexit
ahead
of an Oct
31 deadline;
North
Korea
fires a missile hours after announcing new talks with the United
States. According to Cipher Brief expert Joseph DeTrani, moves like this
are part of the North Korean playbook and an indicator of Kim Jung Un's hubris; Iran has charged and sentenced
four men for spying
for the U.S. and Britain; and here's something worth
keeping an eye on - Jihadists in Mali killed 25 soldiers and
another 60 are missing. The jihadists are believed to be linked to al Qaeda.
Your full
Open Source Collection Brief is below.
RUSSIA'S
ASYMMETRIC THREAT: AN EXPERT BRIEF -- The U.S. has issued new economic sanctions against seven individuals
linked to a Russian internet troll factory.
The sanctions were announced Monday with Secretary of State Mike
Pompeo calling them a warning to foreigners seeking to
interfere in U.S. elections.
Moscow has effectively used a number of low-cost, asymmetric tactics against the U.S. in what national security leaders
call an overall effort to sow chaos and instability in the
country. Disinformation has been
another favored tactic.
The
Cipher Brief
spoke with our expert John Sipher, who retired from the CIA in
2014 after a 28-year career in the Agency’s national clandestine
service which included time in Moscow, and running CIA’s Russia operations.
Read Russia's Asymmetric
Threat: An Expert Brief only in The Cipher Brief
ICYMI --
PUTIN'S ASSASSINATION PROGRAM -- AN UNDERCOVER BOOK REVIEW -- The former director of the
CIA's Defector Resettlement Operations Center, Joseph
Augustyn reviews the new book The Compatriots:
The Brutal and Chaotic History of Russian Exiles, Emigres and Agents
Abroad, detailing, among other things, the origins of
the Russian assassination program.
Read A History of Putin's
Assassination Program, only in The Cipher Brief
THE
WHISTLEBLOWER AND WATERGATE -- OPINION -- Former Acting Director of
the CIA John
McLaughlin takes
no personal position on impeachment but offers his opinion on
the whistleblower story and asks whether there is a Senator Hugh Scott in 2019?
Read Are We Headed for a
Watergate Moment by Cipher Brief expert and former Acting
Director of the CIA John McLaughlin
ANNOUNCEMENTS
--
STAY TUNED FOR
INSIDER THREATS -- We'll
soon be posting upcoming details about The Cipher Brief and CNBC talking Insider Threats in San Francisco in early November. You'll be
able to find all the information you need right here in the
coming days.
OSINT TRAINING
ON THE WAY -- The Cipher Brief is proud to
partner with Gates Defense for an
in-person, two-day training course on Open Source Information,
November 18 and 19 in Atlanta. Watch here for registration
details or send an email to Editor@thecipherbrief.com if you're interested.
Seats will be limited.
THE CIPHER
BRIEF'S 2020 THREAT CONFERENCE FOCUSES ON FUTURE THREATS -- There are a LIMITED number of seats available
for what has become the country's premiere national security
conference.
Join
dozens of Cipher Brief experts, in Sea Island, GA
March 22-24 as we discuss cyber to AI to big data to
changes in the global geopolitical order. How should we be preparing
for what comes next? Seats are extremely limited. Apply for yours today.
SPOOKSTOCK: The mostly secret
Spookstock rock concert featuring a clandestine battle of the
bands
and a top-secret
celebrity headliner is happening SOON. We can't tell you when,
because its 'need to know', but if you 'need to know', email samculper@spookstock.org.
NARROWING THE
DIVIDE -- Join SAPNS2 on October 30 in Tyson’s Corner for NS2 Now. Cipher Brief CEO
& Publisher Suzanne Kelly will be moderating a session at this
annual conference focused on addressing the gaps – between data and
capabilities, industry and government, cloud and security, and
critical infrastructure and cyber risks. The event is free for government and
regulated industries. Find out more.
**Have an
announcement to share? Send an email with 'Daily Newsletter' in
the subject line to Editor@thecipherbrief.com
**Are you
getting the unique, experienced insights that you need when it comes
to national and global security issues? The Cipher Brief
delivers perspective you can't find anywhere else on the biggest
national security issues of the day. Is there a better way
to spend just $10 a month? Become a member today.
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Our
cyber recommended reads of the day:
(ZD Net) The dark web's latest
offering: Disinformation as a service
(SC Magazine) Lawmakers advance
bills that would add to DHS’ cyber responsibilities
CYBERSECURITY
STRATEGIES FOR BUSINESS -- Join us on Monday, October 7 at 2p EST as we talk with former
Deputy Commander, U.S. Cyber Command and former Director of the
Defense Intelligence Agency, Lt. Gen.Vincent Stewart
(Ret.) about
Cyber Strategies for Business. This briefing is open to Cyber Initiatives Group
Members.
DIRECTOR OF
DHS' CYBERSECURITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY AGENCY --
Christopher
Krebs joins
us Monday,
October 28 at 1p EST to to talk about the latest cyber threats, and the resources that CISA provides to help businesses deal
with them. Have your questions ready.
**If your
company provides security solutions in the cyber domain, you need to
be a part of The Cipher Brief's Cyber Initiatives Group where experts
provide thought leadership, share best practices and discuss
cutting-edge technology to address current and future threats.
This valuable series of high-level briefings keeps you consistently
connected on issues that impact your security and your bottom line.
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Because it seems harder than ever today to find
relevant headlines on what's happening outside of Washington D.C.,
The Cipher Brief is pleased to share our latest open source
information on the stories that help you understand what's coming.
The Lead
Homeland
Security Says White Nationalism a Threat to Security.
The Department of Homeland Security published a document recently
that dictates the threat to national security by white
supremacy. Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin
McAleenan said, “I would like to take this opportunity to be direct
and unambiguous in addressing a major issue of our time. In our
modern age, the continuation of racially based violent extremism,
particularly violent white supremacy, is an abhorrent affront to the
nation.” The department is displaying a new vigilance in
combating race based violence and adapting to prevent domestic
terrorism. The New York
Times
The Americas
Cuba: Better Relationship with United States
Irreversible.
Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla said Tuesday that
the improved relationship with the United States is
irreversible. The comments come in response to the Trump
administration’s attempts to tighten restrictions with
Cuba. “I would describe myself as extremely optimistic,”
Rodríguez said. “There’s a historical trend that’s
irreversible.” NBC News The
Associated Press
Peru:
Government in Flux. Both the president and vice
president of Peru claimed to be the legitimate leader on Tuesday
creating a political crisis in the country. The situation
worsened Monday when President Martín Vizcarra dissolved Congress and
called for election accusing the body of stalling the passage of
political reform. Congress responded by suspending Vizcarra and
swearing in Vice President Mercedes Aráoz causing instability in the
national government. The New York
Times The Wall
Street Journal
Western Europe
United Kingdom: Boris Johnson to Submit Final Brexit
Offer Before EU Summit. Prime
Minister Boris Johnson is expected to lay out the details of his
final Brexit offer on Wednesday calling it a “fair and reasonable
compromise.”. With less than a month until the October 31
deadline the future of Brexit is uncertain. Johnson says
that Britain will leave the E.U. if the latest proposal is
rejected. BBC CNBC The Guardian
Central and Eastern
Europe
Russia: Meeting with Iran Planned. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian
President Hassan Rouhani met on Tuesday in Armenia. The leaders
planned to discuss the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and the
controversy ongoing around the Strait of Hormuz. "We will
discuss bilateral issues, about the JCPOA, about the regional
situation, including the Syrian Arab Republic," Putin
said. Rouhani said that relations with Russia "have
reached an unprecedented level of frankness.” Reuters
Asia
China: National Day Celebrated with Military Display. China’s Communist Party celebrated 70 years of
rule on Tuesday. “No force can shake the status of our great
motherland,” President Xi Jinping said. “No force can obstruct the
advance of the Chinese people and Chinese nation.” The parade
included a display of military strength and economic and
technological advancements. In contrast to the celebration
in China protests continued in Hong Kong with police attempting to
suppress the protests with rubber bullets. CNN The New York
Times The
Washington Post
China:
Protestor Shot During National Day Protests.
Hong Kong police shot a protester with live ammunition for the first
time on Tuesday. The incident happened during protests held in
Hong Kong during China’s National Day celebration. Tens of
thousands of protesters gathered across six areas to mark a “national
day of grief.” The police officer shot an
eighteen-year-old high school student in the chest after another
officer was attacked. Commissioner of Police Stephen Lo said
the use of a live round was “lawful and reasonable” and the student
was being treated at a local hospital. The Guardian The New York
Times South China
Morning Post
North Korea:
Missile Fired After New Talks Announced. North
Korea fired at least one projectile on Wednesday just hours after
announcing a new round of talks with the United States that are
scheduled for Saturday. The projectile was launched toward
waters near Japan. BBC CNBC
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