Category: Counterintelligence

That Time Chinese Intelligence Tried to Recruit Me

Posted on by esimantiras

That Time Chinese Intelligence Tried to Recruit Me

source: substack.com (contributed by Artemus founder, Bob Wallace  |  image: pexels.com

 

How I found myself on the receiving end of a Chinese spy recruitment pitch and stumbled into the strange new frontier of AI-assisted espionage.

 

If you’ve ever thought your inbox was full of suspiciously good offers—say, a Nigerian prince asking for your bank details—you may be missing out on another opportunity: being recruited by a foreign intelligence agency.

Yes, I’m here to report that I was pitched by what can only be described as a Chinese intelligence operation masquerading as a hedge fund consultancy. After 20 years of writing about foreign intelligence operations, I found myself in the middle of one.

Let me set the stage: it all began innocently enough on May 21, with a direct message on X from “Mary Taylor.” Her firm, the Visionary Advisory Group, was exploring the possibility of conflict between China and Taiwan, and I was just the guy whose opinion they wanted to hear about it.

Now, I’m really not that guy. I have at best a rudimentary understanding of the tensions in the Taiwan Strait. Don’t ask me to explain the “One China” policy or “strategic ambiguity.”

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Cybersecurity Threats in Global Satellite Internet

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Cybersecurity Threats in Global Satellite Internet

 

 

source: cyberdefensemagazine.com  |  image:  pixabay.com

 

Internet via satellite was first used for military purposes in the 1960s and became available for wide-scale commercial use in the 1990s. Current satellite internet systems typically use low-orbit satellites and provide data transmission at low speeds due to limited bandwidth. Starlink, on the other hand, is a project developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX company and aims to provide a faster, more reliable and more comprehensive internet experience with low latency and high bandwidth through a high number of low orbit satellites.

The surge in satellite internet usage has opened up a new frontier for cybersecurity threats, ranging from sophisticated hacking attempts to disruptive denial-of-service attacks.

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FBI investigation details former CIA operative’s efforts…

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FBI investigation details former CIA operative’s efforts to help Qatar’s World Cup bid, influence US policy

source: wfin.com  |  image: pexels.com

 

An FBI investigation into alleged unlawful activity to help Qatar obtain World Cup 2022 hosting privileges may have extended further to help improve Qatar’s image in the U.S. and influence U.S. policy, according to an Associated Press report.

The initial investigation focused on former CIA officer Kevin Chalker’s work to help Qatar through alleged foreign lobbying, surveillance and exporting sensitive information to undermine the country’s rivals in bidding for the World Cup, according to individuals with knowledge of the investigation.

Chalker’s company Global Risk Advisors employed a number of methods, such as a Facebook “honeypot” trap, in which an attractive woman connected with a target, or someone posed as a photojournalist to keep tabs on one nation’s bid.

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Purdue honored for counterintelligence contributions

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Purdue honored for counterintelligence contributions

source: purdue.edu  |  image: purdue.edu

 

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — In an on-campus ceremony on Tuesday (Aug. 16), the U.S. Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) recognized Purdue University as one of four recipients of its Excellence in Counterintelligence (CI) Award for fiscal year 2020. Those chosen were among more than 10,000 contractors considered.

The honor places Purdue among the top universities in protecting sensitive national information from foreign adversaries and makes Purdue one of only two universities singled out twice to receive the award. Texas A&M University was also so honored.

Purdue was named as a recipient of the award in 2020, but the ceremony conferring the award was delayed by COVID.

Senior DCSA leaders selected the award winners based on the organizations’ CI/insider threat reports.

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