In 1776, an elite group of soldiers were handpicked to serve as George Washington’s bodyguards. Washington trusted them; relied on them. But unbeknownst to Washington, some of them were part of a treasonous plan. In the months leading up to the Revolutionary War, these traitorous soldiers, along with the Governor of New York, William Tryon, and Mayor David Mathews, launched a deadly plot against the most important member of the military: George Washington himself.
This is the story of the secret plot and how it was revealed. It is a story of leaders, liars, counterfeiters, and jailhouse confessors. It also shows just how hard the battle was for George Washington and how close America was to losing the Revolutionary War. In this historical page-turner, New York Times bestselling author Brad Meltzer teams up with American history writer and documentary television producer, Josh Mensch to unravel the shocking true story behind what has previously been a footnote in the pages of history. Drawing on extensive research, Meltzer and Mensch capture in riveting detail how George Washington not only defeated the most powerful military force in the world, but also uncovered the secret plot against him in the tumultuous days leading up to July 4, 1776. Know more
Amaryllis Fox was in her last year as an undergraduate at Oxford studying theology and international law when her writing mentor Daniel Pearl was captured and beheaded. Galvanized by this brutality, Fox applied to a master’s program in conflict and terrorism at Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service, where she created an algorithm that predicted, with uncanny certainty, the likelihood of a terrorist cell arising in any village around the world. At twenty-one, she was recruited by the CIA. Her first assignment was reading and analyzing hundreds of classified cables a day from foreign governments and synthesizing them into daily briefs for the president. Her next assignment was at the Iraq desk in the Counterterrorism center. At twenty-two, she was fast-tracked into advanced operations training, sent from Langley to “the Farm,” where she lived for six months in a simulated world learning how to use a Glock, how to get out of flexicuffs while locked in the trunk of a car, how to withstand torture, and the best ways to commit suicide in case of captivity. At the end of this training she was deployed as a spy under non-official cover–the most difficult and coveted job in the field as an art dealer specializing in tribal and indigenous art and sent to infiltrate terrorist networks in remote areas of the Middle East and Asia. Life Undercover is exhilarating, intimate, fiercely intelligent–an impossible to put down record of an extraordinary life, and of Amaryllis Fox’s astonishing courage and passion
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The first volume introduced readers to ethics in intelligence operations. Published when the U.S. was conducting operations in the post-9/11 era, this book represents the first collection of articles to seriously study ethics for and about intelligence professionals. The second volume established the codes of conduct that professionals in the private and public sectors would employ that could be separate from those of their private lives. Ethics of Spying: A Reader for the Intelligence Professional, Volume 3 combines the best articles from the first two volumes. It’s reorganized into 5 parts, and it contains new articles that expand and explain further the meaning and dichotomy of a working professional in the intelligence community and the national security and civil liberties they are entrusted with safeguarding. New articles include Ethics of Human Intelligence Operations; Tension and Strategy: : Ethics Phobia; Tension and Strategy: Sources and Bypassing Strategies; Just Intelligence Theory; Ethics, Intelligence, and Preemptive and Preventive Actions; Speak No Evil; Using Private Corporations to Conduct Intelligence Activities for National Security Purposes; and Intelligence Research and Scholarship
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Former spy Maggie Bird came to the seaside village of Purity, Maine, eager to put the past behind her after a mission went tragically wrong. These days, she’s living quietly on her chicken farm, still wary of blowback from the events that forced her early retirement. But when a body turns up in Maggie’s driveway, she knows it’s a message from former foes who haven’t forgotten her. Maggie turns to her local circle of old friends―all retirees from the CIA―to help uncover the truth about who is trying to kill her, and why. This “Martini Club” of former spies may be retired, but they still have a few useful skills that they’re eager to use again, if only to spice up their rather sedate new lives. Complicating their efforts is Purity’s acting police chief, Jo Thibodeau. More accustomed to dealing with rowdy tourists than homicide, Jo is puzzled by Maggie’s reluctance to share information―and by her odd circle of friends, who seem to be a step ahead of her at every turn. As Jo’s investigation collides with the Martini Club’s maneuvers, Maggie’s hunt for answers will force her to revisit a clandestine career that spanned the globe, from Bangkok to Istanbul, from London to Malta. The ghosts of her past have returned, but with the help of her friends―and the reluctant Jo Thibodeau―Maggie might just be able to save the life she’s built.
For more infoA growing number of private equity funds are opening offices in the Gulf, hoping to deepen their ties with cash-rich sovereign wealth funds and families in the region as funding for buyouts has dried up elsewhere. While the Gulf had previously been a place where buyout groups would go to raise money to invest in other markets, increasingly they are looking to build teams on the ground, invest in local businesses and help develop the region’s asset managers, private equity funds and advisers said. Global fundraising for alternative investments, which include private equity, dropped 21% to $972 billion in the year to Nov. 1 from the same period a year earlier, according to research firm Preqin. Rising interest rates have pushed up the return investors can make in rival assets classes such as bonds.
Read moreThe Hoxhunt Challenge has unveiled alarming trends in employee susceptibility to phishing attacks, emphasizing the critical role of engagement in reducing human risk. The study, published today and conducted in 38 organizations across nine industries and 125 countries, revealed that 22% of phishing attacks in the first weeks of October 2023 used QR codes to deliver malicious payloads. The challenge categorized employee responses into three groups: success, miss and click/scan. Only 36% of recipients successfully identified and reported the simulated attack, leaving the majority of organizations vulnerable to phishing threats. The retail industry had the highest miss rate, with only 2 in 10 employees engaging with the benchmark, while legal and business services outperformed others in identifying and reporting suspicious QR codes.
Continue readingAustralia’s digital spy agency has identified China as the major backer of serious hacking against Australian companies and critical infrastructure. The Australian Signals Directorate, or ASD, Wednesday released its cyber threat report for the past year. It stated that serious attacks on federal government agencies or critical infrastructure that led to the “extensive compromise” of sensitive data have increased from two to five in the past year. The ASD report identifies China as a major conspirator, followed by Russia and Iran.
Read moreDirector-General’s introduction Not everyone you meet online is who they say they are. That won’t be news if you’re familiar with the messaging from our colleagues at the Australian Cyber Security Centre and Australian Federal Police about keeping yourself safe online. But ASIO’s interests are a little different. Our business is to identify those who are trying to recruit Australians with access to sensitive information in order to get them to commit acts of espionage or foreign interference. This includes foreign spies who are targeting online social and professional networking sites. That’s why this campaign is primarily aimed at Australians with access to sensitive information, such as those of you working in government, defence industry or academia. But our message is a cautionary tale for all Australians—be mindful of what personal information you choose to post online. You could be targeted for information that, if shared, could have serious consequences for Australia’s security, its economy or your business.
Continue readingWith data breaches, scams, and fraud becoming more common, it’s important to know how to stay secure when you’re searching for a job online. Unfortunately, people target job seekers to try and get their sensitive personal information. But being aware of these dangers and following a few key tips can help keep you safe. Renee Allison, Trust and Safety Analyst for SEEK, provides 5 tips for securely navigating the world of online job hunting.
Know moreThe October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by the Islamic militant group known as Hamas surprised and shocked the world. The sheer scale of the invasion and retaliation by Israel signals that the region has entered a new phase of conflict. It’s hard to watch, even from a safe distance, without wondering how and why people can be so barbarous. At JSTOR Daily, where educators are top of mind, we wonder how we can help teachers and all students of the world begin to understand the long, complicated history that led here. We hope the following stories and scholarship they’re based on provide some of the historical and cultural context that we all need to start conversations in the classroom and out.
Read morePasswords are a woefully insecure—and frustrating—authentication technology, but after decades of digital use, they’re ubiquitous. Recently, though, the global tech industry has been working to promote a simpler and more secure alternative known as passkeys. Along with its other initiatives to champion the login tech, Google announced today that it is launching a new version of its Titan hardware authentication keys that can store passkeys directly on the device. For most people on most accounts, passkeys are managed directly from a smartphone or laptop. But for anyone seeking an alternative, either because they prefer a stand-alone key for ease of use or because they want maximum security separation, storing passkeys on a hardware token is a valuable option. The new Titan keys are available now and can store more than 250 unique passkeys. They are replacing Google’s existing USB-A and USB-C Titan devices.
Know moreOpen Source Intelligence (OSINT) has undergone a remarkable evolution. Once a tool primarily in the arsenal of military and intelligence agencies, OSINT has now become a ubiquitous part of our digital life, extending its reach into civilian realms such as journalism, business, and law enforcement. This blog post traces the history of OSINT, explores its transition from military to civilian applications, and highlights its growing significance in various fields. The Military Origins of OSINT OSINT’s roots can be traced back to military and intelligence operations. During the World Wars, nations relied heavily on openly available information — newspapers, radio broadcasts, and public records — to gather intelligence about enemy movements and strategies.
Read moreThe annual report of the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) is produced to meet parliamentary reporting requirements and to provide information to stakeholders and the community about the Institute’s work. The information contained in this report is provided to inform the Australian Government, members of parliament, state and territory agencies, grant recipients, award winners, consultants, students of crime and criminal justice, potential employees and the public.
Read the reportAs the final instalment in our series on Hamas, we’re looking at how the organization manages its money. Hamas has a multifaceted governance structure that includes political, military, and social branches. Several leaders assume financial responsibilities within this structure, while numerous external financiers also play a crucial role in facilitating the group’s financial flows. Much like any other organization, however, Hamas has not been immune to issues of financial mismanagement — including instances of corruption and theft. Examining fund management is important because it offers critical insights into the operations and sustainability of Hamas. Furthermore, many of the group’s leaders and financiers have been sanctioned, shedding light on the international community’s disruption techniques and the organization’s ability to adapt to changing circumstances.
Read the reportThe devastating Hamas attack surprised Israel and represented a massive failure for its intelligence services. A collection of CSIS experts examine different aspects of this failure. Jessica Davis explores the failure to detect the attack’s financing, decades after 9/11 made terrorist financing a priority. Tricia Bacon argues that the failure likely occurred because Israel failed to properly understand Hamas’s intent. Emily Harding contends that Israel may have relied too much on technology in its monitoring of Gaza. Finally, Daniel Byman assesses the overlap between intelligence and policy failures, both driving factors for the future of the conflict.
Read the full pieceArtificial intelligence has brought huge changes to every industry and cybercrime is no different. According to our recent threat intelligence, modern technologies are increasingly being used by attackers to write malicious code and to craft highly persuasive phishing emails. It won’t be long before we can expect to see the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled malware, the development of document forgery, and the rise of disinformation campaigns, among other things. Companies in almost every industry are looking to make the most of AI to support their own operations and cyber criminals are also jumping on the bandwagon, with AI becoming an integral part of the work of malicious attackers. To protect against such threats, businesses need to be aware of the types of attacks cyber criminals can use AI technologies for.
Read the full pieceBloomberg Quicktake is a global streaming news network for a new generation of leaders and professionals. Our coverage spans your whole world, from your career ambitions to your personal passions and larger societal concerns. We provide the insights you need to make sense of the trends and stories changing your business and your world. When a Chinese spy was arrested in Belgium in 2018, FBI agents also got hold of his iPhone. Here’s how it offered invaluable insight, explains Alex Webb. “Xu’s main job was stealing defense and aviation innovations from firms such as General Electric.
For more informationA mysterious Russian offers Catalonia’s president $500 billion and 10,000 armed soldiers to make the break from Spain and create a cryptocurrency haven. This in the days running up to an historic vote to declare independence from Spain. In this episode, Nick Wallis talks with journalists Antonio Baquero, Marc Marginedas and Lorenzo Bagnoli on how they tracked down the man pro-independence leaders called “Putin’s envoy” across Spain, Italy, and Russia — unveiling his past as a Russian diplomat with a history of representing the Kremlin. We also hear from Institute for Statecraft senior fellow Nico de Pedro on how Russia used Catalonia’s independence movement in an attempt to destabilize Spain, as well as how ordinary Catalans felt when interference from the Kremlin was revealed. Dirty Deeds is a Little Gem production for OCCRP. The host is Nick Wallis. The producers were Lindsay Riley and Ollie Peart, with research from Phoebe Adler-Ryan and Riham Moussa, at Rethink Audio.
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