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Coordinating with our cross-sector partners in public safety, Titan Security is currently monitoring the following protests and special events in the Chicago area. The current situation remains extremely fluid, and we recommend stakeholders remain alert and informed.

Anticipated Demonstrations and Special Events

Notes/Analysis

* = One in a series of national/ethnic parades during warm-weather months

** = Anticipate multiple large-scale protests and demonstrations related to pending U.S. Supreme Court abortion ruling

*** = Large-scale protests and counterprotests anticipated on May 14; multiple gatherings and marches may combine into one location

Safety Tips Near/During Protests

As always, if you “See Something, Say Something.” For life-threatening emergencies, call 911. To report suspicious activity, call 855-RPRT-2-S4 (855-777-8274).

About Titan Security Group

Titan launched in 1994 with a vision for a better way to provide security services to the Midwest. Today, Titan is one of the largest security companies in North America, scheduling approximately 80,000 hours per week, employing more than 2,000 security staff, and have enjoyed over twenty-seven consecutive years of successfully serving our clients across a wide range of industries. Titan delivers results to clients through flexible, customized security solutions, and superior customer service. The Titan approach combines traditional security staffing with electronic security systems to provide integrated, efficient, and customized safety and security solutions from a single source.

In collaboration with our cross-sector public safety partners, Titan Security is currently monitoring the following special events and public demonstrations. The following notes are from a special public safety conference call held by Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s office on Tuesday May 3, 2022 regarding recent developments in downtown Chicago and upcoming events happening in the city.

Hosted by:

Call Notes:

Question Responses:

About Titan Security Group

Titan launched in 1994 with a vision for a better way to provide security services to the Chicagoland community. Today, Titan is one of the largest security companies in North America, scheduling approximately 80,000 hours per week, employing more than 2,200 security staff, and have enjoyed over twenty-eight consecutive years of successfully serving our clients across a wide range of industries. Titan delivers results to clients through flexible, customized security solutions, and superior customer service. The Titan approach combines traditional security staffing with electronic security systems to provide integrated and efficient, customized security solutions from a single source.

In collaboration with our cross-sector public safety partners, Titan Security is currently monitoring the following special events and public demonstrations.

Anticipated Activity

Notes/Analysis

* = Potentially disruptive to evening pedestrian and vehicle traffic around Ogilvie train station

** = Likelihood of counterprotesters is significant for this event

*** = Imminent SCOTUS decision resulting in very large increase in abortion-related demonstrations

**** = One in a series of national/ethnic parades along Columbus or State during warmer months

Safety Tips Near/During Protests

As always, if you “See Something, Say Something.” For life-threatening emergencies, call 911. To report suspicious activity, call 855-RPRT-2-S4 (855-777-8274).

About Titan Security Group

Titan launched in 1994 with a vision for a better way to provide security services to the Midwest. Today, Titan is one of the largest security companies in North America, scheduling approximately 80,000 hours per week, employing more than 2,000 security staff, and have enjoyed over twenty-seven consecutive years of successfully serving our clients across a wide range of industries. Titan delivers results to clients through flexible, customized security solutions, and superior customer service. The Titan approach combines traditional security staffing with electronic security systems to provide integrated, efficient, and customized safety and security solutions from a single source.

As has been widely reported in the media, there is a heightened cyber threat due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. A range of Russian governmental and nongovernmental entities have been observed taking preparatory steps for offensive computer actions targeting Western infrastructure. While there is no specific and credible threat to the Chicago real estate community from the most recent information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS), staying alert to such attacks is of the utmost importance for all organizations regardless of industry.

There are steps that all organizations can take in assuring they are following the best methods to avoid cyber threats to their operations. First, for your reference, review documents from the DHS regarding protecting vital internal components known as building automation systems (BAS) or supervisory control and data acquisition systems (SCADA).

Second, verify and update your emergency contacts. Cyber-attacks are often intentionally launched on weekends or holidays to maximize confusion within the targeted organization. It is vital that all staff have access to an updated list of after-hours phone and email contacts for key operational leadership.

Finally, please share information about potential threats with your information technology (IT) professional and/or your engineers or engineering contractors. Not only are these professionals responsible for large segments of your cyber infrastructure, but they have also been specifically targeted in spearphishing attacks seeking to compromise these systems.

As outlined by the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), there is a three-step process to help organizations improve their resilience and reduce vulnerability against such attacks: Prepare, Mitigate, Respond.

Prepare

Mitigate

CISA recommends critical infrastructure organizations apply the following mitigations to defend against potential future threats and prevent severe functional degradation if the organization falls victim to a ransomware attack.

Respond

Step 1: Should your organization become a victim of ransomware, CISA strongly recommends implementing your cyber incident response plan by using the checklist below. Be sure to move through the first three steps in sequence.

Step 2: Determine which systems were impacted and immediately isolate them.

Step 3: If and only if you are unable to disconnect devices from the network, power them down to avoid further spread of the ransomware infection.

Step 4: Assign impacted systems for restoration and recovery.

Step 5: Confer with your team to develop and document an initial understanding of what has occurred based on initial analysis.

Step 6: Engage your internal and external teams and stakeholders with an understanding of what they can provide to help you mitigate, respond to, and recover from the incident. Strongly consider requesting assistance from a third-party incident response provider or CISA.

If no initial mitigation actions appear possible:

Step 7: Take a system image and memory capture of a sample of affected devices. Additionally, collect any relevant logs as well as samples of any “precursor” malware binaries and associated observables or indicators of compromise. Note: take care to preserve evidence that is highly volatile in nature—or limited in retention—to prevent loss or tampering.

Step 8: Consult federal law enforcement regarding possible decryptors available, as security researchers have already broken the encryption algorithms for some ransomware variants.

About Titan Security Group

Titan launched in 1994 with a vision for a better way to provide security services to the Midwest. Today, Titan is one of the largest security companies in North America, scheduling approximately 80,000 hours per week, employing more than 2,000 security staff, and have enjoyed over twenty-seven consecutive years of successfully serving our clients across a wide range of industries. Titan delivers results to clients through flexible, customized security solutions, and superior customer service. The Titan approach combines traditional security staffing with electronic security systems to provide integrated, efficient, and customized safety and security solutions from a single source.

“Thought Leadership” by Tom Henkey, CEM
Director of Emergency Management

Given what has taken place between March 2020 and March 2022, you may be forgiven if you can’t quite recall what “normal” was like.

After all, the past two years have seen a massive international disruption in the form of a viral pandemic, driving a global economic recession. We’ve had widespread civil unrest and mass demonstrations, extreme weather patterns, plus unprecedented political violence in our nation’s capital. And now we have the largest conflict in Europe since World War II (on top of simmering civil wars in Syria, Yemen, and Ethiopia).   

“The only thing constant is change” is a maxim for a reason. After an extended period of relative stability, we seem to be living in very unsettled times. And there appear to be no immediate solutions to these widespread foreign and domestic crises.

There are many, many different lenses through which to examine these challenges. Political. Public health. Financial. International relations. Cultural. Societal. And this would merely scratch the surface.

Yet from a strategic organizational perspective there is one striking commonality: the status quo is not a fixed point. In other words, change has been the one constant over the past 24 months. The organizations and entities which have adapted and evolved during this period have been those which enjoyed relative success. Organizations which were overly rigid in their perceptions or actions have been those which suffered the most.

If we are to truly take the long view, the most valuable lesson from these volatile times may be the importance of understanding that status quo is not the norm. In other words, we cannot presume that the most critical factors in our operation are fixed and unchanging. On the contrary, we should be looking at how large-scale disruptions in one part of our operations may impact the whole. Preparedness and flexibility are emerging as invaluable traits.

The recent Russian aggression in Ukraine is a prime example. The two nations had been involved in a significant border dispute since Russia seized and annexed the Crimean peninsula in 2014, and started a proxy war leveraging Russian-speaking Ukrainian citizens in the eastern portion of the country. The situation was deeply disruptive locally and cost thousands of human lives, but its significant impacts did not extend beyond the immediate region.

That all changed in the last week of February when Russian artillery shells screamed across the border into Ukraine, followed by columns of tanks and armored personnel carriers. A regional conflict very suddenly became the world’s problem. Locally, the status quo did not hold.

Germany openly provided lethal aid and weapons systems to Ukraine, its first such international shipment in at least three decades. Finland and Sweden are now publically considering joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to bolster their defenses against Russian aggression. More than one million refugees streamed out of war-torn Ukraine into neighboring states in just one week of conflict. Regionally, the status quo did not hold.

Sanctions and massive financial penalties were quickly leveled against Russia, from across the political and geographic spectrum. Alliances which stood unchallenged for decades suddenly shifted as the clear and obvious aggressor faced pariah status at the United Nations. In an already unsettled global market, oil and grain prices skyrocketed as two key producers and distributors actively fired shells at one another. Internationally, the status quo did not hold.

The real lesson for organizations large and small is that a distant conflict can have massive impacts on local, regional, and international levels. This interconnectedness is what makes global political and economic systems resilient and functional (most of the time). It also means that any organization that failed to prepare for an alternate shipping route, alternate grain supply, or a spike in fuel costs was going to be in for a true and lasting shock.

We don’t yet know if we have truly turned a corner on the COVID pandemic. We can’t be sure that we have seen the worst of the civil unrest or political violence here in the U.S. We cannot be positive about how the outcome of the invasion of Ukraine will affect long-term commodity prices and availability.

But we can be assured that change is a constant. And we can be certain that organizations truly preparing for shocks and disruptions will fare better in the long term.

The continuous threat of cyber attacks on essential services, public safety and business systems remains at a high level as many organizations across the country have been impacted by incidents in the past few years. Foreign governments, like Russia, have used these cyber attacks as a key component in their objectives which has led to disabled or destroyed critical infrastructure.

Many of these cyber attacks have come with the assistance of tactics featuring misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation (MDM) to shape public opinion, undermine trust, amplify division, and sow discord. In connection with these objectives, suspicious links and phishing emails surrounding information classified as an MDM have been utilized to gain valuable information of individuals and organizations around the world.

The United States’ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recently released detail on what steps can be taken by all persons to mitigate foreign influence that targets critical infrastructure and personal information. The action steps explained by CISA around developing a plan to combat these MDM tactics can be broken down into five stages: Assessment, Identification, Fortification, Engagement and Development.

Assessing the Information Environment

If there are specific MDM topics that are impacting your business sector, evaluating them and the impact they can have on your operations is the first step to understanding the potential threat. Next, learn how and where your stakeholders and customers receive information. By using these channels to understand what information they are taking in and how you can communicate with them, better allows you to respond to MDM activity and act as the trusted information source. Lastly, always be monitoring any changes to activity related to your sector or even your own organization. Be on the lookout for unusual changes such as a sudden increase in tags, followers, search inquiries, or other increases in contacts to your organization.

Identifying Vulnerabilities

Once any threats have been assessed, attention should then turn to what vulnerabilities could be exploited by these MDM tactics. CISA recommends thinking about common questions or points of confusion that people have about your sector or operations and then establish a criterion around evaluating the severity of such attacks.

 

Meanwhile internally, educate staff on securing any personal accounts including social media so they are aware what information is visible. Also, remind them to practice smart email hygiene and avoid clicking on or sharing any suspicious links that could make them or the organization vulnerable.

Hackers assist in surveillance or reconnaissance and provide opportunities for destructive attacks. Hijacking accounts and defacing public
facing sites can be used to influence public opinion. Organizations should be aware of cyber risks and take action to reduce the likelihood and impact of a potentially damaging compromise.

Fortify Communications Channels

Having a well thought out communication plan before MDM incidents occur can be the difference in how much you are impacted by such an event. Establish clear communication channels with stakeholders, employees, and customers to make verified sources clear and easily accessible. Ensure that these channels are well secured, have multi-factor authentication enabled and that unauthorized persons do not have access to post to those channels.

Engage in Proactive Communication

Engaging with clear, consistent, and relevant communications with the appropriate audiences is an effective way to maintain security, build public confidence and get ahead of any MDM threats that may exist. Encourage the use of professional networks and other organizations to amplify this messaging, resulting in a strong network of trusted voices within the sector. You will also want to use this time to look at ways to improve your communication including utilizing new platforms and opportunities to expand your reach.

Develop an Incident Response Plan

If your organization is impacted by any MDM tactics, it’s vital a plan is in place to respond to such situations. Establish a point person to oversee the process and any associated crisis communications. Other roles and responsibilities for ensuring a successful plan include responding to media inquiries, issuing public statements, internal communications, engaging stakeholders, implementing additional security measures.

While building this plan, consider what the current coordination processes are for identifying potential MDM incidents, controlling the information surrounding subject, and the channels utilized to position your organization as a trusted voice.

TRUST Method from the CISA

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shields Up Guidance for All Organizations from CISA

CISA recommends all organizations—regardless of size—adopt a heightened posture when it comes to cybersecurity and protecting their most critical assets. To learn more on preparing for foreign influence tactics, visit CISA’s report on all the steps that can be taken here: https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/cisa_insight_mitigating_foreign_influence_508.pdf

For more information on additional actions organizations and individuals can take to ensure they are not the victim of a cyber-attack, visit www.cisa.gov/shields-up.

About Titan Security Group

Titan launched in 1994 with a vision for a better way to provide security services to the Chicagoland community. Today, Titan is one of the largest security companies in North America, scheduling approximately 80,000 hours per week, employing more than 2,500 security staff, and have enjoyed over twenty-eight consecutive years of successfully serving our clients across a wide range of industries. Titan delivers results to clients through flexible, customized security solutions, and superior customer service. The Titan approach combines traditional security staffing with electronic security systems to provide integrated and efficient, customized security solutions from a single source.

On Saturday January 15, a 44-year old British national took four members of a Texas synagogue hostage, demanding the release of a prisoner serving 86 years for trying to kill American military officers while she was in custody in Afghanistan. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of over 250 local, state and federal law enforcement members, along with the bravery and quick-thinking of the four hostages, the standoff ended after 11 hours with none of the victims harmed.

While authorities have identified no specific or credible threat to the Chicago area, officials have reminded the public of the Department of Homeland Security’s “See Something. Say Something.” campaign to work towards preventing future threats from happening both nationally and abroad. Titan stands with the DHS’s message and includes such messaging in all local activity and protest reports, reminding citizens to be aware of their surroundings for the safety of themselves and others.

The FBI, the National Counterterrorism Center, and the DHS jointly released a booklet featuring a broad list of indicators that may demonstrate the likelihood of someone engaging in terroristic activity titled Homegrown Violent Extremist Mobilization Indicators. Risk factors begin with four specific situations to be aware of:

Beyond these four risk factors, there are more than four-dozen other indicators sorted into various groups depending on their severity. Here are some of the most vital things to be aware of and to potentially report:

Group C (long-term concern)

Group B (near-term concern)

Group A (imminent concern)

Additional indicators can be found via the Homegrown Violent Extremist Mobilization Indicators booklet. As always, if you “See Something, Say Something.” For life-threatening emergencies, call 911. To report suspicious activity, call 855-RPRT-2-S4 (855-777-8274) in the city of Chicago or Cook County.

About Titan Security Group

Titan launched in 1994 with a vision for a better way to provide security services to the Chicagoland community. Today, Titan is one of the largest security companies in North America, scheduling approximately 80,000 hours per week, employing more than 2,000 security staff, and have enjoyed over twenty-eight consecutive years of successfully serving our clients across a wide range of industries. Titan delivers results to clients through flexible, customized security solutions, and superior customer service. The Titan approach combines traditional security staffing with electronic security systems to provide integrated and efficient, customized security solutions from a single source.

In cooperation with our cross-sector safety partners, Titan Security is monitoring the events around the 2022 Lollapalooza Music Festival, set to be held Thursday July 28 through Sunday July 31. The following information includes street closures, primary entrances, peak traffic times, and additional precautions being taken by public sector departments:

Dates: July 28-31, 2022

Street Closures: Columbus from Roosevelt to Monroe. Monroe from Michigan to DuSable Lake Shore Drive. All east-west streets from Monroe to Roosevelt; Michigan Ave to Columbus

Primary Entrances: Ida B. Wells and Michigan; Columbus and Monroe

Show Times: Gates open at 11:00am, with last act ending at 10:00pm nightly

Peak Entry Times: 2:00pm to 5:00pm

Peak Exit Times: 9:00pm to 11:00pm

Attendance Count: Estimated at 100,000 per day

Weather Forecast: Sunny with highs in upper 70s/low 80s all four days; adjacent underground parking garages designated as severe weather shelters 

Chicago Police Department: Extra resources on site, including bike teams, drones, etc.

Chicago Fire Department: Extra resources on site, including bike teams (plus private ambulances)

Public Works: Extra resources on site, including prepositioned salt trucks and snow plows

For Emergencies: Call 911; Non-emergencies call 311

Map of Events:

Safety Tips Near/During Large Events

As always, if you “See Something, Say Something.” For life-threatening emergencies, call 911. To report suspicious activity, call 855-RPRT-2-S4 (855-777-8274).

About Titan Security Group

Titan launched in 1994 with a vision for a better way to provide security services to the Midwest. Today, Titan is one of the largest security companies in North America, scheduling approximately 80,000 hours per week, employing more than 2,000 security staff, and have enjoyed over twenty-seven consecutive years of successfully serving our clients across a wide range of industries. Titan delivers results to clients through flexible, customized security solutions, and superior customer service. The Titan approach combines traditional security staffing with electronic security systems to provide integrated and efficient, customized security solutions from a single source.

In cooperation with our cross-sector safety partners, Titan Security is monitoring the events around the 2022 Chicago Triathlon, set to be held on Sunday August 28. Streets throughout the downtown Chicago area will be closed beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday August 27. Closures for the Chicago Triathlon will conclude at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday August 28. These closures will impact high traffic areas including Lake Shore Drive, Wacker Drive and the area around Millennium Park and Grant Park.

Safety Tips Near/During Large Events

As always, if you “See Something, Say Something.” For life-threatening emergencies, call 911. To report suspicious activity, call 855-RPRT-2-S4 (855-777-8274).

About Titan Security Group

Titan launched in 1994 with a vision for a better way to provide security services to the Midwest. Today, Titan is one of the largest security companies in North America, scheduling approximately 80,000 hours per week, employing more than 2,000 security staff, and have enjoyed over twenty-seven consecutive years of successfully serving our clients across a wide range of industries. Titan delivers results to clients through flexible, customized security solutions, and superior customer service. The Titan approach combines traditional security staffing with electronic security systems to provide integrated and efficient, customized security solutions from a single source.

In cooperation with our cross-sector safety partners, Titan Security is monitoring the events around the 2022 Chicago Marathon, set to be held on Sunday October 9. Streets throughout the downtown Chicago area will be closed beginning Monday October 3. Closures for the Chicago Marathon will conclude at 6:00 a.m. on Monday October 10. These closures will impact high traffic areas including Lake Shore Drive, Wacker Drive, Michigan Avenue and the area around Millennium Park and Grant Park.

FROM CHICAGO OEMC:

City of Chicago officials and Bank of America Chicago Marathon organizers are reminding the public in advance of Marathon weekend that street closures in the Grant Park area will begin on Monday, October 3. 

Traffic Impacts/Street Closures 

With street closures prior to and during the race, those traveling throughout downtown, and the various neighborhoods should allow extra time, expect delays, or consider alternate routes–such as the expressway system–to avoid the impacts of the marathon on Sunday, October 9 along with the Abbott Chicago 5K on Saturday, October 8. 

Monday, October 3 

Wednesday, October 5 

Thursday, October 6 

Friday, October 7 

Saturday, October 8 

Sunday, October 9 

Note: All streets, except Balbo from Columbus to DuSable Lake Shore Drive will be fully reopened by Monday, October 10 at 6 a.m. 

Race day street closures along the route will begin at approximately 7 a.m. on Sunday, October 9 and are anticipated to be reopened by 4:30 p.m. or when it is deemed safe to do so. Visit link for Bank of America Chicago Marathon Street Closures and Route. 

Abbott Chicago 5K Street Closures on Saturday, October 8 

Motorists and residents can also expect street closures for the Abbott Chicago 5K. For race details, visit Chicago5K.com. The following streets will be closed to traffic between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. on October 8.

Marathon Map

To view the full 2022 Chicago Marathon course and map, click here.

Public Transportation 

As always, public transportation is encouraged if heading to the Marathon or other destinations in the impacted areas. For more information on CTA services and reroutes, visit TransitChicago.com or call 836-7000 from any area code/1-888-YOUR-CTA. Metra will offer extra service on race day. For specific schedule information, visit Metra.com. The City has worked with licensed Transportation Network Providers (TNP rideshare services) to ensure that pick-up and drop-off locations are available throughout the city, in geo-fenced areas that are a safe distance off the route. 

Emergency, Traffic and Weather Notifications 

OEMC will continue to monitor the event in collaboration with public safety partners and the Chicago Police Department will enforce race day restrictions along the route as well as facilitate traffic. OEMC will issue any alerts and notifications needed to keep residents and attendees up to date on street closures, weather conditions and emergencies.  Sign up for NotifyChicago alerts at NotifyChicago.org. For businesses, OEMC also issues text alerts as well, to opt in for CHIBIZ alerts TEXT “CHIBIZ” to 6-7-2-8-3. 

Safety Tips Near/During Large Events

As always, if you “See Something, Say Something.” For life-threatening emergencies, call 911. To report suspicious activity, call 855-RPRT-2-S4 (855-777-8274).

About Titan Security Group

Titan launched in 1994 with a vision for a better way to provide security services to the Midwest. Today, Titan is one of the largest security companies in North America, scheduling approximately 115,000 hours per week, employing more than 3,000 security staff, and have enjoyed over twenty-eight consecutive years of successfully serving our clients across a wide range of industries. Titan delivers results to clients through flexible, customized security solutions, and superior customer service. The Titan approach combines traditional security staffing with electronic security systems to provide integrated and efficient, customized security solutions from a single source.