Monthly Archives: April 2020

Top Secret Colonials Gaming Marathon is Underway – Help Them Raise Money for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank

The Top Secret Colonials’ 48-hour Gaming Marathon in underway (April 17-19, 2020).  This year, the marathon is being held virtually since the COVID-19 pandemic does not allow for it to be held on campus.   You can find out more about the event and how you can participate here:
rmu.edu/tsc

The Top Secret Colonials have been hosting this event for seven years.  They normally raise money for various children’s charities, but this year, the group decided to raise money for an organization that is helping the people of Pittsburgh during this pandemic – The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.

The Tribune Review has published an article featuring this great event that has already raised over $3,000 for this cause!  Read the article here:
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/robert-morris-students-raise-money-for-food-bank-with-gaming-marathon/

Even if you do not want to participate in the gaming marathon, you can still contribute to the cause by donating directly to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank using the event’s GoFundMe page.  You can donate here:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/48-hour-virtual-gaming-marathon

Well done, Top Secret Colonials!

Online Speaker on April 21st – Intelligence Analyst Felipe De Vega discusses Jumping the Air Gap

The Top Secret Colonials are holding their third online presentation on Tuesday, April 21st at 1:00 pm. Students will be able to earn 1 hour of SET credit. Below you will find a link to Google Hangouts. You will need to click the link to join.

Intelligence Analyst Felipe De Vega who is with the Department of Defense Special Access Program Cyber Threat Intelligence Cell will present on Jumping the Air Gap.

Presentation Topic: Jumping the Air Gap

Information system owners and information security personnel have viewed the air (physical) gap between information systems as an effective mitigation to protect data exfiltration. This can include disparate networks, or disconnected stand-alone information systems.

Intelligence Analyst Felipe De Vega’s Bio

Department of Defense Special Access Program Cyber Threat Intelligence Cell

Felipe de Vega is an intelligence analyst with ManTech International Corporation and a retired career naval intelligence officer. He is a 1998 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and an honors graduate of National University.

At sea, de Vega served as air intelligence officer for Electronic Attack Squadron 131 (VAQ-131) onboard USS Constellation (CV-64) during Operation Southern Watch. He also served as air wing intelligence officer for Tactical Support Wing / Carrier Air Wing Reserve 20 (CVWR-20).

Ashore, de Vega led instruction for satellite imagery analysis courses at Fleet Intelligence Training Center, Pacific in San Diego. He was the operations officer of Joint Reserve Intelligence Center, New Orleans and served as red team leader and Navy intelligence doctrine developer at Navy Warfare Development Command in Norfolk, VA. Additionally, he completed National Capital Region tours at the Office of Naval Intelligence and U.S. Cyber Command.

In his current position, he provides intelligence and supply chain risk management assessments that support the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Air Force, and Navy Special Access Program systems accreditation.

Google Hangouts Meeting Information

Meeting ID
meet.google.com/ryw-yksr-hur

Phone Numbers (US)
+1 904-580-9686
PIN: 572 123 798#

Online Speaker on April 14th – Dr. Gary King discusses the Cyber Kill Chain

The Top Secret Colonials are holding their second online presentation on Tuesday, April 14th at 1:00 pm. Students will be able to earn 1 hour of SET credit. Below you will find a link to Google Hangouts. You will need to click the link to join.

Special Agent Dr. Gary King from the AirForce Office of Special Investigations will hold a virtual presentation on the Cyber Kill Chain. Below you will find information on the presentation and Dr. King’s bio.

Presentation Topic: Cyber Kill Chain

Each step in the cyber kill chain presents an opportunity for an adversary to get closer to the target and establish long-term persistent access. However, each step is an opportunity for the network security staff to detect, react, and mitigate the threat to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data and information systems.

Special Agent Dr. Gary King’s Bio

Dr. Gary King is a federal investigator with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) specializing in cyber crime and computer forensics. He has over 30 years of law enforcement and counterintelligence experience with more than 19 years of cyber crime and computer forensics experience.

Dr. King serves as the Chief, Cyber Security, AFOSI Special Projects, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, District of Columbia. During his AFOSI career, he has served as AFOSI’s cyber investigations and operations program manager, liaison officer to the National Cyber Investigations.

Google Hangouts Meeting Information

Meeting ID
meet.google.com/jqv-jzxg-qfp

Phone Numbers
(US)
+1 402-337-4224
PIN: 427 553 517#

Online Speaker on April 9th – Threat Actors and their Motivators

Dr. Al Wong from The MITRE Corporation, a government think tank, will be giving an online presentation on Threat Actors and their Motivators this Thursday, April 9th at 3:00 pm.  Students are able to earn 1 hour of SET credit.  This event is sponsored by the Top Secret Colonials (TSC).

Presentation Topic:  Risk Management – Threat Actors and their Motivators
It is not a matter of if but a matter of when an organization becomes the target of a cyber attack. As the cyber threat landscape evolves, the types of threat actors that attempt to undermine organizations’ cybersecurity grow increasingly diverse. Threat actors range from opportunistic hackers who are merely after bragging rights to highly skilled, nation-backed teams who launch sophisticated cyber attacks over prolonged periods of time. Effective risk mitigation thus relies heavily on identifying the types of threat actors that are likely to attack an organization’s information systems, as well as understanding the methods they are likely to use. This discussion introduces the various types of threat actors, as well as the sectors that are frequent targets.

Google Hangouts Meeting Information
Click the link below to attend the presentation on Thursday, April 9th at 3:00 pm.

Meeting ID
meet.google.com/nss-sohh-kty

Phone Numbers (US)
+1 484-854-3144
PIN: 712 788 397#

Dr. Al Wong’s Bio
Dr. Wong is a principle systems engineer with the The MITRE Corporation’s McLean Virginia headquarters where he secures and manages sensitive but unsecure (SBU) labs. He has 15+ years of experience in developing security architectures and security operations centers for the United States Federal Government as well as for private industry.

Mr. Wong is a Harvard University-trained cybersecurity analyst in managing risks in the information age. He holds a Doctorate degree in Information Systems and Communications, a Master’s degree in Information Management, and a Bachelor’s degree in Internetworking Technologies.

48 Hour Virtual Gaming Marathon – Benefits the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank

GamingMarathon2020

Steps to Sign Up for the Gaming Marathon

Spring 2020 Virtual Gaming Marathon | April 17-19 | 5PM – 5PM

A donation of $5 and advanced registration is required to participate for both Non-RMU and RMU Students

Time will be tracked through Discord to receive SET credit. Up to 48 hours will be given towards community service

Please make sure to review all rules and information here before filling out this form:  https://www.canva.com/design/DAD4RbzTbuQ/a05fs3tlwvMhxotEVwFqHg/view

Sign up today: https://forms.gle/ocgcxHXuewKXUJCW6

BEFORE FILING OUT THIS FORM, YOU MUST HAVE AT LEAST A DISCORD TAG!!
Discord account can be created here: https://discordapp.com/register
YOU NEED TO INCLUDE THE NUMBERS AFTER THE “#” SIGN

If you wish to stream on Twitch for the marathon and receive SET credit from your hours there, please provide your Twitch Channel User ID.

If you have any questions, please email: erkst198@mail.rmu.edu