Chemical Facility Security News: Short Takes

Covert recording is easy, which is the problem. PenTestPartners.com article. Pull quote: “If you are running sensitive meetings, it is worth treating covert recording as a practical risk. Set expectations on recording, keep tighter control of visitors and unattended spaces, use suitable rooms for sensitive conversations, train staff on what to do if they suspect a device, and escalate concerns through a clear internal process. This is basic physical security hygiene, but it matters because the barrier to misuse is so low.”

Covid pandemic’s disruption of industrial activity drove surge in methane in early 2020s. ChemistryWorld.com article. Pull quote: “Methane levels in the atmosphere grew at over 16 parts per billion per year between 2020 and 2022, double the rate of increase in the years either side of the surge. Researchers previously suggested that the combination of an increase in natural methane emissions and fewer hydroxy radicals in the atmosphere drove the sharp increase,1 with each contributing equally. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas with a warming potential that is around 30 times greater than carbon dioxide over a 100 year period.”

Hacking Attack Leaves Russian Car Owners Locked Out of Their Vehicles. – Forta.com article. Summary: “Security-critical components need to be designed with the assumption that remote systems will fail at some point, whether due to accident or malicious attack. Having a graceful fallback that does not leave drivers stranded would be a good start.”

The Drone Wasn’t the Point: Escalation in the Age of Unmanned Probing. LinkedIn.com Pulse article. Pull quote: “Iran does not need to destroy a carrier to achieve its objectives. It needs to normalize close approaches, collect reaction data, stress command and control systems, increase the frequency of high-consequence decisions, and raise the probability of miscalculation over time.”

Tear gas and pepper spray can have lasting health effects. ScienceNews.org article. Pull quote: “But the long-term health risks are poorly understood. No large, systematic studies have investigated the health problems that emerge long after exposure to these chemicals, says Anthony Szema, chair of the American Thoracic Society’s Section on Terrorism and Inhalation Disasters. Some research, though, has painted a picture of enduring repercussions. For weeks and even months after the immediate moments of exposure, crowd control agents can continue to sabotage the organs that allow us to breathe, pump blood and even make life.”

Las Vegas bio lab raid possibly tied to California case, federal Chinese investigation. 8NewsNow.com article. Pull quote: “Shortly before 6 a.m., a Metro SWAT team served a search warrant at the home on Sugar Springs Drive near Washington Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard to search for a possible “biological laboratory” inside the home. A second location was also searched, but no lab was located.”

2025 Threat Report: Exploitation Grows Across IT, IoT, and OT. Forescout.com article. Pull quote:

“242 vulnerabilities were added to CISA KEV — a 30% YoY increase YoY.
"285 vulnerabilities were added to the Vedere Labs KEV — a 213% YoY increase.
"71% of exploited vulnerabilities were not in CISA KEV, indicating attackers continue to exploit issues not prioritized by major advisories.
"One of the most exploited vulnerabilities affected Langflow, showing AI development tools are prime targets as AI adoption grows.”