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Hear @powa-sec.bsky.social on the Cyber Defenders Podcast talking about the Roadmap to Community Cyber Defense, and how cyber experts can work with state and local governments to protect our community organizations. #CyberCivilDefense #Take9 limacharlie.io/podcast?wcha...

#CyberResilienceCorps #CyberCivilDefense #Take9

Telecom Bust Near the UN Reveals New National Security Vulnerability Experts warn the takedown underscores a blind spot in U.S. defenses: telecom networks as contested terrain in hybrid conflict.

A recent SIM farm bust of ~100k SIMs near the UN shows how telecom is now a major national security risk. As Jake notes, addressing this requires “better info sharing, better detection tools, and no more SMS for sensitive logins.”
www.thecipherbrief.com/telecom-bust...

Cyber Civic Engagement - Aspen Policy Academy Check out our new training program that transforms individuals into effective cybersecurity policy advocates.

🛡️ Everyone can protect their communities from cyber threats. #CyberCivilDefense

Join @aspenpolicyacademy.bsky.social new #CyberCivicEngagement training, developed with support from @craignewmark.bsky.social

📅 Oct 23 & Nov 20 | Free & Virtual
🔗 Register: aspenpolicyacademy.org/cyber-civic-...

4/ Christian's experience includes penetration testing, securing cloud and industrial control environments, and supporting risk-management and vulnerability-assessment efforts.

#CyberCivilDefense #CyberResilienceCorps #Take9

3/ Bio: Christian is President of DC256, the largest DEF CON group in Alabama. He is also Co-Ambassador of Huntsville Hack The Box, the only Hack The Box community meetup in the state focused on hands-on hacking and defense training.

2/ Christian shares why the DEF CON Franklin community means so much: "Being part of a community where water utility staff and hackers collaborate makes volunteering especially meaningful."

1/ Volunteer Spotlight Series:
Our volunteer spotlight series kicks off with Christian Clark!

Christian is passionate about bringing hacker expertise to strengthen water system security. 🥤💻 #CyberCivilDefense #Take9

3/ That’s why we're mobilizing volunteers nationwide: to help small & rural utilities defend their systems for free.

Learn more at defconfranklin.com

#CyberResilienceCorps #CyberCivilDefense #Take9 #DEFCONFranklin

2/ Even the smallest towns in America are targets for adversaries. As founder Jake Braun says, "We talk to folks, and they're like wait, why would anybody want to hack us?... I think (with) all the news about water utilities being hacked, they're coming around pretty quick.”

How a small Vermont town is protecting its water from hackers NPR's Jenna McLaughlin got an inside look at how one small Vermont town is protecting its water from hackers.

1/💧New from @npr.org:

Cybersecurity isn’t just a big-city problem. Small and rural water systems are under threat of attack, and programs like
Franklin and the #CyberResilienceCorps are helping towns like Cavendish, VT. #CyberCivilDefense #Take9

Read here: www.npr.org/2025/09/08/n...

7/ “Like Franklin’s fire brigades saved cities from burning, we can stop cyberattacks before they poison our water.” — Jake Braun
👉 Learn more / get involved: defconfranklin.com
#CyberResilienceCorps #CyberCivilDefense #Take9 #DEFCONFranklin

6/ Jake’s ask to water system operators at #WaterPro:
• Sign up with your water system
• Tell a neighboring utility
• Share your biggest cyber pain points
• Help spread the word so Congress & funders move now

5/ Franklin is already active in IN, OR, UT, VT with solid reviews - and we’re expanding to even more states and utilities with our new nationwide model for water cybersecurity:

4/ Think Ben Franklin’s first volunteer fire brigades, but for water cybersecurity: trained volunteers matched with utilities, focused on practical basics first (MFA, backups, passwords), then scaling up.

3/ Enter @projectfranklin.bsky.social
: a partnership between
NRWA, University of Chicago Harris Cyber Policy Initiative, and
@defcon.bsky.social
to boost cyber resilience at water utilities for free.

2/ Most small & rural systems don’t have full-time cybersecurity staff. Waiting for funding and hiring to catch up could take years. Communities need protection now.

1/ 💧 At the #WaterPro25 Conference, DEF CON Franklin founder Jake Braun laid it out plainly: America’s 50,000 water systems keep families safe—but hackers, ransomware gangs, and even foreign adversaries are targeting them.

Inside one town's efforts to prevent cyberattacks at water treatment plant NPR gets an inside look at how one small Vermont town is protecting its water plant from hackers.

“I’m the only door between the Iranians and our water system.”

Powerful reporting by @npr.org @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social on how Franklin - and volunteer Tim Pappa - are stepping in to help water operators defend against foreign cyber threats. #CyberCivilDefense #Take9

www.npr.org/2025/09/08/n...

💧 What do DEF CON Franklin volunteers actually do?
🔹 Tier 1: Cyber basics (passwords, MFA)
🔹 Tier 2: OT inventory, account securement, malware defense
🔹 Tier 3: Ongoing monitoring & remediation
Free help. Real impact. 👉 defconfranklin.com #CyberCivilDefense

City systems in St. Paul went down after a cyberattack & recovery took days.
For small water utilities, the risks are even higher. Don’t let this happen to you. The Cyber Resilience Corps & DEF CON Franklin can help keep your taps safe. #Take9
www.govtech.com/security/st-...

You can’t secure what you can’t see.
CISA's new OT guide is a great place for water systems to start.
👉 Contact DEF CON Franklin now to get free cyber assistance for your water system.
#CyberCivilDefense #CyberResilienceCorps #Take9
www.cisa.gov/resources-to...

Cybersecurity for Small Water Systems: Why Every Tap Matters Close the Cyber Gap. Volunteer Where It Matters Most.

👇Please check out this great blog post about DEF CON Franklin and Cyber Resilience Corps on NetZeroDay! Thank you to @camille.stewart.gloster for featuring us in this important message about water cybersecurity. Every tap matters. #CyberCivilDefense #Take9

netzeroday.substack.com/p/cybersecur...

4) Cybersecurity must reach every tap. Not just the big ones. #CyberCivilDefense #CyberResilienceCorps #Take9

3) That’s where DEF CON Franklin comes in: volunteers helping the most vulnerable, underresourced utilities defend against real threats.

2) The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law poured billions into water—but cybersecurity for small systems was barely a footnote.

1) Small water systems serve millions—but get zero support in the EPA’s new $9M cybersecurity grant, targeted only at systems serving over 10,000 people

Between Norway’s dam sabotage and Poland’s narrowly-averted water shutdown, Russia’s global cyber campaign is escalating.

That's why DefConFranklin & partners like CyberpeaceInst @cltcberkeley.bsky.social @istorg.bsky.social stand ready to help with free tools, volunteers #CyberCivilDefense #take9

Our friends @projectfranklin.bsky.social announced the next phase of cyber services for small and rural U.S. water utilities. Franklin is deploying free tools to secure our water - all powered by a scalable, volunteer-driven model.

#CyberCivilDefense

Read more: defconfranklin.com/water_cybers...

With attacks from China and Iran targeting our critical infrastructure, Franklin is deploying OT mappers, password protocols, and policy change - all powered by volunteers.

defconfranklin.com/water_cybers...

This is cybersecurity as public service. #CybersecurityForAll #CyberCivilDefense