262,000 suspicious mail items in 2021.   6,300 threats  —  are you prepared?

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Boston, MA, Nov. 28 2023 – RaySecur, the leading provider of T-ray security imaging technology, announces the appointment of Richard (Rick) Peristere to their advisory board. Rick’s 24 years of leadership experience within the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Department of State will provide RaySecur with valuable insights into evolving threats and the security needs of government agencies. His appointment comes at a critical juncture in RaySecur’s evolution as the company looks to expand into government markets after achieving sizable inroads with global Fortune 500 corporations, law enforcement agencies, and corrections facilities.

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Contraband will always be a concern when it comes to corrections, but with limited staff and resources handy it can be hard for facilities to keep up with the never-ending effort to infiltrate facilities with illegal goods. While it really requires a well-rounded approach that often includes scanning of staff and visitors, drone defense systems and other tools and tactics, one key point of entry that can’t be downplayed is incoming personal mail. With that in mind, CN touched base with Alex Sappok, Ph.D., the CEO of RaySecur, a security imaging company that has created a widely used scanner for mail and package threat detection in the corrections industry. He shared his insights on a number of key facets tied to this vital area of combatting contraband.

Boston, MA, September 6 2023 – The ASIS award committee for the Outstanding Security Performance Awards (OSPAs) has selected RaySecur and its partner Moderna as a finalist for an Outstanding Security Partnership award. To be considered, a company must demonstrate how the partnership resulted in clear, sustainable business benefits and a positive performance impact.

RaySecur was selected to deploy its new T-ray security screening technology and develop security protocols for the biotech’s global environment. Working closely with Moderna executives and their in-house security team, RaySecur conducted an enterprise-wide mail risk assessment and developed tailored security procedures that easily integrated with Moderna’s existing technology and facilities

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March 20, this year, was a usual Monday for Ecuadorian journalist Lenin Artieda. But it wouldn’t stay normal for long. He received a small USB drive in a package that was addressed to him. Without thinking twice, he unpacked and plugged the drive into his computer. The device exploded injuring the journalist. The incident led Ecuadorian authorities to open a terrorism investigation. This was not an isolated incident, as at least five similar envelopes were sent to media houses in Ecuador around the same time. As the digital and physical worlds rapidly converge, these unsettling incidents of explosive USB drives targeting journalists in Ecuador has opened a new horizon in the global threat landscape – phygital attacks.

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As legalized sports betting expands across the United States, there’s been an increase in fan anger over lost bets. As a result, some teams are turning to a Boston-area security company to safeguard athletes and employees. Raysecur of Boston is working with the Houston Astros and Washington Commanders, as well as a roster of Fortune 100 companies, to provide security services for physical mail. Recent social media threats to athletes by sports bettors are an indication that threats have been increasing toward sports figures and teams. Now that online sports betting in Massachusetts is live, Raysecur could soon be providing services in its own backyard.

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In the wake of the disturbing attack on Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, concerns have risen over how politicians and others in the public sphere can keep themselves protected. Increasing political polarization across the globe is leading to extremist violence that can put high-profile public figures such as politicians in danger.  And they are not the only ones who need to worry. Business executives, influencers and any other high-profile individual can also be at risk, especially if they tend to make controversial public decisions or take strong stances on polarizing issues.

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Experts in mailroom security have noticed an alarming increase in white powder threats targeting public figures, legislators, and organizations. The recent incidents highlight the growing trend of politicians in particular being targeted with the malicious attacks—which, fortunately, have been hoaxes so far. These experts argue a lack of effective screening methods for detecting small quantities of powders in mail pose a challenge for security teams, but there are several ways individuals and organizations can be more proactive in mitigating the threat.

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As Meta faces backlash from its employees over its handling of mass layoffs, security experts warn that such actions can create new threats to corporate data and systems. Facebook’s parent company Meta announced last week that it would cut 21,000 jobs, or about 10% of its global workforce, as part of a restructuring plan. The move sparked outrage among some workers, who accused senior executives of being out of touch and insensitive to their plight. Security leaders can’t afford to overlook the risks presented by an employee’s physical access to resources and equipment — what Will Plummer, former U.S. Army security expert and CSO at mail-screening technology provider RaySecur, refers to as “phygital” attacks — “the convergence of physical and cyber.”

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Every day, police officers respond to calls related to suspicious mail or packages that may or may not contain dangerous substances. The range of potentially dangerous substances is broad including drug soaked papers, powders or liquids, weapons, or other items. These calls put police officers at risk of harm, not only in the field, but in the station when they handle evidence. Add to that the threat of postal terrorism, with potentially dangerous packages coming right into the station mailroom, and it’s clear that mail can present a very real and present danger to police and corrections officers.

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RaySecur has added Dean Geribo, Vice President and Chief Security Officer, Moderna and Jim McDonnell, former LA County Sheriff to its Advisory Board. The use of postal mail as a means to deliver threats – such as powders, liquids, drug-infused paper, hazardous chemicals, biomedical agents, radiation and weapons – is a growing concern, particularly in the corrections and biotechnology markets. RaySecur‘s MailSecur scanners are the first Department of Homeland Security SAFETY Act designated T-ray desktop scanners for mail and package threat detection.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass – (March 2) – RaySecur, the leading provider of desktop T-ray security imaging scanners, has announced two notable additions to its advisory board. Dean Geribo, vice president and chief security officer of Moderna and Jim McDonnell, former L.A. County Sheriff, join the advisory board at a time when corporations and government agencies need to adopt cutting-edge technologies to stay ahead of evolving mail security threats.

The use of postal mail as a means to deliver threats – such as powders, liquids, drug-infused paper, hazardous chemicals, biomedical agents, radiation and weapons – is a growing concern, particularly in the corrections and biotechnology markets.

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Jails and prisons in Massachusetts grappling with synthetic drugs flowing in from the outside recently moved to strategies such as scanning all mail to prevent attempts like the one a Boston official allegedly played a part in.

 

 

[Cambridge, MA] – Jan 30 – RaySecur®, the leading provider of desktop T-ray imaging scanners, has announced enhancements for inmate mail security designed to make it even easier to detect drugs and contraband smuggled into corrections facilities via postal mail without opening it. Postal mail is a leading method of concealing illicit drugs and contraband. The influx has increased the exposure risk for mail screeners and correctional officers to harmful substances as well as inmate overdoses and deaths. New MailSecur® features include improved visualization of drug-laced paper, mobile operation via an optional long-life battery pack, and video documentation of the screening process.

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Security magazine highlights physical security products that were introduced to the market in 2022. Covering new security technology, including access control, video surveillance, emergency and mass notification, alarm monitoring, risk assessments, and more, we spotlight innovative security technology that can help enterprise security teams build successful programs.

Cambridge, MA – October 25, 2022 – RaySecur®, leading provider of desktop T-ray security imaging scanners, has announced a new partnership with unival group, in which unival will join the growing list of RaySecur channel partners distributing the MailSecur® mail screening technology as part of the unival group’s product suite.

Detecting mail-based threats and contraband has become increasingly important as economic, political, and social unrest has increased their prevalence in nearly every sector, spanning government agencies to global corporations.

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Will Plummer, military veteran and CSO at RaySecur, provides his insight on just a few of the threats businesses are facing today, what to consider when outsourcing security, the types of security services to look for, and what effective corporate security should look like. Recent political upheaval throughout the US has brought violent protests, increased insider threats, and many other security concerns and vulnerabilities for businesses. This trend towards angry, reckless, and sometimes violent behaviour brings new challenges to CSOs. Corporations need to ramp up security, and many business leaders choose to outsource security to law enforcement and private security contractors.

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Terahertz (T-ray) technologies offer the promise to transform how we interact with the world around us, from delivering lightning-fast data transfer beyond 6G to providing X-ray-like imaging without any harmful radiation. Yet effectively and efficiently harnessing T-rays for mainstream commercial applications has continued to elude scientists and engineers, relegating T-ray technologies to the realm of science fiction.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.September 12, 2022RaySecur®, the leading provider of desktop T-ray security imaging scanners, has announced that the company is broadening its EODSecurTM service by bringing on former narcotics agents who are skilled in illicit drug detection, remediation, and education. With the global rise of mail-based threats, of which white-powder substances and drug-infused papers drive a large percentage, RaySecur can now provide customers with not only highly accurate detection capabilities with its MailSecur scanner, but also deeper insights and expert guidance on how to plan for, prevent, and safely address threats of this nature.

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The benefits of physical mail correspondence and personal letters for inmates are well known. Inmates have a First Amendment right to receive mail. However, these rights have sometimes caused issues for officers and mailroom personnel. The flood of drugs like synthetic marijuana, fentanyl and suboxone strips that have been inserted into letters and parcels has resulted in dangerous incidents for prison officers who were exposed to these substances during the mail-screening process. There has also been a high number of overdoses and drug-related deaths among inmates, in part due to drugs that slipped past mail screening.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass – August 5, 2022 – RaySecur®, the leading provider of desktop T-ray security imaging scanners, has announced an expansion of its T-Suite Image Processing Platform for detecting papers laced with illicit drugs.

Correctional facilities are struggling to stem the flow of drugs into prisons and jails, particularly papers soaked with drugs and other harmful substances. When dried, the drug-laced papers can be undetectable to humans, making the papers an ideal substrate for smuggling. When paper is treated with drugs, it changes the way the paper interacts with the T-rays, which enables the MailSecur® scanner to detect the anomaly – without anyone having to open the mail.

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Security leaders rely on a number of threat and risk assessment monitoring tools and solutions to understand, identify and mitigate threats to the enterprise. From travel risk management to social media monitoring, professionals across the industry can use threat monitoring and risk assessment tools to help define security risks and boost emergency response and threat remediation. Security magazine spotlights threat monitoring and risk assessment solutions that can help improve security posture at various organizations.

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It’s no secret that prisons and correctional facilities in the United States are struggling to find sustainable methods to address the rising and frequent threat generated by external packages and letters. Contraband, such as drugs, electronics, or weapons, is making its way into prison mailrooms. And as the volume of incoming mail rises, it gets harder for staff to accurately process the letters and packages. The only widespread feasible solution to date has been low-tech or inefficient: banning physical mail altogether or replacing letters with photocopies.

I Built a Cheap ‘Warshipping’ Device in Just 3 Hours — and So Can You

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Most companies have strategies in place to educate employees about network security. But there has been a lot less awareness and education on how to reduce “phygital” risks — that is, physical devices that launch digital attacks against a company’s computer networks. Another name for these phygital attacks is “warshipping.” Essentially, a malicious hacker creates an Internet-enabled device — for example, a miniature computer — and sends it through physical mail in an attempt to compromise a company’s computer network. What’s more, because so many employees have yet to return to their physical offices post-lockdown, these devices can easily sit for months unattended in unopened mail on desks and in mailrooms, gathering data and exploiting vulnerabilities in a company’s network.

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Throughout the pandemic, the growing need for companies to rely on digital infrastructure has given CSOs and CISOs plenty of reasons to worry about cybersecurity. The problem is, physical threats like those that come through the mail often go unnoticed, with disastrous results. A physical device hidden in a seemingly innocuous package can introduce malicious code into your network. A cyberthreat that comes by way of a physical device is known as a “phygital” threat. Phygital threats can take a variety of forms, including “warshipping,” which is a sort of Trojan horse strategy that involves physical devices that hack into digital infrastructure. These devices can be sent through the mail or could be smuggled in by outsiders or disgruntled employees.

Former CSO Starbucks, Current CSO of Boston Scientific Joins RaySecur Advisory Board

CAMBRIDGE, Mass – June 23, 2022 – RaySecur, the leading provider of desktop T-ray security imaging scanners, has announced that former Starbucks CSO John “Jack” Sullivan has joined its advisory board. Sullivan, who is currently the CSO of Boston Scientific, will bring corporate security expertise and a wealth of knowledge from his work as a federal agent to the company. His addition to RaySecur’s advisory board comes at a time when corporations desperately need to adopt cutting-edge technologies to stay ahead of evolving security threats.

RaySecur has targeted its T-ray imaging technology to fill a critical gap in large-enterprise mail security and designed the first DHS Safety Act-designated millimeter wave (mmWave) desktop scanner for mail and package threat detection. This imaging technology can see through everyday items to detect hidden threats and can be used by anyone without the need for expert training

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Remote working has challenged the way we think about the workplace. Embracing a hybrid model of work, companies have learned to live with employees in both the physical and digital realms. For CSOs the continued rise of the digital workplace means more vulnerability points to watch as digital hackers try to take advantage of backdoors into company digital infrastructure. A hybrid work model also leaves the physical workplace more chaotic. With employees, guests, and other groups coming in and out, physical security can be left wondering how to verify exactly who is in the office and when. This increases the likelihood of physical intruders, another vulnerability for CSOs to consider.

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Mail is one of the most persistent channels for smuggling contraband to inmates in correctional facilities. Legal mail in particular is among the most challenging to mitigate because it is constitutionally protected and cannot be digitized or opened without the inmate present. Because of this, inspecting mail correspondence from a legal counsel requires significant time and resources and continues to spawn lawsuits from inmates alleging restrictive mail practices. Addressing mail security in an effective yet non-intrusive way is imperative for corrections facilities to stop the cycle from repeating.

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For all the network and physical security measures in place, there’s a glaring vulnerability for corporate attacks that is largely unguarded. The enemy can come in through the front door—inside deliveries and mail. New solutions are emerging and there is growing awareness of the problem, driven by recent high-profile mail threats against U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci and the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine plant. However, the challenge is growing too. The shift in work routines—between work from home (WFH), hybrid, and return-to-office—presents more openings for attackers to exploit. Companies should take precautions to keep employees and top executives safe from malicious mail and package threats, wherever they are working.

LAS VEGAS, NV – March 25, 2022 — RaySecur™, a security imaging company with the world’s first DHS Safety Act-designated T-ray desktop scanner for mail and package threat detection, was recognized as an honorable mention by the Security Industry Association (SIA) at the 2022 SIA New Products and Solutions (NPS) Awards, the flagship awards program presented in partnership with ISC West recognizing innovative security products, services and solutions.

RaySecur earned the honorable mention of the Emerging Technologies category for its MailSecur® + C•CURE integration, which was presented March 23 during an award ceremony on the ISC West show floor. MailSecur is on display through March 25 in Booth 21125, and the MailSecur + C•CURE integration is being demonstrated in the Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) Security Products Innovation Room (Lido 3004).

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Workplaces must be wary of an often-overlooked mail security issue that threatens digital infrastructure, shares Will Plummer, chief security officer at RaySecur.  Many believe that in 2022 we will see the first “phygital” catastrophe, a cyberattack with physical ramifications, causing a mission-critical application to go down and creating a ripple impact across businesses and consumers worldwide. There are early signs that cybercriminals are increasingly leveraging gaps in physical security to attack digital infrastructure while most resources go to improving cyber protection. Risk managers and CISOs must be aware of how this is happening and how to mitigate these threats.

Las Vegas, NV, March 15, 2022 — RaySecur™, a security imaging company with the world’s first DHS Safety Act-designated T-ray desktop scanner for mail and package threat detection, today launched its T-SuiteTM Image Processing Suite for MailSecur® scanners.

The software platform upgrade provides customers with a more dynamic and accurate real-time 4D imaging experience. RaySecur will demonstrate the new capabilities at ISC West (International Security Conference & Exposition) on March 22-25, at booth #21125, at the Venetian Expo in Las Vegas.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 8, 2022 — RaySecur™, a security imaging company with the world’s first DHS Safety Act-designated T-ray desktop scanner for mail and package threat detection, today announced it has been awarded a Phase II grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) for $1 million to conduct research and development (R&D) on its 4D-AITM threat detection software platform for MailSecur scanners.
The artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) capabilities will greatly enhance mail screening efficiency and enable custom detection features to flag threats and other items of interest unique to a particular organization.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., February 22, 2022 — RaySecur™, a security imaging company with the world’s first DHS Safety Act-designated millimeter wave (mmWave) desktop scanner for mail and package threat detection, today announces the release of the 2021 Annual Mail Threat Report.

This unique report provides a comprehensive view and analysis of mail threats by aggregating official U.S. Government data and cataloging incidents reported in the mass media over the past year to better highlight the prevalence and dangers of mail threats.

The 2021 report data reflects the ongoing global discord and conflicts that have resulted from COVID lockdowns, vaccination mandates, and other societal stressors.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., February 4, 2021 — RaySecur™ announced today that former Microsoft chief security officer, Mike Howard, and former US Secret Service director, Mark Sullivan, have joined its advisory board.

Both bring a wealth of experience in their respective fields of corporate security and executive protection.

Their addition to RaySecur’s advisory board further highlights the growing importance for corporations and governments alike to address critical security vulnerabilities of mail, packages, and deliveries entering their facilities.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — RaySecur™ announced today that former Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis has joined its advisory board.

Davis will leverage his decades of law enforcement experience to help RaySecur accelerate adoption of its flagship MailSecur mail and package threat detection solutions.

Ed Davis is the latest addition to a world-class team comprising technology, military, security and law enforcement professionals.

CORK, Ireland, Sept. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI), the global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings is announcing the addition of body worn cameras and autonomous robots to its physical security portfolio along with the integration of package screening technology powered by RaySecur.

These intelligent technologies further strengthen Johnson Controls comprehensive building security portfolio and enable customers to extend the power of their systems far beyond the capabilities of traditional access control and video surveillance.

Cambridge, MA, June 8, 2021 – RaySecur, the leading provider of mail security scanners and related services, announced today that it had released its 2020 Annual Mail Security Report, authored by Chief Security Officer Will Plummer.

“Once again in 2020 we saw thousands of major threats arrive through the mail,” said Plummer, “including ricin sent to President Trump in The White House and white powder that forced the evacuation of the Subway headquarters in Milford, Ct. These are just a few of the cases that became publicly known, but according to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) over two dozen similar incidents occur daily.”

RaySecur, the leading provider of mail security scanners, announced today the appointment of Richard Shatilla to the position of Chief Commercial Officer.

Mr. Shatilla will be responsible for leading the company’s commercial activities. Mr. Shatilla joins RaySecur after leading sales for VOTI Detection from startup through IPO.

“Richard brings a wealth of experience in sales and marketing, product launch, and market access, to accelerate RaySecur’s growth and expansion in the enterprise security space,” said RaySecur’s Chief Executive Officer, Alexander Sappok, Ph.D.

RaySecur receives prestigious Prism Award for its MailSecur scanner, selected as 2021’s top optics and photonics innovation in security technology.

RaySecur’s MailSecur scanner was recognized by the 13th annual Prism Awards for Photonics Innovation – a prestigious international competition sponsored by the International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE).

Past Prism Award recipients include GE, Intel, Corning, Leica, Dolby, and Raytheon.

RaySecur, developer of MailSecur, today announced it is a finalist for the 2021 Prism Awards, honoring the best new optics and photonics products on the market.

Founded in 1955, SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, hosts the Prism Awards together with Photonics Media. Past Prism Award recipients include GE, Intel, Corning, Leica, Dolby, and Raytheon, among others. “It’s a real honor to be nominated for a 2021 Prism Award and testament to the breakthroughs RaySecur has achieved in making security imaging systems available to the mass market,” said RaySecur CEO Alexander Sappok, Ph.D.

RaySecur Offers a Mobile Mail Security App

Cambridge, MA, September 28, 2020 – RaySecur, the leading developer and manufacturer of mail security technology and related services, announced today that it has launched its new MailSecur Connect app and services.

“With our MailSecur scanner we already offered the best mail screening technology for high- and medium-risk facilities,” said RaySecur CEO Alex Sappok. “Now we’re supplementing that and providing an affordable stand-alone mobile app for low-risk sites.”

With the politicization of mail-in votes this year, the likelihood of threats is greater than ever. RaySecur offered this briefing to Secretaries of State and National Association of State Election Directors (NASED) members in all 50 states plus territories.

“In the past people have returned mail-in ballots with white powder hoaxes in an attempt to discredit or disrupt the election,” said RaySecur CEO Alex Sappok, Ph.D. “With the level of passion around mail-in votes this year, those threats are even more likely. Given RaySecur’s expertise in mail security, we felt that it was critical that we help election officials prepare for how to detect and handle such threats.”

RaySecur, the leading provider of mail security scanners, announced today that many companies re opening from coronavirus shutdowns are facing a major mail security challenge.

While they were closed and their employees were away, many companies let their mail pile up. Now they are returning to the security challenge that this backlog creates. A third of companies report mail-borne threats in regular times; many companies that have laid off employees, or cut pay or services, are reporting an increased number of threats.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — RaySecur Inc., developer of MailSecur™, the world’s first 3D desktop scanners for the safe detection of concealed and potentially dangerous mail items, today announced it has received Designated status by the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

RaySecur is the first manufacturer of dedicated mail security scanners to receive official designation as a Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technology (QATT) under the United States SAFETY Act.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Dec. 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — RaySecur Inc., developer of the world’s first 3D desktop scanners for the safe detection of concealed and potentially dangerous items, today announced it has closed a $3M seed round.

Led by One Way Ventures with participation from Junson Capital, Launchpad Venture Group, Dreamit Ventures and other leading investors, the funding enables RaySecur to scale within key market verticals and accelerate its growth strategy.