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Securing Tomorrow: Your Daily Dose of Cyber Safety, Tech Trends, National Security News, and Inspiration.
“The amphibious landing is the most powerful tool we have.”
-General Douglas MacArthur
I. National Security: Key developments in national security, particularly cyber and technological warfare.
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After more than 50 years, Marines sunset Assault Amphibious Vehicle
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The U.S. Marine Corps officially retired its Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV) after more than 50 years of service during a ceremony at Camp Pendleton on September 26, 2025. First introduced in 1972, the AAV served as the Corps’ primary ship-to-shore vehicle and was used in missions from Grenada in 1983 through Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as in humanitarian operations. Marine leaders praised the AAV’s versatility and the generations of Marines who relied on it in combat, calling it central to the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. The vehicle, which replaced World War II-era landing craft, underwent multiple upgrades over the decades but is now being succeeded by the Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV). Built by BAE Systems, the ACV offers faster speeds, stronger armor, and modern blast protection, carrying 16 Marines and capable of traveling both on land and at sea. The Marine Corps plans to field more than 600 ACVs to fully replace the AAV. Click here to read more.
II. Tech Trends: Updates on emerging technology trends shaping the digital world.
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Experiment: I ran a datacenter-class 120B parameter model for just $800
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An independent researcher has shown that you can run a cutting-edge 120 billion parameter AI model, GPT-OSS-120B, locally on a custom-built computer costing around $800 — and without a GPU. Using CPUs with plenty of fast DDR5 memory, the model achieved speeds of over 14 tokens per second, rivaling human reading speed, thanks to its Mixture of Experts (MoE) design, which activates only a fraction of parameters at a time. Experiments on Intel and AMD CPUs revealed that memory speed and capacity matter more than sheer core count, with 128GB RAM offering the best stability and performance. While GPUs remain far faster, this finding highlights that with careful hardware choices, running data-center-class AI models locally, privately, and affordably is now possible, opening new doors for researchers and hobbyists. Click here to read more.
III. Inspiration: Articles centered on faith that offer guidance and reflection.
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Christian leaders offer prayers to Jewish community after fatal attack on Manchester synagogue
- Christian leaders across the U.K. have offered prayers and solidarity to the Jewish community after a deadly attack at the Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur. The assault, carried out by 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie, left at least two dead and several seriously injured before police shot the attacker, who was wearing what appeared to be an explosive vest. Authorities are treating the incident as terrorism, with arrests already made. Bishop of Manchester David Walker urged unity, declaring “hate can never defeat hate; only love can conquer hate,” while Bishop of London Sarah Mullally called the attack on a place of worship “an attack on all people of faith.” The Council of Christians and Jews described the assault as “horrifying,” while Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed increased synagogue security. King Charles and Queen Camilla also expressed shock and extended prayers. The tragedy comes amid rising antisemitism in the U.K. since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. Click here to read more.
IV. Cyber Safety: A focus on the latest cybersecurity threats, tips, or breaches impacting individuals and organizations.
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Israel’s 4th largest hospital, Shamir Medical Center, hit by ransomware on Yom Kippur
- Israel’s Shamir Medical Center, the country’s fourth-largest hospital, was hit by a ransomware attack on Yom Kippur, allegedly carried out by the notorious Qilin group. The hackers claim to have stolen 8 terabytes of sensitive data, including private patient records, internal communications, and operational details, and have given hospital officials 72 hours to negotiate before they release the information online. Located near Tel Aviv, Shamir serves over a million residents across diverse communities, making the attack particularly severe given its potential to disrupt critical healthcare and endanger lives. Qilin, which has become the world’s most active ransomware cartel in 2025 with over 500 attacks this year alone, is known for double extortion tactics and ties to Russian-language hacker forums, raising fears of state-aligned cyberwarfare. The attack’s timing on Yom Kippur further underscores its symbolic impact, with Israeli authorities facing the urgent task of protecting both patient safety and national infrastructure. Click here to read more.
V. Shield of Israel: Coverage from The Jerusalem Post, providing an Israeli perspective on ongoing conflicts.
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Released captive Eli Sharabi speaks about memoir ‘Hostage’ on his time as abductee in Gaza
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Former Gaza hostage Eli Sharabi is opening up about his harrowing 491 days in captivity with the release of his memoir Hostage, set to be published in English on October 7, the two-year anniversary of his abduction by Hamas. Already published in Hebrew in May, the book details his kidnapping during the October 7 massacre, the brutality of captivity, and the resilience he drew from his Jewish faith. Sharabi recounts how he and fellow hostages survived on starvation rations, endured unsanitary tunnel conditions, and still found strength to recite prayers and hold makeshift Shabbat rituals with stale pita and water. He describes moments of terror, such as being attacked by a Gaza mob before being pulled into Hamas’s tunnel system, and his eventual release in February as part of a hostage deal, which he says was staged by his captors for propaganda. Hostage provides an unflinching look at the human cost of terrorism, the power of faith, and the will to survive under unimaginable circumstances. Click here to read more.
