THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 12/30/25

THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 12/30/25

by | Dec 30, 2025 | THE DAILY PRAETORIAN

Image Credit: iStock / MikeMareen | Imagery Disclaimer

Securing Tomorrow: Your Daily Dose of Cyber Safety, Tech Trends, National Security News, and Inspiration.

“Over the past week or so, U.S. MQ‑9 Reaper drones have been spotted carrying increasingly greater numbers of AGM‑114 Hellfire missiles on sorties from Puerto Rico. This includes at least one Reaper seen armed with 10 Hellfires, a loadout that does not previously appear to have been disclosed as being an option for these drones.”

 

-Joseph Tre​vithick, TWZ article

I. National Security: Key developments in national security, particularly cyber and technological warfare.

  • MQ-9 Reapers Flying With Unusually Heavy Weapons Loads Over Caribbean

  • U.S. MQ‑9 Reaper drones operating from Puerto Rico have been observed carrying unusually heavy Hellfire missile loads—up to ten missiles per aircraft and using four‑rail launchers—far exceeding typical armaments, coinciding with a covert CIA‑directed strike on a Venezuelan port facility and a broader buildup of U.S. forces in the Caribbean that suggests an escalation beyond routine counter‑drug missions; the expanded payloads likely support larger kinetic operations against high‑value targets while highlighting increased coordination between military and intelligence assets in the region. Click here to read more.

II. Tech Trends: Updates on emerging technology trends shaping the digital world.

  • “100% human” to become luxury label amid AI craze

  • As AI hype wanes, brands are flipping the script by touting “100 % human” or “no AI” labels as a new luxury marker, positioning authentic, human‑crafted content as the digital equivalent of “organic” or “non‑GMO”; marketers say this shift taps consumer fatigue with low‑quality “AI slop,” appeals to ethical concerns about privacy, employment and environmental impact, and is especially resonant in creative fields like publishing, music, journalism and design, as well as services that rely on empathy and nuanced judgment. Click here to read more.

     

III. Inspiration: Articles centered on faith that offer guidance and reflection.

  • Franklin Graham attributes rising church attendance to young people’s rejection of ‘anti-God socialism’

  • Franklin Graham, CEO of Samaritan’s Purse, linked a recent uptick in church attendance among Gen Z and Millennials—averaging 1.9 and 1.8 visits per month respectively—to a rejection of “anti‑God socialism,” arguing that younger Americans are turning away from socialist ideas and seeking truth in faith, especially after the high‑profile murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, which he says spurred a surge in Bible sales and spiritual interest. Click here to read more.
     

IV. Cyber Safety: A focus on the latest cybersecurity threats, tips, or breaches impacting individuals and organizations.

  • “These Chrome extensions read your ChatGPT and DeepSeek chats

  • Malicious Chrome extensions posing as AI sidebars—“Chat GPT for Chrome with GPT‑5, Claude Sonnet & DeepSeek AI” (600 k+ installs) and “AI Sidebar with DeepSeek, ChatGPT, Claude, and more” (300 k+ installs)—were found to exfiltrate users’ ChatGPT and DeepSeek chat histories, browsing activity and other data every 30 minutes, even though they appear legitimate and one carries Google’s “Featured” badge; researchers at OX Security warned that the stolen information could be used for corporate espionage, identity theft or phishing and urged users to uninstall the extensions immediately. Click here to read more.

V. Shield of Israel: Coverage from The Jerusalem Post, providing an Israeli perspective on ongoing conflicts.

  • Israel asks Trump administration to exclude Turkey from Board of Peace, sources tell ‘Post’

  • Israel has asked the Trump administration to keep President Recep Tayyip Erdogan out of the upcoming Board of Peace that will oversee the International Stabilization Force and Gaza reconstruction, fearing Turkish troops and humanitarian involvement would give Ankara undue influence in the Strip; while senior U.S. officials remain divided over Turkey’s role—some argue the country, along with Egypt and Qatar, is a guarantor of the Hamas agreement—President Trump defended Erdogan as a close friend and praised Turkey’s contributions, even as Israel pushes to limit Ankara’s presence in future peace‑building efforts. Click here to read more.

Tags: Information Security, Information Technology, News, Security
THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 12/22/25

THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 12/22/25

by | Dec 22, 2025 | THE DAILY PRAETORIAN

Image Credit: U.S. Department of War (DoW) | Imagery Disclaimer

Securing Tomorrow: Your Daily Dose of Cyber Safety, Tech Trends, National Security News, and Inspiration.

“The future Trump-class battleship, the USS Defiant, will be the largest, deadliest and most versatile and best-looking warship anywhere on the world’s oceans.”

 

-Secretary of the Navy John Phelan

I. National Security: Key developments in national security, particularly cyber and technological warfare.

  • Navy will build new force of nuclear-armed, Trump-class battleships, president says

  • President Donald Trump announced a new “Trump‑class” battleship program, promising vessels far larger and more heavily armed than the WWII‑era Iowa‑class, equipped with hypersonic weapons, railguns, high‑powered lasers and nuclear‑capable cruise missiles; the Navy plans to start with two ships— the first to be named USS Defiant—aiming for commissioning within roughly two and a half years and ultimately targeting a fleet of 20‑25 such warships as a centerpiece of Trump’s “Golden Fleet” vision. Click here to read more.

II. Tech Trends: Updates on emerging technology trends shaping the digital world.

  • Power outage paralyzes Waymo robotaxis when traffic lights go out

  • A power outage in the San Francisco Bay Area knocked out traffic signals, causing Waymo’s robotaxis to halt at intersections as they defaulted to a four‑way‑stop protocol; the gridlock prompted a temporary suspension of the ride‑hailing service, but power was largely restored by noon and Waymo resumed operations, noting it will incorporate lessons from the event to improve handling of such infrastructure failures. Click here to read more.

     

III. Inspiration: Articles centered on faith that offer guidance and reflection.

  • Christians and Religious Nones Unite in Rejection of AI Video Content on Social Platforms

  • A recent Story Radius survey found that a clear majority of Evangelical, non‑denominational and unaffiliated Americans—58 % of evangelicals, 57 % of Protestants and 52 % of the religiously unaffiliated—oppose the rise of AI‑generated videos on social platforms, citing concerns about authenticity, emotional manipulation and a loss of trust that can even drive users away from sites like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok; similar resistance appears across other faith groups, indicating a broader “trust gap” that tech companies must address. Click here to read more.
     

IV. Cyber Safety: A focus on the latest cybersecurity threats, tips, or breaches impacting individuals and organizations.

  • “We backed up Spotify:” pirates claim to have scraped 300TB of music

  • Anna’s Archive, a shadow digital library known for pirated books, claims to have scraped roughly 300 TB of Spotify’s catalog—about 86 million tracks covering 99.6 % of listens—by bypassing DRM and prioritizing songs using Spotify’s popularity metrics; the group has already released a 200 GB torrent of metadata for 256 million tracks and plans to distribute the audio files, prompting Spotify to confirm an investigation into the unauthorized access. Click here to read more.

V. Shield of Israel: Coverage from The Jerusalem Post, providing an Israeli perspective on ongoing conflicts.

  • Israel, Greece, Cyprus reaffirm security, energy commitments at trilateral summit

  • Israel, Greece and Cyprus reconfirmed a strategic partnership at a Jerusalem summit, pledging deeper cooperation on security, energy and connectivity; leaders announced plans to advance the India‑Middle East‑Europe Economic Corridor and the Great Sea Connector, linking maritime routes, pipelines and power grids across the region, while also discussing a possible joint rapid‑response force to counter Turkish aggression and other regional threats. Click here to read more.

Tags: Information Security, Information Technology, News, Security
THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 12/19/25

THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 12/19/25

by | Dec 19, 2025 | THE DAILY PRAETORIAN

Image Credit: U.S. Department of War (DoW) / Coast Guard | Imagery Disclaimer

Securing Tomorrow: Your Daily Dose of Cyber Safety, Tech Trends, National Security News, and Inspiration.

“The FF(X) is a highly adaptable vessel. While its primary mission will be surface warfare, its ability to carry modular payloads and command unmanned systems enables it to execute a broad spectrum of operations, making it ready for the challenges of the modern maritime environment.”

 

– U.S. Navy release

I. National Security: Key developments in national security, particularly cyber and technological warfare.

  • This Will Be The Navy’s New FF(X) Frigate

  • The U.S. Navy has chosen a new FF(X) frigate design based on the Coast Guard’s Legend‑class National Security Cutter, targeting a first hull launch in 2028 to replace the cancelled Constellation program; the ship will feature a 57 mm gun, a RAM launcher, angled missile launchers likely for Naval Strike Missiles, a modular payload bay, and a Saab Sea Giraffe radar, while the Navy plans a lead‑yard build followed by competitive follow‑on contracts to accelerate production and bolster domestic shipbuilding capacity. Click here to read more.

II. Tech Trends: Updates on emerging technology trends shaping the digital world.

  • Developers can now launch their apps in ChatGPT under new OpenAI program

  • OpenAI announced a new program that lets developers submit “apps” for integration into ChatGPT, where approved apps will appear in an in‑chat directory and let users take actions such as ordering groceries, creating slide decks or searching for apartments; developers can use the beta Apps SDK to build tightly scoped, chat‑friendly tools, check approval status on the OpenAI Developer Platform, and expect the first batch of vetted apps to roll out gradually next year, alongside other features like Instant Checkout for U.S. shoppers. Click here to read more.

     

III. Inspiration: Articles centered on faith that offer guidance and reflection.

  • Hobby Lobby Distributes 500,000 Free Copies of Lee Strobel’s ‘The Case for Christmas’

  • Hobby Lobby is distributing 500,000 free copies of Lee Strobel’s revised “The Case for Christmas,” a journalistic investigation into the identity of the infant in the manger, across its U.S. stores as the holiday season approaches; the giveaway follows Strobel’s 2024 update of the book, which builds on his earlier “Case for Christ” narrative, and aligns with Hobby Lobby’s long‑standing public‑faith branding, including its Sunday closures, biblical advertising and recent charitable donations such as a $7 million contribution to rebuild a megachurch sanctuary. Click here to read more.
     

IV. Cyber Safety: A focus on the latest cybersecurity threats, tips, or breaches impacting individuals and organizations.

  • North Korea’s Digital Surge: $2B Stolen in Crypto as Amazon Blocks 1,800 Fake IT Workers

  • North Korean cyber groups stole over $2 billion in cryptocurrency in 2025—accounting for about 76 % of all crypto service compromises—while also running a massive fake‑IT‑worker scheme that Amazon blocked 1,800 fraudulent applicants, many posing as software engineers to infiltrate exchanges, custodians and AI‑related firms; the operation relies on stolen identities, recruiter scams and insider placements to launder funds, prompting heightened detection efforts and rewards for information. Click here to read more.

V. Shield of Israel: Coverage from The Jerusalem Post, providing an Israeli perspective on ongoing conflicts.

  • Defending Jewish communities is part of fight for Europe’s soul, Hungarian EU minister tells ‘Post’

  • Hungarian EU affairs minister and antisemitism envoy János Bóka told The Jerusalem Post that safeguarding Jewish communities is essential to preserving Europe’s Judeo‑Christian heritage, emphasizing Hungary’s “zero‑tolerance” stance, strict migration policies and strong societal support that have kept antisemitic incidents low compared with Western Europe; he warned that radical‑Islamist and left‑wing anti‑Zionist narratives are fueling a new wave of antisemitism across the continent, calling for coordinated EU action, tighter monitoring of NGOs and online platforms, and deeper cooperation with Israel to protect Jewish life and culture. Click here to read more.

Tags: Information Security, Information Technology, News, Security
THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 12/18/25

THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 12/18/25

by | Dec 18, 2025 | THE DAILY PRAETORIAN

Image Credit: U.S. Department of War (DoW) / Air Force Airman 1st Class Arnet Tamayo  | Imagery Disclaimer

Securing Tomorrow: Your Daily Dose of Cyber Safety, Tech Trends, National Security News, and Inspiration.

“The F-35 is the nation’s most sophisticated fighter jet, outfitted with stealth technology and a cockpit helmet display that allows pilots to virtually see through the airplane at targets on the ground below.”

 

-Thom Patterson

I. National Security: Key developments in national security, particularly cyber and technological warfare.

  • Canadian NORAD Commander’s View On Future F-35 Fighter Force

  • Canada’s NORAD commander Maj. Gen. Chris McKenna outlined a massive modernization effort to integrate F‑35A fighters into the RCAF and NORAD, noting a $30 billion, 88‑aircraft procurement under review, extensive runway extensions at Arctic forward operating locations, new A‑330 MRTT tankers slated for 2027, upgraded infrastructure at Trenton and Edmonton, and complementary upgrades to CF‑18 Hornets, all aimed at achieving overmatch against high‑end threats and ensuring layered air‑defense coverage across the High North. Click here to read more.

II. Tech Trends: Updates on emerging technology trends shaping the digital world.

  • LLMs’ impact on science: Booming publications, stagnating quality

  • Researchers at Berkeley and Cornell examined millions of pre‑print abstracts from arXiv, SSRN and bioRxiv, training a detector on human‑written versus GPT‑3.5‑rewritten texts to spot likely LLM‑generated submissions; they found that once authors began using large language models their output surged—often doubling for non‑native English speakers—but the papers’ linguistic complexity rose while their odds of reaching peer‑reviewed journals fell, reversing the usual positive link between sophisticated language and scientific merit; nevertheless, AI‑assisted manuscripts cited a wider, more recent range of sources, hinting at potential diversification of scholarly references. Click here to read more.

     

III. Inspiration: Articles centered on faith that offer guidance and reflection.

  • ‘Back to the Biblical Principles’: 10 Commandments Monument Restored at State Capitol

  • Kentucky restored a granite Ten Commandments monument to the Capitol grounds after House Joint Resolution 15 cleared a prior court block that relied on the now‑overruled Lemon test; the Fraternal Order of Eagles, represented by First Liberty, secured the monument’s return, and state leaders and faith‑based groups hailed the move as a reaffirmation of the historic role of biblical principles in American law and culture. Click here to read more.
     

IV. Cyber Safety: A focus on the latest cybersecurity threats, tips, or breaches impacting individuals and organizations.

  • France confirms cyberattack on Ministry of Interior, hackers claim 16M individuals exposed

  • French authorities confirmed a serious cyber intrusion into the Ministry of the Interior, where attackers claimed to have accessed the Criminal Records Processing System and Wanted Persons File, allegedly exposing data on 16 million citizens, though officials say only a few dozen files were confirmed removed and the true scope remains unclear; the breach was posted on the revived Breachforums site, with perpetrators demanding payment to delete the data, while investigators are probing credential theft via plain‑text emails and assessing potential impacts on ongoing investigations and personal privacy. Click here to read more.

V. Shield of Israel: Coverage from The Jerusalem Post, providing an Israeli perspective on ongoing conflicts.

  • Marco Rubio announces sanctions on ICC judges over Israel investigations

  • U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced sanctions on two International Criminal Court judges—Gocha Lordkipanidze of Georgia and Erdenebalsuren Damdin of Mongolia—citing Executive Order 14203 for targeting Israeli nationals without Israel’s consent, while the ICC condemned the move as an attack on judicial independence; the United States also froze any U.S. assets of the judges and barred their families from entry, and separately imposed sanctions on 29 vessels and related firms tied to Iran’s shadow fleet. Click here to read more.

Tags: Information Security, Information Technology, News, Security
THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 12/16/25

THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 12/16/25

by | Dec 16, 2025 | THE DAILY PRAETORIAN

Image Credit: iStock / APeriamPhotography | Imagery Disclaimer

Securing Tomorrow: Your Daily Dose of Cyber Safety, Tech Trends, National Security News, and Inspiration.

“The right of self-defense never ceases. It is among the most sacred, and alike necessary to nations and to individuals.”

 

-James Monroe

I. National Security: Key developments in national security, particularly cyber and technological warfare.

  • More KC-135 Tankers Deploy To The Caribbean

  • The Pentagon is expanding its Caribbean presence to intensify “Operation Southern Spear” against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, deploying additional KC‑135 Stratotanker refuelers to the Dominican Republic, KC‑46 Pegasus tankers from the U.S. Virgin Islands, and a surge of C‑17 cargo flights delivering supplies and troops to Puerto Rico and Ecuador, while U.S. officials prepare to seize more sanctioned oil tankers to cut off Maduro’s revenue and consider a broader blockade; the buildup accompanies heightened diplomatic briefings, new FAA warnings about Venezuelan airspace, and statements from the Trump administration linking the effort to both drug‑interdiction and strategic control of Venezuela’s vast oil reserves. Click here to read more.

II. Tech Trends: Updates on emerging technology trends shaping the digital world.

  • AI’s four possible futures: crash, stabilization, nationalization, or breakthrough?

  • Generative‑AI investors face four possible outcomes: a market crash from over‑inflated valuations, a soft‑landing where growth slows but AI becomes a steady productivity tool, a scenario where governments treat AI as a regulated public utility, or a breakthrough that drives exponential innovation and profitability for firms with solid data and integration—experts warn that bubbles may burst before any breakthrough materializes, while others see a gradual stabilization as the industry matures. Click here to read more.

     

III. Inspiration: Articles centered on faith that offer guidance and reflection.

  • ‘Stop in the Name of God’: Charlie Kirk’s Final Book Honors ‘Transforming’ Sabbath

  • Charlie Kirk’s posthumously released book Stop in the Name of God argues that observing the Sabbath—turning off devices, resting, and focusing on family and worship—can transform one’s life, a practice Kirk embraced after a pilgrimage to Israel where his pastor and a Messianic‑Jewish host explained the spiritual significance of Shabbat; the book frames the Sabbath as a divine blueprint for rest and renewal, contrasting it with Kirk’s previously hectic schedule and suggesting that a weekly pause can improve mental health, deepen faith and strengthen relationships. Click here to read more.
     

IV. Cyber Safety: A focus on the latest cybersecurity threats, tips, or breaches impacting individuals and organizations.

  • CISO Communities – Cybersecurity’s Secret Weapon

  • Closed CISO communities—often hosted on Slack or WhatsApp—have become a “secret weapon” for senior security leaders, offering a trusted space to exchange threat intel, discuss vendor choices, mentor aspiring CISOs, share job opportunities and cope with burnout, all while maintaining strict confidentiality through codes of conduct, invitation‑only membership and the Chatham House Rule; these peer‑driven networks complement formal ISAC/ISAO structures by delivering real‑time, person‑to‑person collaboration that strengthens cybersecurity defenses across industries. Click here to read more.

V. Shield of Israel: Coverage from The Jerusalem Post, providing an Israeli perspective on ongoing conflicts.

  • IDF cyber chief warns Israel, US face far greater cyber threats than publicly known

  • Israel’s cyber chief Maj. Gen. Aviad Dagan warned that both Israel and the United States face far larger, largely unseen cyber threats that could target critical national infrastructure, emphasizing that past successes should not breed complacency; he highlighted ongoing joint cyber‑warfare drills with U.S. Cyber Command, cited past Iranian attempts to sabotage Israeli water and hospital systems, and noted reciprocal Israeli cyber actions against Iranian ports and fuel infrastructure, underscoring the need for continual preparedness. Click here to read more.

Tags: Information Security, Information Technology, News, Security

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