THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 4/22/25

THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 4/22/25

by | Apr 22, 2025 | THE DAILY PRAETORIAN

Image Credit: iStock / MikeMareen | Imagery Disclaimer

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

“Powerful enemies must be out-fought and out-produced.”

 

-Franklin D. Roosevelt

I. National Defense: Key developments in national defense, particularly cyber and technological warfare.

  • New Army 155mm facility opens in Arkansas to boost artillery shell production

  • The U.S. Army and General Dynamics have opened a new artillery production facility in Camden, Arkansas, which is set to produce half of the Army’s 155mm artillery shells once fully operational. Aimed at reaching the Army’s goal of 100,000 rounds per month, the facility will output 50,000 shells monthly using advanced automation and environmentally friendly technologies. This expansion reflects the Army’s broader efforts to modernize its munitions supply chain following lessons from the war in Ukraine and to ensure battlefield readiness with scalable, rapid production. Click here to read more.

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

  • Instagram launches its CapCut clone, Edits

  • Instagram has officially launched Edits, a new video creation app aimed at content creators and positioned as a direct competitor to TikTok’s CapCut. Available now for free on iOS and Android, Edits offers advanced editing tools like AI-powered animations, green screen replacement, and subject cutouts — features absent from Instagram’s core app. The app also supports project management, idea tracking, and performance analytics. Meta plans to expand Edits with features like keyframes, AI enhancements, and collaborative editing. Click here to read more.

     

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

  • ‘I Have a Miraculous Story to Share’: Pastor Freed in Kidnapper Shootout Gives Thanks

  • American missionary Josh Sullivan is giving thanks to God and the thousands who prayed for his safe return after being kidnapped at gunpoint during a church service in South Africa. Sullivan, who has served in the country since 2018, was rescued unharmed after a deadly shootout between his captors and law enforcement. In his first public statement, Sullivan credited his faith in Jesus for sustaining him through the ordeal and asked for privacy as he begins to heal. His story has become a powerful testimony of faith, prayer, and divine intervention. Click here to read more.

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

  • This “indie game” is actually password-stealing malware

  • Hackers are now using fake video games to infect players with AgeoStealer malware, which steals saved browser logins, crypto wallets, and sensitive personal files. Disguised as early-access games on platforms like Discord, these malicious packages use signed Unity installers and password-protected ZIP files to trick users into opening them. Once executed, AgeoStealer silently exfiltrates data in real time to remote servers, posing a serious threat to both personal and corporate security. With infostealers responsible for 75% of all breached credentials in 2024, experts warn gamers to stay vigilant and avoid downloading unknown files. Click here to read more.

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

  • IDF held back Iranian axis from flooding terror groups in the West Bank with weapons, cmdr. says

  • The IDF has successfully thwarted attempts by Iran and its proxies to smuggle weapons across the Israel-Jordan border into the West Bank, significantly curbing a growing security threat. Outgoing Jordan Valley commander Lt.-Col. Aviv Amir reported that under his watch, troops intercepted dozens of smuggling attempts, seized over 500 weapons, and neutralized 85 terrorists. The success has prompted the Defense Ministry to invest NIS 5.2 billion in a new fortified border fence. Amir now moves to a key role in the Southern Command, while the effort continues to adapt to evolving threats. Click here to read more.

     
Tags: Information Security, Information Technology, News, Security
THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 4/21/25

THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 4/21/25

by | Apr 21, 2025 | THE DAILY PRAETORIAN

Image Credit: U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) / Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Dana Beesley | Imagery Disclaimer

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

“International order is not an evolution; it is an imposition… It will last only as long as those who imposed it retain the capacity to defend it.”

 

-Robert Kagan

I. National Defense: Key developments in national defense, particularly cyber and technological warfare.

  • USMC Anti-Ship Missile Deployment To Highly Strategic Luzon Strait Is Unprecedented

  • The U.S. Marine Corps has deployed its Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) with Naval Strike Missiles to the Batanes Islands in the Luzon Strait, marking the closest U.S. land-based cruise missiles have been positioned to China. Part of Exercise Balikatan 2025, this move strengthens deterrence in a key strategic chokepoint between Taiwan and the Philippines. Designed for rapid deployment and precision strikes, NMESIS adds powerful sea-control capability alongside Philippine forces and allies. The deployment reflects a major milestone in the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy and signals a growing regional alliance posture. Click here to read more.

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

  • Money, Chrome, and ChatGPT: The high stakes of Google’s monopoly trial

  • The DOJ has begun the remedies phase in its antitrust case against Google, arguing the tech giant’s dominance stems from a “vicious cycle” of default search engine deals, data collection, and reinvestment. Now that a judge has ruled Google Search is a monopoly, the DOJ proposes sweeping changes: banning default search deals, divesting Chrome, and requiring Google to license its search data to competitors. Google warns such steps would amount to handing over its technology and threaten user privacy, while the DOJ insists they’re necessary to level a market rigged by years of anti-competitive behavior. Click here to read more.

     

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

  • Churches with Record Easter Attendance Report U.S. Is ‘on the Cusp of Spiritual Awakening’

  • Churches across the U.S. reported record-breaking Easter attendance this year, with many pastors pointing to signs of a growing spiritual revival. From small towns to megachurches, congregations saw surges in worshippers, with reports of thousands making first-time commitments to Christ. A new Barna survey supports the trend, showing a 12-point jump since 2022 in the number of adults who say their faith in Jesus remains central to their lives—the highest level in over a decade. Leaders like Josh Howerton and Jack Graham say the momentum feels like more than seasonal enthusiasm, calling it a potential nationwide awakening. Click here to read more.

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

  • Multi-billion-dollar cyberscam industry spreading worldwide, UN says

  • Asian crime syndicates behind the global cyberscam industry are rapidly expanding into Africa, South America, and Eastern Europe as crackdowns in Southeast Asia fail to stem their growth, according to a new UN report. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) warns that these operations, which traffic and coerce thousands into scam labor, have evolved into a multibillion-dollar transnational industry that is difficult to dismantle and quick to relocate. With ties to drug cartels and operations now spanning over 50 nationalities, the UN says the world is at a “critical inflection point” and urges global cooperation before the crisis deepens further. Click here to read more.

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

  • Cutting off Hamas: ‘Post’ visits IDF’s ‘Morag Corridor’ in Gaza

  • The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have established the “Morag Corridor” in southern Gaza, aiming to split Hamas’s Rafah and Khan Yunis brigades and dismantle them. The corridor, approximately 12 km long and up to 2 km wide, is being secured and expanded by the IDF’s 36th Armored Division, with the Golani Brigade and 188th Armored Brigade conducting operations to the south near Rafah. According to IDF assessments, Hamas’s Rafah Brigade has lost its missile capabilities and much of its command structure, but efforts to rebuild using young recruits continue. The operation is part of a broader strategy to pressure Hamas into releasing remaining hostages and weaken it militarily and politically. IDF sources also report signs of growing civilian resistance to Hamas in Gaza. Whether the Morag operation will be decisive remains uncertain, but the IDF continues to press forward. Click here to read more.

     
Tags: Information Security, Information Technology, News, Security
THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cyber Trends – 4/18/25

THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cyber Trends – 4/18/25

by | Apr 19, 2025 | THE DAILY PRAETORIAN

Image Credit: U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) / Navy | Imagery Disclaimer

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

“There is a very clear end-state to this operation, and that begins the moment that the Houthis pledge to stop attacking our ships and putting American lives at risk.”

 

-Sean Parnell

I. National Defense: Key developments in national defense, particularly cyber and technological warfare.

  • U.S. war against the Houthis grinds on. Tell me how this ends.

  • The U.S. military campaign against Houthi rebels in Yemen continues over a month after strikes resumed, but Pentagon leaders maintain there is a clear objective: ending the operation once the Houthis stop attacking U.S. ships and threatening American lives. “There is a very clear end state,” said Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell, signaling optimism that the conflict has definable goals. While the Houthis remain defiant, concerns about long-term munitions usage and diverted resources persist. Still, with no U.S. boots on the ground and ongoing coordination with regional partners, the Pentagon appears committed to a focused and measured mission. Click here to read more.

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

  • How to scan a QR code with your phone

  • QR codes have become an everyday convenience for ordering food, accessing Wi-Fi, storing contact info, and more, thanks to their ability to hold small bits of data or link to websites. Built-in phone cameras can easily scan them, eliminating the need for third-party apps—just point your camera at the code and follow the prompt. While useful, QR codes can also be used for scams, so it’s wise to be cautious about scanning unknown codes. Click here to read more.

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

  • Franklin Graham Delivers Easter Message from the Ashes of California Wildfires

  • As California wildfires continue to burn beyond mainstream media attention, residents remain in mourning and recovery, with many drawing hope from Isaiah 61’s promise of “beauty for ashes.” Franklin Graham, who filmed his 2025 Easter message in the wildfire aftermath, says survivors describe their ordeal as “going through the flames of hell.” His Easter special, airing April 20, will focus on God’s love and hope amid devastation, featuring music from Michael W. Smith and Charity Gayle. Meanwhile, Billy Graham Ministries continues to support Californians through crisis-trained chaplains and Samaritan’s Purse relief efforts. Click here to read more.

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

  • Apple is anticipating a piracy frenzy in Europe

  • The EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) has forced Apple to allow alternative app stores on iOS, but this regulatory win may be opening the door to widespread piracy. On April 17, AltStore—an alternative app store designed for sideloading—launched a secondary store enabling easier access to cracked and modified apps, such as pirated Spotify or ad-free social media versions. While Apple previously warned about the piracy risks of sideloading, the DMA limits its ability to block such stores. With “hacking modes” hidden in apps like AltStore Classic, Apple faces a legal and security challenge it may struggle to contain. Click here to read more.

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

  • Saudi Arabia and Abraham Accords: Normalization with Israel is in Riyadh’s best interests – opinion

  • If Saudi Arabia joins the Abraham Accords, it would mark a transformative shift in Middle Eastern geopolitics, signaling a future where peace and cooperation between Israel and Arab nations could become the norm. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 aims to diversify the kingdom’s economy away from oil dependency, and collaboration with Israel—renowned for its innovation in agriculture, technology, and water solutions—could help achieve that goal. While MBS has indicated that progress on a Palestinian state remains a condition, the mutual benefits could outweigh longstanding political hurdles. Click here to read more.

Tags: Information Security, Information Technology, News, Security
THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 4/17/25

THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 4/17/25

by | Apr 17, 2025 | THE DAILY PRAETORIAN

Image Credit: U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) / Air Force Tech. Sgt. Robert M. Trujillo | Imagery Disclaimer

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

“Deterrence is not a substitute for defense; defense capabilities, representing the potential for effective counteraction, are the essential condition of deterrence.”

 

-James R. Schlesinger

I. National Defense: Key developments in national defense, particularly cyber and technological warfare.

  • B-1B Bones Make Unprecedented Bomber Task Force Deployment To Japan

  • For the first time, U.S. Air Force B-1B bombers are deployed to Misawa Air Base in Japan as part of a Bomber Task Force rotation, expanding America’s strategic reach in the Indo-Pacific amid growing regional tensions. The move, which follows a training flight with South Korean jets and complements the ongoing B-2 bomber presence in Diego Garcia, underscores the Pentagon’s Pacific Deterrence Initiative aimed at countering Chinese and North Korean threats. Equipped with long-range anti-ship missiles, the B-1Bs bolster maritime strike capabilities and reinforce U.S. commitment to regional stability. Click here to read more.

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

  • Tesla’s spring update activates adaptive high beams that won’t blind oncoming drivers

  • Tesla’s spring software update brings a host of new features to its EVs, including adaptive high beams for matrix headlight-equipped cars, improved trip planning with multiple route options, and enhanced dashcam capabilities using more of the vehicle’s cameras. While some features are limited to newer models with AMD-powered infotainment systems, the update also adds quality-of-life upgrades like sideview camera displays, automatic hotspot connectivity, and location-based trunk height settings. Click here to read more.

     

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

  • 2,000 Years After History’s Greatest Miracle, Signs and Wonders Continue at Jerusalem’s Garden Tomb

  • At the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem, where many believe Jesus was buried and resurrected, visitors and staff have reported modern-day miracles that echo the biblical events of Easter. From a Romanian man suddenly regaining perfect eyesight, to a paralyzed Ecuadorian boy miraculously walking again, and a pastor being healed of lifelong headaches, testimonies of healing and spiritual encounters continue to emerge from the site. Guides and ministry leaders say these signs serve as reminders of the living power of Jesus Christ and the hope His resurrection brings. Click here to read more.

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

  • Staying on Windows 10? Infostealers could be lurking, experts warn

  • With Windows 10 support ending in October 2025, more than half of all Windows users are still relying on the soon-to-be-unsupported operating system, posing major cybersecurity risks. New data shows 54% of users were still on Windows 10 in March, and 59% of systems hit by infostealers last December were running it. Experts warn delayed migration could lead to increased vulnerabilities and data breaches, with NordStellar estimating 30–40% of systems may still be on Windows 10 at its end of life. Click here to read more.

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

  • Hamas rejects Israel’s proposal to release 10 hostages in exchange for 45-day ceasefire

  • Hamas has rejected Israel’s offer to release 10 hostages in exchange for a 45-day ceasefire, demanding instead a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, an end to the war, and permission to begin reconstruction. Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya said only a comprehensive agreement involving the release of all hostages and Palestinian prisoners would be accepted, firmly rejecting disarmament. Israeli officials held internal meetings to advance negotiations, while political figures called for a stronger military response. Click here to read more.

     
Tags: Information Security, Information Technology, News, Security
THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 4/16/25

THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 4/16/25

by | Apr 16, 2025 | THE DAILY PRAETORIAN

Image Credit: U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) / Air Force Master Sgt. Matthew Plew | Imagery Disclaimer

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

“The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, we must think anew and act anew.”

 

― Abraham Lincoln

I. National Defense: Key developments in national defense, particularly cyber and technological warfare.

  • U.S. Cutting Forces In Syria By Half, Possible Ripple Effects In Region

  • The United States plans to reduce its troop presence in Syria by half, cutting about 1,000 forces in the coming weeks while maintaining a remaining 1,000 troops. This drawdown comes despite the U.S. military increasing its presence elsewhere in the region amid heightened tensions with Iran and ongoing strikes against the Houthis in Yemen. The move follows the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad and the rise of a U.S.-aligned government in Syria, but experts warn it could embolden Iranian proxies and force Israel to increase its military footprint to contain Iran’s regional ambitions. Click here to read more.

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

  • A first look at Microsoft’s new Xbox Copilot

  • Microsoft is testing an early version of its Copilot for Gaming assistant, which integrates with Xbox accounts to offer gameplay tips, manage achievements, and install games via voice or text within the Xbox mobile app. The AI-powered assistant, eventually coming to Xbox consoles and PCs, may evolve into a full gaming guide using Microsoft’s Copilot Vision. Meanwhile, Microsoft continues expanding its reach by making Xbox games like Sea of Thieves and Avowed available on Battle.net, signaling a broader push to integrate Game Pass into more PC platforms. Click here to read more.

     

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

  • USS Truman hosts Passover events in Red Sea as strike group continues fight against Houthis

  • Aboard the USS Harry S. Truman, sailors observed Passover with a traditional Seder on April 12, 2025, while conducting daily operations against Iran-backed Houthi militants in the Red Sea. Led by Navy Rabbi Lt. Cmdr. Yonatan Warren, the observance provided both Jewish and non-Jewish crew members with spiritual connection and reflection amid combat deployments. The ceremony highlighted themes of liberation and freedom, echoing the carrier group’s mission to protect maritime navigation. More Seders are planned across the strike group, with Easter services also upcoming. Click here to read more.

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

  • Huge ransomware campaign targets AWS S3 storage: attackers have thousands of keys

  • Security researchers have uncovered a ransomware campaign leveraging over 1,200 unique leaked AWS credentials to encrypt S3 buckets using Amazon’s own server-side encryption with customer-provided keys (SSE-C). Victims find ransom notes demanding 0.3 BTC (~$25,000) but often remain unaware as data isn’t deleted or exfiltrated—only encrypted silently. The stolen keys were likely harvested from public code repositories, misconfigured CI/CD pipelines, or forgotten IAM credentials. Experts warn this campaign marks a new, dangerous simplicity in cloud-targeted ransomware. Click here to read more.

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

  • Grossi warns Iran is ‘not far’ from nuclear bomb

  • IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi warned that Iran is “not far” from building a nuclear bomb, emphasizing that the country already has all the necessary components. His comments come ahead of a second round of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks set for this weekend in Rome, following earlier positive negotiations in Oman. Key sticking points include Iran’s refusal to end uranium enrichment and debate over who will oversee any new deal, with Iran backing the IAEA and Israel pushing for U.S. oversight. Grossi also arrived in Tehran Wednesday and may attend the Rome talks. Click here to read more.

     
Tags: Information Security, Information Technology, News, Security

Pin It on Pinterest