THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 3/13/25

THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 3/13/25

by | Mar 13, 2025 | THE DAILY PRAETORIAN

Image Credit: iStock / Cineberg | Imagery Disclaimer

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

“The problem with deterrence – apparently sometimes forgotten by our former presidents – is that it is not static, but a creature of the moment, captive to impression, and nursed on action, not talk. It must be maintained hourly and can erode or be lost with a single act of failed nerve, despite all the braggadocio of threatened measures. And, once gone, the remedies needed for its restoration are always more expensive, deadly – and controversial – than would have been its simple maintenance.”

 

-Victor Davis Hanson

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

  • NATO Secretary-General Tells Trump He’s Motivating Alliance Members to Spend More on Defense

  • NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte praised former President Donald Trump during their Oval Office meeting, commending his push for increased defense spending among alliance members. Rutte highlighted the European Commission’s recent call for €800 billion in defense investments and commitments from the UK and Germany. Trump reiterated his role in pressuring NATO countries to meet the 2% GDP defense spending target, though he argued it remains too low. The two leaders also discussed a proposed 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, with Trump expressing cautious optimism about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s willingness to negotiate. Click here to read more.

     

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

  • Microsoft’s new Xbox Copilot will act as an AI gaming coach

  • Microsoft is set to launch Copilot for Gaming, an AI-powered assistant designed to help Xbox players navigate games and provide strategic guidance. Initially rolling out through the Xbox mobile app, Copilot will act as a second-screen companion, offering tips, coaching, and game-related insights. A demo showcased its ability to analyze gameplay in Overwatch 2, suggesting hero picks and tactical adjustments, while in Minecraft, it guided players on crafting and resource locations. Microsoft plans to test early versions with Xbox Insiders in April before expanding to more devices. The full scope of its capabilities remains unclear, but Microsoft aims to refine Copilot based on user feedback. Click here to read more.

     

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

  • First of 3 Significant Blood Moons Hits Tonight, Landing Directly on Jewish Holiday

  • Skywatchers across the U.S. can witness a “blood moon” tonight, with peak visibility at 3 a.m. Eastern. This total lunar eclipse marks the first of four major celestial events over the next two years, including two more blood moons and a solar eclipse. Notably, this eclipse falls on Purim, a Jewish holiday commemorating the biblical story of Esther. Some prophecy experts link blood moons to significant events for Israel and the Middle East, especially amid rising tensions with Hamas, Iran, and Syria. Historical blood moon tetrads have coincided with key moments in Jewish history, and another tetrad is set for 2032-2033, exactly 2,000 years after Jesus’ crucifixion. Click here to read more.

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

  • Threat hunters successfully use OpenAI’s Operator for phishing attack

  • Cybersecurity experts at Symantec have demonstrated that AI agents, such as OpenAI’s Operator, could become potential cyberattack vectors. Unlike passive LLMs, Operator can interact with web pages and perform tasks, making it more dangerous if exploited. In an experiment, Symantec researchers found that while Operator initially refused to execute a phishing attack, tweaking prompts allowed it to bypass security restrictions and craft a convincing phishing email with a malicious PowerShell script. The findings highlight the growing risks of AI automation in cybercrime, as future AI agents could autonomously breach networks and execute attacks. Click here to read more.

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

  • Behind the scenes at the Pentagon on the day Hezbollah’s pagers exploded – interview

  • A senior U.S. official has, for the first time, shared details about Israel’s covert operation on October 17, 2024, when Hezbollah’s pagers exploded, injuring over 4,000 operatives and killing at least 59. Then-defense minister Yoav Gallant alerted U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin about a “special capability” but withheld specifics. Within 30 minutes, explosions were reported across Lebanon. The operation, which later targeted Hezbollah’s walkie-talkies, was a “use-it-or-lose-it” scenario due to Hezbollah’s growing suspicions. U.S. officials praised Israel’s ingenuity and suggested that prior knowledge of the attack could have influenced Biden’s stance on Hezbollah. Click here to read more.

     
Tags: Information Security, Information Technology, News, Security
THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 3/12/25

THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 3/12/25

by | Mar 12, 2025 | THE DAILY PRAETORIAN

Image Credit: iStock / Carmen K Sisson | Imagery Disclaimer

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

“Economic power begets military power.”

 

— Historian Paul Kennedy

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

  • China’s shipbuilding dominance a national security risk for US: Report

  • China’s dominance in global shipbuilding, now controlling over 50% of the market, has raised economic and national security concerns for the U.S. and its allies, according to a new CSIS report. In 2024 alone, a single Chinese shipbuilder produced more commercial vessels by tonnage than the entire U.S. industry has since WWII. The report warns that China’s state-owned shipbuilding giant, CSSC, benefits from Beijing’s military-civil fusion strategy, using foreign contracts to fund warship production and modernize the Chinese Navy. President Trump has vowed to revive American shipbuilding, proposing tariffs, docking fees on Chinese vessels, and a new White House office for shipbuilding to counteract China’s “dual-use” shipbuilding ecosystem. Click here to read more.

     

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

  • All this bad AI is wrecking a whole generation of gadgets

  • The anticipated AI-driven gadget revolution has failed to materialize as promised, largely because AI assistants like Siri, Alexa, and ChatGPT still aren’t reliable or transformative enough to change how we interact with technology. Tech companies bet big on AI-powered assistants replacing traditional interfaces, envisioning a future where voice commands replace typing and tapping. However, these assistants remain limited, unreliable, and far from game-changing. Meanwhile, the industry’s obsession with AI has led to a stagnation in innovation for hardware and overall gadget quality, leaving consumers without the groundbreaking devices they were promised. Click here to read more.

     

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

  • How to break free from perfectionism

  • The world pressures us to be perfect, and as Christians, Matthew 5:48 adds another layer: “Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” This pursuit can trap us in an exhausting cycle of high expectations, failure, and self-condemnation. However, Scripture reminds us that God never expected us to achieve perfection on our own. Romans 3:23 states that all have sinned, and John 15:5 confirms that apart from Christ, we can do nothing. True transformation comes not through striving but by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). The Holy Spirit refines us, and Christ’s righteousness completes us (2 Corinthians 5:21). Instead of chasing unattainable standards, we must embrace God’s grace, surrender to His perfection, and allow His Spirit to work through us. Let go of self-reliance, embrace vulnerability, and trust that His power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Click here to read more.

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

  • Massive research into iOS apps uncovers widespread secret leaks, abysmal coding practices

  • A Cybernews investigation into 156,000 iOS apps revealed that 71% of them leak at least one hardcoded secret, including API keys, cloud storage credentials, and even payment processor access, posing major security risks. The study found over 815,000 exposed secrets, with some apps containing unencrypted storage endpoints leaking 406TB of data. High-risk keys, such as Stripe financial keys and JWT authentication tokens, were also discovered, potentially leading to fraud and data breaches. Experts warn that Apple’s App Store review process does not check for such vulnerabilities, making it crucial for developers to remove hardcoded secrets and implement better security measures. Click here to read more.

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

  • IDF deploying ‘worm-sized’ spy devices in Gaza to track hostages, future targets – report

  • Israel has ramped up its intelligence-gathering efforts in Gaza, deploying drones to plant espionage devices and collect crucial data on hostages and potential military targets, according to reports from Palestinian terror factions. These drones are allegedly dropping surveillance equipment, including miniature wiretapping devices, in strategic locations such as cemeteries and urban areas. Hamas and other Gaza-based groups claim to have detected and neutralized some of these devices, while also monitoring drop sites for Israeli retrieval attempts. Amid heightened tensions, Hamas has issued new security measures, warning its members and families to avoid sharing sensitive information, particularly as Israel allegedly intensifies intelligence efforts during Ramadan. Click here to read more.

     
Tags: Information Security, Information Technology, News, Security
THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 3/11/25

THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 3/11/25

by | Mar 11, 2025 | THE DAILY PRAETORIAN

Image Credit: U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) / Air Force Capt. Nathan Poblete | Imagery Disclaimer

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

“Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by people. It is the spirit of those people who follow and the people who lead that gains victory.”

 

-General George Patton

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

  • You Don’t Need A Kill Switch To Hobble Exported F-35s

  • Despite recent European media speculation, Lockheed Martin and multiple governments have denied that the F-35 has a remote “kill switch,” but the aircraft remains heavily reliant on U.S.-controlled maintenance, logistics, and mission planning systems, meaning any foreign-operated fleet could quickly become non-functional if American support were withdrawn. This concern has resurfaced amid shifting U.S. foreign policy, particularly after President Trump’s decision to cut military aid to Ukraine and questions about NATO commitments, raising fears that future U.S. arms exports to Europe could decline. While most F-35 operators depend on the U.S. for critical software and mission data, Israel is the only country with sovereign control over its fleet, highlighting the geopolitical risks tied to reliance on American-made fighter jets. Click here to read more.
     

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

  • Spain to impose massive fines for not labelling AI-generated content

  • Spain’s government has approved a bill enforcing strict AI transparency rules, imposing fines up to €35 million ($38.2 million) or 7% of global revenue on companies that fail to label AI-generated content, particularly deepfakes. The legislation aligns with the EU’s AI Act, making Spain one of the first European countries to adopt comprehensive AI regulations aimed at preventing misinformation and protecting democracy. The bill also bans subliminal AI techniques that manipulate vulnerable groups and prohibits AI-based biometric classification for risk assessment, though real-time biometric surveillance remains permitted for national security. The newly established AI agency, AESIA, will oversee enforcement, except in cases involving privacy, finance, and elections, which will be handled by respective regulators. Click here to read more.

     

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

  • NBA Star Trey Jemison Credits God for His Success and Shares Bible Studies with Fans

  • Los Angeles Lakers player Trey Jemison openly shares his Christian faith, using his platform to inspire others and acknowledge that his talent and success are gifts from God. Despite early struggles in his basketball career, Jemison believes divine intervention has led him to the NBA, crediting his journey to God’s favor. Through Instagram, he engages his followers in Bible studies and discussions on faith, emphasizing that his identity is rooted not in basketball but as a “son of the Most High.” Jemison remains transparent about his spiritual journey, admitting imperfections but striving daily to grow closer to Christ. Click here to read more.

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

  • New Ballista IoT Botnet Linked to Italian Threat Actor

  • Cato Networks has uncovered a new IoT botnet, Ballista, which exploits a two-year-old TP-Link Archer router vulnerability (CVE-2023-1389) to compromise devices globally. Linked with moderate confidence to an Italian threat actor, Ballista has targeted organizations in the US, Australia, China, and Mexico, spanning industries like manufacturing, healthcare, and technology. The malware, first detected in January 2025, establishes a TLS-encrypted command-and-control (C2) channel to execute commands, spread malware, and launch DDoS attacks. Attackers have recently switched from using a hardcoded IP address to Tor domains for increased stealth. With over 6,000 exposed devices still vulnerable, the botnet remains an active threat. Click here to read more.

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

  • Houthi terrorists vow to resume attacks on Israeli ships after Gaza aid deadline ended

  • Yemen’s Houthi movement has declared an immediate ban on Israeli ships passing through the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait, Gulf of Aden, and the Arabian Sea, vowing to attack any vessel that violates the restriction. The ban will remain in place until Israel reopens Gaza’s crossings and allows humanitarian aid in, according to Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree. The Iran-backed Houthis have previously carried out over 100 naval attacks on commercial ships since November 2023, sinking two vessels and causing global shipping disruptions. The U.S. State Department officially designated the Houthis as a “foreign terrorist organization” on March 4, 2025, following President Trump’s call for the move earlier this year. Click here to read more.

     
Tags: Information Security, Information Technology, News, Security
THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 3/10/25

THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 3/10/25

by | Mar 10, 2025 | THE DAILY PRAETORIAN

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

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

“Flexibility is the key to airpower.”

 

— Gen. Giulio Douhet

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

  • B-21 Aerial Refueling Demands Further Point To It Being A Stealthy Flying Gas Can

  • The B-21 Raider, the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation stealth bomber, is expected to have significant aerial refueling needs, requiring adjustments in tanker strategy to support its long-range and high-efficiency operations. According to Gen. Randall Reed, the B-21’s requirements will demand higher fuel transfer capabilities, signaling potential changes in the Next-Generation Air-Refueling System (NGAS). The bomber’s stealth features also pose new challenges, as linking up with non-stealthy tankers could compromise its ability to remain undetected. With the Air Force already grappling with aerial refueling shortfalls, the NGAS initiative—which could include stealthy tankers—faces budgetary hurdles alongside other modernization programs like Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD). As the B-21 nears operational deployment, decisions on tanker procurement and fleet expansion will be crucial to ensuring its global strike capabilities. Click here to read more.
     

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

  • A $10,000 Mac is challenging $250,000 GPU rigs: should Nvidia be concerned?

  • Apple’s M3 Ultra Mac Studio is making waves in the AI community with its ability to run 600-billion-parameter models locally, offering a 512GB unified memory that rivals high-end Nvidia GPU clusters. With a $10,000 price tag, it provides a cost-effective alternative for AI inference, creative professionals, and developers looking for on-device AI processing. Industry experts believe this move could disrupt demand for cloud-based AI, challenge Nvidia’s grip on the inference market, and drive a shift toward localized AI deployment. Early performance estimates suggest 20-50 tokens per second, making it a serious contender for AI applications. Click here to read more.

     

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

  • First of 3 Significant Blood Moons Hits This Week, Landing Directly on Jewish Holiday

  • A series of four major celestial events in the next two years—including three “blood moons”—could hold prophetic significance, particularly for Israel and the Middle East. The first total lunar eclipse will occur on March 14, 2025, coinciding with Purim, the Jewish holiday commemorating deliverance from annihilation in the biblical story of Esther. Another blood moon will appear in September 2025, just before Rosh Hashanah, followed by another Purim blood moon on March 3, 2026. Bible prophecy experts point to historical tetrads (four blood moons in two years) coinciding with major Jewish events, suggesting these may signal global shifts, especially concerning Israel. Could these cosmic signs be divine messages? Click here to read more.

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

  • Musk blames X outage on cyberattack

  • Social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, experienced intermittent outages on Monday, affecting thousands of users. Elon Musk attributed the disruption to an unusually powerful cyberattack, suggesting that either a large coordinated group or a nation-state was responsible. While Musk later pointed to IP addresses from the Ukraine region, cybersecurity experts pushed back, noting that most rogue traffic originated from the U.S., Vietnam, and Brazil. The attack, a denial-of-service (DoS) operation, overwhelmed X’s infrastructure but is difficult to trace to specific perpetrators. This comes as Musk, a close adviser to President Trump, continues to criticize Ukraine’s war efforts while maintaining the country’s access to Starlink satellite services. Click here to read more.

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

  • Israel’s new status will be defending non-Islamist minorities in the Middle East – opinion

  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have warned Syria against harming the Druze minority, signaling Israel’s willingness to defend persecuted groups in the region. Their statement follows reports of violence in Jaramana, a Druze village near Damascus, reinforcing Israel’s potential shift toward a broader regional strategy that supports non-Arab and non-Islamist minorities. Analysts suggest this move aligns with the historical Canaanite ideology, which sought alliances beyond traditional Zionism, and could reshape Israel’s geopolitical approach. With rising Christian persecution, Yazidi genocide, and regional instability, Israel may seek new alliances beyond the Abraham Accords, strengthening diplomatic, military, and humanitarian ties. Click here to read more.

     
Tags: Information Security, Information Technology, News, Security
THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 3/6/25

THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 3/6/25

by | Mar 6, 2025 | THE DAILY PRAETORIAN

Image Credit: U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) / Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Thomas Gooley | Imagery Disclaimer

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

“Advanced systems can inform us faster and more efficiently, but we must always maintain a human decision in the loop.”

 

— Gen. Anthony Cotton

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

  • This Is How The Military Wants AI To Help Control America’s Nuclear Arsenal

  • The U.S. Air Force and Space Force are actively exploring the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) to enhance decision-making speed, secure communications, and improve logistics. AI could analyze vast amounts of data, predict maintenance needs, and strengthen cybersecurity, though officials emphasize that humans will always be in control of nuclear strike decisions. Military leaders stress that AI will assist but never replace human decision-making, addressing concerns about automation in nuclear operations. As discussions on AI’s role in national security continue, the Pentagon aims to balance technological advancements with strict human oversight. Click here to read more.
     

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

  • What went wrong with Skype?

  • Once a pioneering VoIP service, Skype was Microsoft’s biggest acquisition in 2011, but mismanagement and poor strategic decisions led to its decline. Despite its dominance in the early 2010s, Skype failed to adapt to mobile trends and was overshadowed by Zoom and Microsoft Teams during the pandemic. Microsoft slowly deprioritized Skype, shutting down offices and shifting focus to newer platforms. Now, Skype is a relic of missed opportunities, fading into obscurity as Microsoft embraces AI and cloud-based communication tools. Click here to read more.

     

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

  • Director Jon Erwin Shares the God-Centered Vision behind ‘House of David’

  • Renowned faith-based filmmaker Jon Erwin, known for “I Can Only Imagine” and “Jesus Revolution,” is bringing the story of David to life in the new biblical series “House of David.” Produced by Wonder Project, the series spans multiple seasons and begins with David’s early years, featuring key moments like his anointing by Samuel and his battle with Goliath. Erwin hopes the show will appeal to both faith-based and mainstream audiences, drawing comparisons to “Game of Thrones.” With a strong focus on storytelling, “House of David” aims to inspire viewers to return to the Bible. Click here to read more.

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

  • Your mind, hacked: the quantum computing nightmare

  • Quantum computing threatens to unravel privacy as we know it, allowing governments and corporations to manipulate human behavior with unprecedented precision. With its ability to crack encryption instantly, quantum technology could make private chats, financial transactions, and even personal decisions vulnerable to external influence. Experts warn that once privacy is gone, so is free will, as quantum-driven AI could shape political beliefs, consumer choices, and societal narratives without us even realizing it. The race for quantum supremacy is already underway, and whoever gets there first will hold the ultimate power. Click here to read more.

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

  • Witkoff: ‘Trump wants Hamas to release Israeli-American Edan Alexander’

  • U.S. President Donald Trump is demanding the release of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander as proof that Hamas is serious about negotiations, according to U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff. With reports that Alexander is wounded, Trump has made his release a top priority, warning Hamas that there will be “consequences” if it fails to comply. Witkoff confirmed that a date has been set for a return to fighting, though it remains undisclosed. Meanwhile, the U.S. and Israel are discussing potential joint action against Hamas if hostages are not freed soon. Trump hinted that such action could involve military strikes, emphasizing that someone needs to be “much tougher” on the terror group. The pressure is mounting—will Hamas comply or risk further escalation? Click here to read more.

     
Tags: Information Security, Information Technology, News, Security

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