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

“Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.”

 

-Theodore Roosevelt

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

  • JJ DID TIE BUCKLEE? Marine Corps adds ‘E’ for ‘Empathy’ to list of leadership traits

  • The Marine Corps has officially updated its leadership traits by adding “empathy” to the classic “JJ DID TIE BUCKLE” acronym, making it “JJ DID TIE BUCKLEE.” This addition reflects a growing recognition of empathy—defined as the ability to understand the emotions and experiences of others—as a critical leadership quality. The change was noted in the Marine Corps’ Sustaining the Transformation and Leading Marines publications. Marine Corps spokesman Lt. Col. Joshua Benson emphasized that empathy has always been a part of Marine culture and leadership, stating that this formal acknowledgment simply puts on paper what Marines have practiced for 249 years. The update builds on discussions from a 2020 Marine Corps University study that highlighted empathy’s importance in leadership, though it’s not a “touchy-feely” concept but one that enables leaders to see situations from their Marines’ perspectives.

    For more on the Marine Corps’ leadership updates and the role of empathy, click here to read more.

     

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

  • Departing OpenAI leader says no company is ready for AGI

  • Miles Brundage, OpenAI’s senior adviser for AGI readiness, announced his departure with a stark warning: neither OpenAI nor the world is prepared for artificial general intelligence (AGI). Brundage emphasized that even within OpenAI leadership, this lack of preparedness is acknowledged. His exit highlights concerns over the company’s shift from its original mission towards commercialization, especially as it faces pressure to transition into a public benefit corporation. Brundage’s departure follows other high-profile exits, including Jan Leike and cofounder Ilya Sutskever, who also cited concerns over the prioritization of products over safety research. Brundage, who expressed frustrations with constraints on research freedom, now plans to contribute to global AI governance from outside OpenAI, while the company has offered support for his future work.

    For more insights into OpenAI’s AGI safety challenges and Brundage’s departure, click here to read more.

     

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

  • NFL Wife Posts Emotional Video of Husband Reading Proverbs 31 over Her and Newborn

  • Chanen Johnson, wife of New Orleans Saints player Juwan Johnson, shared a heartwarming video where her husband reads Proverbs 31 to her while she holds their newborn in the hospital bed. Juwan praised her by reading, “Many women have done noble deeds, but you surpass them all,” reflecting his deep respect for her. In the post, Juwan expressed his desire to lead his daughters by example, with a focus on faith. Earlier, Chanen posted about Juwan reading Scripture to calm her before giving birth, which she described as her “easiest birth yet.” Juwan frequently shares his Christian faith publicly, noting in an interview that he values seeking God’s face over constantly asking for favors, emphasizing “Salvation over circumstances.”

    For more on Juwan Johnson’s faith and family journey, click here to read more.

     
     

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

  • First credible ransomware variant detected for Macs: creeping evolution spells danger

  • Researchers from two cybersecurity firms are analyzing a new macOS malware sample, dubbed “NotLockBit,” that exhibits credible file-locking and data exfiltration capabilities. This malware targets both Intel Macs and Apple silicon Macs using the Rosetta emulation software. Discovered by Trend Micro in October 2024, the malware is being actively developed, with its origins separate from the notorious LockBit gang, despite adopting its name. Written in Go language, NotLockBit collects system information, exfiltrates data to remote servers, and uses asymmetric encryption to lock users’ files. Although Apple’s TCC protections require user consent for certain actions, researchers expect future versions to attempt bypassing these safeguards. While macOS ransomware remains rare, NotLockBit marks a significant development in ransomware threats for Mac users, though no victims or distribution methods have been identified yet.

    For more on the evolving NotLockBit ransomware and its potential impact on macOS security, click here to read more.

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

  • Editor’s Notes: The surge of October 8 Jews and the new wave of Jewish reconnection – comment

  • In the aftermath of the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, a growing number of North American Jews, known as “October 8th Jews,” are rediscovering their Jewish identity. These individuals, many of whom had distanced themselves from Jewish life and community, are now seeking deeper connections with their heritage, faith, and Israel. Jewish institutions are seeing an unprecedented surge in engagement, with synagogues, community centers, and organizations reporting record participation. This renewed interest spans all age groups, with many feeling compelled to reconnect with their Jewish roots in both spiritual and tangible ways. As the Jewish world grapples with rising antisemitism and division, the upcoming Jewish Federations of North America General Assembly aims to address these challenges and foster unity, offering a platform for these “October 8th Jews” to find their place in the broader community.

    For more on the resurgence of Jewish identity and community engagement, click here to read more.

     

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