THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 10/25/24

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

“Peace is not sought in order to provoke war, but war is waged in order to attain peace.”

-Saint Augustine

BREAKING: Israel Strikes Iran, Explosions Reported in the Capital
Israel’s military has confirmed “precise strikes” on military targets within Iran, following ongoing attacks from Iran and its proxies, including a recent missile barrage. Explosions have been reported in Tehran, Karaj, and across Syria and Iraq. IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari emphasized Israel’s stance on defending its sovereignty amid sustained regional hostilities.

For live updates and more details, click here to watch on CBN News’s YouTube channel.

Siri’s big ChatGPT upgrade is here — for better and worse
The upcoming iOS 18.2 update integrates ChatGPT with Siri, allowing for more complex responses and enhanced Visual Intelligence. By processing requests via ChatGPT, Siri moves beyond basic search functions. Visual Intelligence, a Google Lens-style feature, enables users to analyze images for suggestions, from cocktails to home repairs. Although this new Siri has limitations, like occasional “hallucinated” answers, it’s a step forward. Apple’s AI integration aims for more practical uses, evolving toward in-app assistance by 2025.

For further details, click here to read more.

How modern tech is reconstructing ancient biblical texts
Joey McCollum, a PhD candidate at the Australian Catholic University’s Institute for Religion and Critical Inquiry, won ACU’s Three Minute Thesis Final for his innovative adaptation of genetic analysis software to restore handwritten manuscripts, notably the New Testament, to their original states. McCollum’s approach, stemming from his background in software engineering, leverages methods from evolutionary biology to correct human errors in ancient texts, a breakthrough for textual criticism that goes beyond biblical studies. His work allows researchers to retrieve lost layers of meaning, influencing modern interpretations and printed editions of works like the Bible. McCollum’s success highlights the intersection of humanities and science, showing that disciplines like biblical studies can have practical applications and contribute to other fields. His win qualifies him for the Virtual Asia-Pacific 3MT Semi-Final Showcase, where he hopes to advance further.

For more on McCollum’s innovative approach to textual restoration, click here to read more.

China hacks Verizon to target Trump/Vance communications, new report says
Chinese-affiliated hackers, reportedly part of the APT group “Salt Typhoon,” infiltrated U.S. telecom infrastructure and potentially accessed call records of former President Donald Trump, Senator JD Vance, and members of Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign. The breach, involving Verizon, poses national security concerns, with risks of data on call details and message logs being exposed. The FBI and CISA are actively investigating, collaborating with telecoms to contain the threat and strengthen defenses as Election Day approaches.

For more on the security breach and its implications, click here to read more.

Israel confirms it has struck Iran, as explosions rock Tehran
Israel has launched a significant airstrike on Iran, with multiple explosions reported in Tehran, Karaj, and Shiraz early Saturday, in what the IDF confirmed as a retaliation for recent Iranian missile attacks. Over 100 aircraft, including F-35s, targeted military installations, with Israel avoiding nuclear or oil-related sites. The U.S. was informed but did not participate in the operation, which also involved parallel strikes in Syria, Gaza, and Iraq, targeting Iranian-linked groups. Amid Iranian denials and widespread internet outages, Israel remains on high alert, closely monitoring regional responses.

For more details on Israel’s latest strategic offensive, click here to read more.