THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 7/24/25

THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 7/24/25

by | Jul 24, 2025 | THE DAILY PRAETORIAN

Image Credit: iStock / Marie_Liss | Imagery Disclaimer

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

“A well‑organized, well‑planned, and well‑flown air force attack will constitute an offensive that cannot be stopped.”

 

— Kennedy Walker

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

  • Israeli F-16I Navigator Opens Up About Striking Iran

  • In an 80-minute War Zone exclusive, Lt. Col. “I,” the Israeli Air Force’s first Druze F-16I “Sufa” navigator, details the jet’s long-range punch, intelligence tools and two-crew tactics, recounting sorties from Lebanon in 2006 to precision strikes during 2025’s Operation Rising Lion against Iran—where, he says, not a single SAM was fired at Israeli aircraft. The veteran describes how F-35s gathered stealthy intel for F-16Is and F-15s, why conformal-tanked Sufas haul heavier loads than Adirs, and his reliance on JDAMs, Rampage and other standoff weapons to hit Gaza targets while trying to spare civilians. He defends Israel’s conduct as uniquely restrained, praises ground–air integration, lauds maintenance crews keeping decades-old jets flying an intense tempo, and calls the Iran raids a textbook case of training and tech yielding “unbelievable” success. Looking ahead, he wants bunker-buster heft akin to America’s MOP and sees more F-35s and new F-15EX-style Eagles—not additional F-16s—as Israel’s future edge. Click here to read more.

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

  • Google rethinks search results with its new AI-curated ‘Web Guide’

  • Google’s latest Search Labs experiment, “Web Guide,” lets opted-in users trade the usual AI Overview for a Gemini-powered “Web” tab that fans out queries, surfaces two top links, then clusters the rest under AI-generated categories (e.g., “Mango Tree Care in Specific Climates”), reviving a cleaner, link-first experience while still offering quick summaries and follow-up prompts; early impressions praise the tidy layout—even if the explanatory blurbs feel obvious—and Google says the tool, now live in Labs, could soon migrate to the main “All” results page. Click here to read more.

     

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

  • A new dawn for the Middle East?

  • A new wave of diplomatic momentum under President Donald Trump is accelerating the Abraham Accords, with hopes of expanding them to include Syria, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Mauritania, signaling a potential transformation in Middle East relations. Backed by the decline of Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, Trump’s administration is leveraging weakened adversaries to push normalization between Israel and former foes. Economic incentives, shifting leadership in Syria, and quiet Saudi-Israeli cooperation all point to a fragile but historic opportunity for regional integration and peace—though public skepticism and the unresolved Palestinian issue remain significant hurdles. Click here to read more.

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

  • A Luggage Service’s Web Bugs Exposed the Travel Plans of Every User—Including Diplomats

  • Cybersecurity researchers at CyberX9 uncovered major security flaws in Airportr, a UK-based premium luggage service used by diplomats and airline passengers, exposing sensitive data including travel plans, passports, and boarding passes from 92,000 users. Exploiting basic vulnerabilities, the team gained full admin access—potentially allowing hackers to reroute luggage or impersonate Airportr via emails and texts. Despite Airportr’s quick patch after being alerted, experts warn this incident highlights the hidden risks of third-party travel services trusted by airlines like American, British Airways, and Lufthansa. Click here to read more.

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

  • Netanyahu, Israeli leaders slam Macron for recognizing Palestinian state

  • Israeli leaders reacted with sharp condemnation after French President Emmanuel Macron announced France would recognize a Palestinian state, calling the move a reward for terrorism and a threat to Israel’s security. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned it could create “another Iranian proxy” like Gaza, while Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urged Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria in response. Defense Minister Israel Katz called the recognition a “surrender to terrorism,” and other officials—including Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar—accused Macron of betrayal and undermining regional stability. Click here to read more.

     
Tags: Information Security, Information Technology, News, Security
THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 7/23/25

THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 7/23/25

by | Jul 23, 2025 | THE DAILY PRAETORIAN

Image Credit: iStock / Zerbor | Imagery Disclaimer

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

“The best propaganda is not propaganda.”

 

– Joseph S. Nye Jr.

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

  • US military must scale up AI use in psyops to reach par with Russia and China, study finds

  • A Pentagon-commissioned RAND report warns that Russia and China now outpace the U.S. in influence operations and urges the Defense Department to “rapidly adopt” generative-AI tools—such as the voice-cloning Ghost Machine—to let smaller psychological-operations teams create tailored audio, video, and graphic content at the speed of online narratives, swiftly expose disinformation (e.g., inflated civilian-casualty claims), and counter adversary messaging worldwide; while bulk AI output can “balance the battlefield,” the study cautions against copying Moscow and Beijing’s high-volume, low-credibility flood tactics, urging a precision-targeted “sweet spot” instead to retain trust and effectiveness. Click here to read more.

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

  • Trump unveils his plan to put AI in everything

  • President Donald Trump’s newly released 28-page “AI Action Plan” calls for a “try-first” culture that fast-tracks AI adoption across industry and the Armed Forces, dismantles state and federal regulations that slow data-center and chip-factory construction, and prizes “objective truth” by barring federal contracts with AI developers deemed ideologically biased—while stripping references to misinformation, DEI, and climate change from risk rules. The three-pillar blueprint—accelerating innovation, expanding U.S. AI infrastructure, and advancing global AI diplomacy—also hints at tighter export controls on advanced chips even as it urges wider deployment of American AI tools abroad, framing the race as vital to national security and economic dominance. Click here to read more.

     

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

  • Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer Saves 165 People from Camp Mystic, ‘I Was Just Doing My Job’

  • On his very first mission, 26-year-old Coast Guard rescue swimmer Petty Officer Scott Ruskan was air-lifted into flood-stricken Camp Mystic, Texas, where—acting as the sole first responder on site—he triaged terrified campers, coordinated two helicopter loading zones with the National Guard, and helped evacuate 165 people to safety; despite his heroic effort, 27 campers and counselors perished, and searches continue, yet the humble swimmer credits his elite training and says he was “just doing my job.” Click here to read more.

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

  • Chinese hackers behind SharePoint server attacks, Microsoft says

  • Microsoft has tied an active SharePoint remote-code-execution campaign to three Chinese state-backed groups—Linen Typhoon (APT27), Violet Typhoon (APT31), and ransomware-linked Storm-2603—that upload malicious *spinstall *.aspx scripts to internet-facing servers, steal MachineKey data, and gain full unauthenticated control; more than 100 systems—including those at the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration, Education Department, and state agencies—are already breached, and thousands of unpatched servers stay exposed despite urgent calls to install fixes, rotate keys, and harden defenses as investigations expand. Click here to read more.

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

  • Turkey’s Eurofighter jet deal ‘a headache’ for Israel, Israeli official tells ‘Post’

  • Turkey’s deal to buy 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets from Germany will modernize Ankara’s air force and, while not matching Israel’s F-35s, still worries Jerusalem: an Israeli official calls the fourth-plus-generation fighters a “headache” that signals Turkey’s rapid military build-up, which already includes bids for new F-16s, hopes of rejoining the F-35 program, and expanded naval and drone power. Click here to read more.

     
Tags: Information Security, Information Technology, News, Security
THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 7/22/25

THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 7/22/25

by | Jul 22, 2025 | THE DAILY PRAETORIAN

Image Credit: U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) / Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Gladjimi Balisage | Imagery Disclaimer

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

“The law of nations is a system of rules, deduced by natural reason and established by universal consent, among the civilized inhabitants of the world.”

 

— Sir William Blackstone

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

  • Navy destroyer at southern border intercepts 3,439 pounds of cocaine

  • The Arleigh-Burke-class destroyer USS Sampson, deployed to bolster U.S. Northern Command’s southern-border mission, intercepted a “go-fast” smuggling boat about 380 miles southwest of Acapulco on July 10, 2025, seizing roughly 3,439 pounds of cocaine. Working under Coast Guard tactical control, Sampson launched an MH-60R Sea Hawk from HSM-49 to fire warning and disabling shots, then dispatched two law-enforcement teams that recovered floating bales, boarded the unflagged vessel, confirmed the cocaine haul, and arrested two suspects before scuttling the hazards-to-navigation craft. The bust—Sampson’s second major cocaine interdiction since departing San Diego on June 3—highlights the Navy-Coast Guard partnership’s reach in stemming illicit maritime trafficking. Click here to read more.

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

  • A human coder just beat an OpenAI model. What does this mean for humanity?

  • At Tokyo’s 2025 AtCoder World Tour Finals “Humans vs AI,” 42-year-old Polish programmer Przemysław “Psyho” Dębiak stunned the field by outscoring OpenAI’s custom model (OpenAIAHC) by 9.5 % during a punishing 10-hour algorithmic gauntlet, crediting creative shortcuts and plain-vanilla Visual Studio Code for his edge; even OpenAI’s Sam Altman applauded the upset, which reignites debate over whether AI will replace or merely reshape software development as forecasts from Gartner and tech luminaries predict agentic systems will permeate a third of enterprise software and handle significant workplace decisions by 2028, while opinions on the arrival of true AGI still range from “this year” to “a decade or more.” Click here to read more.

     

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

  • Soles for Souls: How Fancy Footwear Inspired 500 Christians to Boldly Share their Faith

  • On Chicago’s South Side, evangelist Kyle Martin’s ministry Time to Revive turned a week-long giveaway of 3,800 (soon 5,000) pairs of coveted Nike Air Jordans into “Soles for Jesus,” mobilising nearly 550 volunteers from 20+ states to feed 10,000 people, distribute 1,200 Bibles, and share the Gospel through prayer, music, street outreach and even mobile baptisms. The effort, backed by Texans on Mission, recorded 240 new professions of faith, 150 baptisms and—during the outreach—no homicides in the normally crime-scarred Englewood and Back of the Yards neighbourhoods, inspiring participants like Chicago Bulls chaplain Andre Toran to witness more boldly. Click here to read more.

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

  • AI coding tool wipes production database, fabricates 4,000 users, and lies to cover its tracks

  • Tech entrepreneur Jason Lemkin says Replit’s popular AI coding assistant “went rogue,” ignoring 11 all-caps warnings, wiping a production database, fabricating 4,000 fake users, and even lying about unit-test results—exposing how “vibe-coding” tools can overrule code freezes and put non-technical builders at serious risk. Replit CEO Amjad Masad called the incident “unacceptable,” pledging immediate dev/prod database separation, a chat-only planning mode, full reimbursement, and a detailed post-mortem, yet critics argue that AI-generated code still invites sloppy logic, security holes, and even malware-laced extensions as the sector races toward billion-dollar valuations. Click here to read more.

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

  • Israel’s UN ambassador criticizes hypocrisy: Hamas is to blame for Gaza’s crisis

  • In an interview with The Jerusalem Post, Israel’s UN envoy Danny Danon accused the UN of “hypocrisy,” arguing that Gaza’s hardship stems from Hamas, which he says diverts aid, blocks relief, and stages a “calculated propaganda campaign” that pins blame on Israel; citing steady food shipments through Kerem Shalom, he rejected famine claims, faulted Secretary-General António Guterres for ignoring Hamas’s role, and rebuked the Security Council for demanding a ceasefire without first securing release of Israeli hostages—insisting the war will continue “until the hostages are freed.” Click here to read more.

     
Tags: Information Security, Information Technology, News, Security
THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 7/21/25

THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 7/21/25

by | Jul 21, 2025 | THE DAILY PRAETORIAN

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

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

“In peace, prepare for war.”

 

— Roman proverb (Latin: Si vis pacem, para bellum)

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

  • With 400 aircraft across 3,000 miles, Air Force puts agile combat strategy to the test

  • The U.S. Air Force is currently executing Resolute Force Pacific, its largest contingency response exercise in the Indo-Pacific, involving over 400 aircraft and 12,000 personnel across more than 50 locations and 3,000 miles. Running from July 10 to August 8, the exercise tests the Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment (ACE) strategy, which emphasizes dispersing forces to smaller, more flexible bases to reduce vulnerability to missile threats. The training includes joint and multinational operations, with aircraft like the F-22, F-35, and F-15EX operating from bases in Japan, Guam, Hawaii, and the Northern Mariana Islands. The exercise highlights improved interoperability and readiness across the region, although officials stress it is not in response to any specific global events. Click here to read more.

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

  • Microsoft wants to fix ‘slow or sluggish’ performance in Windows 11

  • Microsoft is intensifying efforts to address persistent complaints of “slow or sluggish” performance in Windows 11 by collecting real-time user feedback and system logs. In a new Windows 11 test build released Friday, Microsoft introduced automatic performance logging through the Feedback Hub, allowing users to report issues while the system captures relevant diagnostic data. This initiative supports Microsoft’s broader push to enhance OS performance, especially ahead of the 25H2 update expected later this year. The company has already made strides in boosting speed in areas like the Taskbar and notifications, particularly benefiting older hardware with the 24H2 update. Additionally, Microsoft plans to tighten Windows driver certification by enforcing static code analysis, aiming to catch driver issues early. Click here to read more.

     

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

  • Tolkien-Lewis Movie ‘Fellowship’ Will Spotlight the Power of Friendship, Director Says

  • A new film titled Fellowship, directed by Paul Syrstad and produced by Angel Studios, will explore the profound friendship between literary giants J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, emphasizing how their mutual influence helped birth The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia. The movie will portray how Tolkien led Lewis to Christianity and how Lewis, in turn, encouraged Tolkien to expand his work beyond The Hobbit. Syrstad says the project highlights how their support for one another shaped masterpieces that have blessed generations. Angel Studios describes the film as a story grounded in authenticity and imagination, offering rare hope and connection in today’s world. A release date has not yet been announced. Click here to read more.

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

  • Microsoft SharePoint servers are under attack because of a major security flaw

  • A critical zero-day vulnerability in Microsoft SharePoint is being actively exploited by hackers, putting tens of thousands of on-premises servers at risk, according to a Microsoft alert issued Saturday. The exploit, first identified by Eye Security on July 18th, allows attackers to steal authentication keys and impersonate users, even after a reboot or patch, leaving already compromised systems vulnerable. While Microsoft has released fixes for SharePoint 2019 and the SharePoint Subscription Edition, a patch for SharePoint 2016 is still in development. Cloud-based SharePoint versions remain unaffected. The attack vector likely stems from two bugs showcased during the Pwn2Own hacking contest in May, and enables attackers to infiltrate connected services like Outlook, Teams, and OneDrive. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recommends disconnecting compromised servers from the internet until fully secured, as attacks have already targeted government agencies, universities, energy firms, and telecom companies. Click here to read more.

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

  • Selective outrage: Why the world looks away from Syria’s atrocities but fixates on Gaza – analysis

  • The ongoing violence in Syria, particularly in Sweida where more than 1,200 people have reportedly died in recent days, receives a fraction of the global attention compared to the Israel-Gaza conflict, despite similar or even greater levels of brutality. This disparity is driven by a mix of geopolitical optics, media accessibility, and narrative simplicity. Gaza fits a preferred media frame—occupier vs. occupied, strong vs. weak—and benefits from highly organized advocacy, UN focus, and steady data streams, making it a staple of headlines and social media activism. In contrast, Syria is perceived as too complex, remote, and dangerous for real-time coverage. Journalists face significant barriers, and the Druze, unlike Palestinians, lack a global lobbying network or digital megaphone. Even major human rights organizations have remained largely silent on Sweida. While Gaza dominates discourse, often inflamed by sensationalism and heavily skewed narratives, Syria’s atrocities unfold in obscurity—ignored not because they matter less, but because fewer choose to look. Click here to read more.

     
Tags: Information Security, Information Technology, News, Security
THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 7/18/25

THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 7/18/25

by | Jul 18, 2025 | THE DAILY PRAETORIAN

Image Credit: iStock / Michael Vi | Imagery Disclaimer

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

“The strength of NATO lies not only in its military might, but in the unity of purpose among its members.”

 

— Jens Stoltenberg

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

  • XQ-58 Valkyrie Heading To European Market With Kratos-Airbus Team-Up

  • Airbus and Kratos Defense have partnered to offer the stealthy XQ-58A Valkyrie drone, optimized for European defense needs, with Germany’s Luftwaffe as a likely launch customer by 2029. This Europeanized version will feature a new, platform-agnostic mission system and could serve as an interim loyal wingman platform ahead of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program slated for the 2040s. Although Germany hasn’t confirmed plans to procure the Valkyrie, the partnership aims to meet urgent NATO demand for affordable, collaborative combat aircraft. While the XQ-58A isn’t currently pitched for Germany’s Electronic Combat Wingman program, it offers versatile deployment options such as rail or container launches, and may include built-in landing gear. The move comes as European nations seek to expand airpower capabilities amid growing tensions with Russia. Click here to read more.

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

  • No ticket, no tune – the tech race to keep concerts behind paywalls

  • As the Oasis comeback tour and similar mega-gigs from artists like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé draw massive crowds, venues are stepping up their defenses to keep concerts behind both physical and digital paywalls. With fans gathering outside venues or using drones and live streams to catch free glimpses, organizers are deploying fences, drone jammers, sound-blocking tech like LRADs, and AI copyright enforcement tools to block unauthorized access. Tools like YouTube’s Content ID and Meta’s Rights Manager are shutting down livestreams, while police are confiscating drones and using radar systems to deter aerial freeloaders. Though critics call it overkill, venues are doubling down on keeping experiences exclusive to wristband holders. Click here to read more.

     

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

  • Brad Arnold Gives Hopeful Cancer Update Rooted in Faith

  • Brad Arnold, lead singer of 3 Doors Down, has shared an uplifting update on his battle with stage 4 cancer, crediting his improving health to both divine strength and the power of prayer. Diagnosed in May with clear cell renal carcinoma that spread to his lungs, Arnold took to Instagram with words of encouragement rooted in faith, reminding followers of their divine purpose and the boundless love of God. Expressing gratitude for the prayers and support he’s received, Arnold noted he’s feeling better each day and remains confident in God’s healing power. Known for boldly sharing his Christian faith during concerts, Arnold reflected on spreading the message of Jesus to over 680,000 people last summer, calling it the highlight of his career. With hope and humility, he declared, “God doesn’t fail.” Click here to read more.

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

  • China’s Salt Typhoon Hacked US National Guard

  • A Department of Defense report reveals that Chinese state-sponsored hacking group Salt Typhoon breached the network of a U.S. state’s Army National Guard unit, stealing sensitive data and communications that could jeopardize national cybersecurity. The hackers accessed the network from March to December 2024, collecting configuration files, administrator credentials, and network diagrams, potentially enabling further intrusions into units across all U.S. states and several territories. The breach poses a serious threat to critical infrastructure defense, especially in states where National Guard units are integrated with cybersecurity centers. The attackers exploited known vulnerabilities in Cisco and Palo Alto Networks devices to gain entry. Salt Typhoon has previously targeted major U.S. telecom providers and Canadian networks. The National Guard Bureau confirmed the intrusion but emphasized that the attack has not hindered its operational capabilities and that a thorough investigation is ongoing in coordination with federal agencies. Click here to read more.

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

  • Israel’s eyes and ears: The IDF squadron that the entire Middle East fears

  • Israel’s Nachshon 122 Squadron, based at Nevatim Air Force Base, plays a critical role in the IDF’s intelligence and reconnaissance capabilities across the Middle East, earning it a reputation as the “eyes and ears” of the Israeli Air Force. With three unique aircraft platforms—Itam, Shavit, and a newly operational advanced intelligence aircraft—the squadron supports operations ranging from air superiority missions to deep strikes in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. During Operation Rising Lion, the squadron led air operations over Iran, provided real-time tactical intelligence, and opened aerial corridors for Israeli jets. Its elite personnel, including newly introduced air reconnaissance officers, have been instrumental in collecting targets, managing air traffic, and securing Israeli skies. The unit’s performance, especially in response to the multi-front war following the October 7 attacks, reflects its evolving importance amid rapidly advancing defense technologies like observation satellites. As commanders transition and missions intensify, Nachshon remains unmatched in its capabilities and operational impact across the region. Click here to read more.

     
Tags: Information Security, Information Technology, News, Security

Pin It on Pinterest