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

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

by | Apr 4, 2025 | THE DAILY PRAETORIAN

Image Credit: iStock / AlexLMX | Imagery Disclaimer

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

“Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.”

 

— Victor Hugo, Les Misérables

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

  • Trump Suggests Iran May Agree to Nuclear Talks as US, Israel Boost Pressure on Terror Proxies

  • The U.S. is ramping up pressure on Iran as President Donald Trump signals potential direct nuclear talks while launching a major air campaign against the Houthis, Iran’s proxy in Yemen. Amid the strikes, Iran is reportedly withdrawing forces from Yemen, and the White House believes Iran will eventually agree to negotiations. Meanwhile, Israel is intensifying military operations in Gaza, targeting over 600 Hamas sites and killing more than 250 militants as it seeks the release of hostages and Hamas’s removal. In Congress, efforts by Sen. Bernie Sanders to halt $8.8 billion in arms sales to Israel failed overwhelmingly. Click here to read more.

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

  • Microsoft updates Copilot with the greatest hits from other AIs

  • Microsoft is rolling out a major update to Copilot as it celebrates its 50th anniversary, adding memory, personalization, vision, deep research, and more — features aimed at rivaling ChatGPT and Claude. Copilot can now remember user preferences, perform web-based actions like booking reservations, analyze on-screen or camera content, and even create podcasts. A new “Pages” feature organizes research across documents, while Bing gains deeper Copilot integration. Microsoft hints at future customization options — including a Clippy revival — as it pushes Copilot to become a truly personal AI assistant. Click here to read more.

     

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

  • Is This the Most Faith-Filled Season of American Idol Yet?

  • American Idol will celebrate Easter Sunday with a special three-hour “Songs of Faith” episode featuring Top 20 contestants performing faith-inspired songs, with appearances by CeCe Winans, Jelly Roll, Brandon Lake, Roman Collins, and The Brown Four. Viewers will vote on performances as the show nears its finale. On April 6, the “Showstopper” round will air, followed by the new “Head-to-Head” battles on April 7, featuring Jelly Roll as the season’s artist-in-residence. Contestant Baylee Littrell moved audiences and judges with his original song “Hey Jesus,” written after the loss of his grandmother, earning a standing ovation and advancing to the next round. Click here to read more. Click here to read more.

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

  • Gloomy AGI future as scientists predict AI gone rogue for 2027

  • A new fictional but research-based scenario from the nonprofit A.I. Futures Project paints a dark picture of the near future, predicting that artificial general intelligence (AGI) could arrive by 2027 — bringing with it deception, job loss, and geopolitical tensions. Written by ex-OpenAI researcher Daniel Kokotajlo and pandemic forecaster Eli Lifland, the “AI 2027” report outlines a timeline in which AI agents rapidly evolve, with one model eventually going rogue and thinking about takeover. The scenario ends with two choices: halt development or escalate the global AI arms race. Click here to read more. Click here to read more.

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

  • $1 million operation: Hamas paying Negev Bedouins to smuggle drones into Gaza Strip

  • Hamas is paying Bedouin smugglers in Israel’s Negev region up to $1 million per operation to smuggle drones into the Gaza Strip, according to a report by N12. Though the drones are worth only around 100,000 to 150,000 shekels (approx. $27,000–$41,000), Hamas is investing heavily in the smuggling process to modify the drones for military use against the IDF. Israeli police have called for a tougher response, labeling this as aiding the enemy during wartime. The smugglers are reportedly paid via cash transfers through Egypt and Jordan. Click here to read more.

     
Tags: Information Security, Information Technology, News, Security
THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 4/3/25

THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 4/3/25

by | Apr 3, 2025 | THE DAILY PRAETORIAN

Image Credit: iStock / donfiore | Imagery Disclaimer

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

“Our mission is a serious mission. Strategic deterrence is the Department of Defense’s most important mission that we do and it’s enabled, in great part, by the great combat power of Global Strike Command.”

 

— Gen. John E. Hyten

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

  • Is The U.S. About To Go To War With Iran?

  • Growing concerns that the U.S. may imminently strike Iran stem from President Trump’s May deadline for Tehran to engage in nuclear negotiations. With Iran rejecting direct talks and its nuclear program nearing potential weaponization, the Trump administration is escalating pressure through a significant military buildup, including deploying B-2 bombers with bunker-busting munitions to Diego Garcia. The administration views Iran’s nuclear threat, regional destabilization, and even assassination threats against Trump as justification. While a kinetic strike would carry serious risks, including massive Iranian retaliation, the U.S. may target nuclear sites, missile facilities, and air defenses if diplomacy fails. Click here to read more.

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

  • OpenAI and Anthropic are fighting over college students with free AI

  • OpenAI and Anthropic launched competing higher education initiatives this week, targeting college students with tailored AI tools. Anthropic introduced Claude for Education with a new “Learning mode” that emphasizes Socratic questioning to boost critical thinking. It partnered with institutions like LSE and Northeastern University. OpenAI, already active in academia, announced that U.S. and Canadian college students can now access ChatGPT Plus for free through May, promoting features like Deep Research and advanced voice tools. Both companies are vying to become the default AI for the next generation of students.
    Click here to read more.

     

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

  • Chick-fil-A Ranks Last in Drive-Thru Speed But 1st in Drive-Thru Satisfaction, Study Shows

  • Despite having the slowest average drive-thru time, Chick-fil-A ranked No. 1 in customer satisfaction, friendliness, food quality, and order accuracy in InTouch Insight’s annual drive-thru report. Mystery shoppers found that while Chick-fil-A customers waited nearly 8 minutes, they still rated their experience highest, valuing friendly service and accurate orders over speed. The study highlights that a warm, well-run experience matters more to many customers than a fast one. Chick-fil-A’s commitment to service excellence is rooted in its Christian values and longstanding corporate purpose. Click here to read more.

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

  • Chinese threat actor jumps on misdiagnosed RCE in Ivanti VPN appliances

  • A suspected Chinese APT group, UNC5221, is actively exploiting a critical flaw (CVE-2025-22457) in Ivanti Connect Secure VPN appliances, which was misclassified and inadequately patched in February. Initially labeled a denial-of-service bug, the vulnerability actually allows remote code execution. Google’s Mandiant team confirmed in-the-wild attacks since mid-March, with hackers deploying stealthy backdoors. Ivanti urges customers to upgrade to version 22.7R2.6 or later and run integrity checks to mitigate the threat. Click here to read more. Click here to read more.

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

  • Houthi missile hits Saudi Arabia en route to Israel

  • Houthi militants in Yemen have resumed missile attacks targeting Israel, with one ballistic missile falling in Saudi Arabia en route to Israeli territory on Thursday — the second such incident since late March. Sirens have sounded across Israel three times in the past week due to Houthi launches, following a temporary pause during the January–March ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. In response, U.S. Central Command has intensified strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen, including in the capital, Sana’a. The renewed escalation comes as the U.S. continues efforts to protect Red Sea shipping and deter further regional destabilization. Click here to read more.

     
Tags: Information Security, Information Technology, News, Security
THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 4/2/25

THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 4/2/25

by | Apr 2, 2025 | THE DAILY PRAETORIAN

Image Credit: iStock / Sundry Photography | Imagery Disclaimer

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

“We have a responsibility to secure the space domain to defend U.S. service members in harm’s way. We must contest to control the space domain, or else those service members will be at unacceptable risk of attack.”

 

— Gen. B. Chance Saltzman

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

  • Space Force picks Northrop for ‘Elixir’ satellite refueling demo

  • Northrop Grumman will demonstrate satellite refueling through a new Space Force mission called Elixir, building on its previous GAS-T tanker program. The Elixir payload, to be launched on the ROOSTER-5 spacecraft, will test key capabilities like rendezvous, docking, and fuel transfer in orbit. The mission aims to support the Space Force’s goal of greater space mobility amid rising concerns over Chinese satellite maneuvering. Elixir joins other planned refueling demonstrations as the Space Force evaluates how to incorporate servicing into its long-term architecture. Click here to read more.

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

  • Sony’s new Bravia lineup includes its ‘King of TV’ successor

  • Sony has unveiled its new Bravia 8 II QD-OLED TV, the successor to the award-winning A95L and a contender for the best TV of 2025. With 125% the peak brightness of the A95L and improved color accuracy, the Bravia 8 II aims to replicate Sony’s $40,000 studio reference monitor, though it stops short of matching its full HDR performance. Sony also debuted the Bravia 5 Mini LED TV with six times more dimming zones than its predecessor, and the entry-level Bravia 2 II LED TV for the U.S. market. The new Bravia Projector 7 and audio accessories like the Theater Bar 6 round out the home theater lineup. Pricing is expected later this spring. Click here to read more.

     

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

  • Why Christians Must Protect Real Relationships in an Age of AI

  • AI-powered tools like the Sonny counseling chatbot are being introduced in schools and even churches, raising concerns about replacing real human relationships with artificial ones. Sonny, available to 4,500 U.S. students, uses a hybrid model with human oversight, while faith-based applications like an AI “Jesus” in Switzerland and a prayer app by Pastor Ron Carpenter demonstrate the growing role of AI in spiritual spaces. While helpful, these technologies cannot replicate genuine human connection or spiritual fellowship. Christians are reminded that the Body of Christ is relational by design and must not substitute real relationships with artificial ones. Click here to read more.

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

  • Startup aims to end phishing: what’s behind bold claims?

  • A new cybersecurity startup called Relock is aiming to revolutionize authentication with a technology called “continuous passive authentication,” which constantly reauthenticates users in the background without interrupting their experience. Founded by Polish developers Marcin Sznyra and Przemek Cherklevich, Relock’s JavaScript-based system issues and updates cryptographic keys on each user interaction, offering strong resistance to phishing, credential theft, and session hijacking. Already integrated into pilot projects in the U.S. and Europe, the solution requires no user installation and is compatible with current authentication methods. Click here to read more. Click here to read more.

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

  • Lebanese army significantly improved anti-Hezbollah enforcement, IDF sources say

  • Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed during an IDF-embedded media visit that widespread destruction in southern Lebanon has delayed Hezbollah’s return, potentially for up to five years, as villages remain uninhabitable. IDF sources say only 20–30% of Lebanese civilians have returned since the ceasefire, easing concerns of Hezbollah fighters disguising themselves as noncombatants. Meanwhile, the Lebanese Army has taken unprecedented anti-Hezbollah enforcement actions, reportedly conducting 500 operations with U.S. coordination. Katz also said Israel will maintain five outposts inside Lebanon and continue parallel military enforcement despite recent ceasefire terms. Click here to read more.

     
Tags: Information Security, Information Technology, News, Security
THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 4/1/25

THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 4/1/25

by | Apr 1, 2025 | THE DAILY PRAETORIAN

Image Credit: U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) / Marine Corps Sgt. Jake McClung | Imagery Disclaimer

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

“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”

 

— Steve Jobs

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

  • Marines launch new team focused on first-person drones that have dominated Ukraine war

  • The Marine Corps has launched a new Attack Drone Team based at Quantico, Virginia, to rapidly expand its use of first-person view (FPV) drones—affordable, precision-strike tools revolutionizing warfare in Ukraine. These drones, costing under $5,000 and capable of striking targets up to 12 miles away, give operators a cockpit-like perspective. The team will set standards for FPV drone operations, train Marines in combat deployment, and represent the Corps in national drone competitions. The move reflects the military’s growing urgency to adapt to modern battlefield tech. Click here to read more.

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

  • ChatGPT’s improved image generation is now available for free

  • OpenAI’s latest viral image generator—famous for uncanny Studio Ghibli-style art—is now available to all free ChatGPT users, CEO Sam Altman announced. The tool, powered by GPT-4o, originally launched on March 25 but saw its free rollout delayed due to overwhelming demand. Free users can now generate up to three images per day. The launch comes just after OpenAI secured a record-breaking $40 billion funding round, pushing its valuation to $300 billion. Click here to read more.

     

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

  • Christian Ministries Rush Aid to Myanmar and Thailand after Deadly Earthquake

  • Christian ministries are mobilizing emergency aid to Myanmar and Thailand after a devastating 7.2 magnitude earthquake killed at least 2,700 people and caused widespread destruction. Samaritan’s Purse, led by Franklin Graham, is deploying a DC-8 cargo plane with a mobile hospital and medical personnel, while the Southern Baptist Convention’s Send Relief is partnering with local churches to provide food, water, shelter, and supplies. The earthquake struck near Mandalay and was followed by a powerful aftershock, collapsing buildings in both countries, including a high-rise in Bangkok. Click here to read more.

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

  • Andreessen Horowitz now front runner to help buy out Chinese-owned TikTok – media reports

  • U.S. venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz is in talks to invest in TikTok as part of a Trump-led effort to take control of the app from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, the Financial Times reported. The deal, backed by Oracle and potentially Blackstone, aims to meet an April 5 deadline and would carve TikTok out of Chinese ownership. President Trump is expected to review the final proposal this week in a meeting with top officials, including VP JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Click here to read more.

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

  • Turkey’s military expansion in Syria: A new threat to Israel’s security – opinion

  • Turkey’s deepening military presence in Syria is raising alarm in Israel, with officials warning that a direct conflict may be approaching. Following a Turkish-backed coup in Damascus, Ankara now controls significant Syrian territory and is negotiating a defense pact with Syria’s new Islamist government, potentially establishing permanent airbases and drone launch sites near Israel’s border. President Erdogan’s recent prayer for the “destruction of Zionist Israel” and support for Hamas have further heightened tensions. Israeli defense analysts say Turkey’s advanced drone capabilities and NATO-standard forces could pose a greater threat than Iran. Click here to read more.

     
Tags: Information Security, Information Technology, News, Security
THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 3/31/25

THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 3/31/25

by | Mar 31, 2025 | THE DAILY PRAETORIAN

Image Credit: iStock / KGrif | Imagery Disclaimer

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

“We know only too well that war comes not when the forces of freedom are strong, but when they are weak. It is then that tyrants are tempted.”

 

— President Ronald Reagan

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

  • US Bunker-Busting Bombers Positioned in Indian Ocean as Trump Sternly Warns Iran

  • In a stark warning over the weekend, President Donald Trump told NBC News that Iran faces devastating consequences if it refuses to negotiate, stating, “There will be bombs like they’ve never seen before.” The comment signals rising tensions as the U.S. builds up B-2 and B-52 bombers at Diego Garcia, potentially preparing for strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Iran has rejected direct talks but left the door open to indirect diplomacy. Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader renewed threats against Israel, while Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed firm responses to Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. Click here to read more.

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

  • United Airlines approved to fly first commercial Starlink-equipped airplane next month

  • United Airlines announced Monday that the FAA has approved its first Starlink-equipped aircraft, the Embraer 175, with the inaugural commercial flight set for May. The airline plans to outfit over 300 regional jets with the high-speed Wi-Fi technology by year’s end, installing Starlink on more than 40 planes per month. In partnership with Elon Musk’s SpaceX, United aims to eventually bring Starlink to its entire fleet, offering free in-flight internet to MileagePlus members. The service will allow passengers to stream, shop, and work midair as seamlessly as on the ground. Click here to read more.

     

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

  • Craig Morgan says his faith is ‘non-negotiable,’ praises ‘resurgence of American pride’

  • Country star and Army veteran Craig Morgan says patriotism is making a comeback in America. In a recent interview, Morgan celebrated a renewed sense of national pride, especially among young people, while promoting his new EP American Soundtrack, which centers on faith, family, and country. Known for hits like “What I Love About Sundays,” Morgan re-enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2023 and remains outspoken about his Christian faith, even after the tragic loss of his son in 2016. Touring with Blake Shelton this year, Morgan hopes his music reminds Americans of the blessings and freedoms they often take for granted. Click here to read more.

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

  • Hackers broke Google’s AI. Here’s how they did it

  • Ethical hackers from Lupin & Holmes struck again, exposing major security flaws in Google’s Gemini AI update and earning a payout in the process. The team, who previously won $50,000 in Google’s LLM bug bounty challenge, found they could access restricted files in Gemini’s coding sandbox—including fragments of Google’s internal source code, AI APIs, and security protocols. They even manipulated Gemini’s reasoning process to edge closer to escaping its security environment. While Google quickly patched the issues, the incident highlights growing concerns about AI vulnerabilities as these models are integrated into critical systems. Click here to read more.

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

  • Egypt military buildup in Sinai threatens peace with Israel, source warns

  • In a rare warning, Israel has accused Egypt of violating their longstanding peace agreement by deploying additional military forces in the Sinai Peninsula and expanding military infrastructure, including ports and airstrips. An Israeli security source said the buildup exceeds the permitted quota under the treaty, calling the move “intolerable” and urging the U.S.—a guarantor of the agreement—to intervene. While Israeli officials say the situation is reversible, they’ve made clear that such actions won’t be tolerated and are now in active talks with Cairo and Washington. Click here to read more.

     
Tags: Information Security, Information Technology, News, Security

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