THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 4/9/25

THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 4/9/25

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

“The man in charge must concern himself with details. If he does not consider them important, neither will his subordinates.”

 

— Admiral Hyman G. Rickover

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

  • Navy secretary says Trump told him to ‘fix the damn rust’ on warships

  • Navy Secretary John Phelan has vowed to tackle the long-standing issue of rust on U.S. Navy ships, responding to a direct mandate from President Donald Trump to “fix the damn rust” and accelerate shipbuilding. Speaking at the Sea-Air-Space 2025 conference, Phelan acknowledged the corrosive toll of saltwater and operational tempo on the fleet, which has left many vessels visibly deteriorated. With limited shipyard capacity and a shortage of skilled workers hampering maintenance, Phelan stressed the urgency of revitalizing the maritime industrial base to support both naval readiness and morale. Click here to read more.

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

  • Users shocked to find WhatsApp has AI assistant now

  • Meta has quietly begun embedding its AI chatbot into WhatsApp, signaling a potential turning point in how billions of people interact with artificial intelligence daily. Unlike the fanfare around ChatGPT or Google Gemini, Meta’s LLaMA-powered assistant has been rolled out with little publicity, blending seamlessly into users’ messaging experiences since 2023. Though still basic in performance, experts believe the long-term goal is to make AI agents integral to everyday tasks like scheduling and list-making—without users needing to switch apps. If successful, WhatsApp could become the world’s most-used AI interface. Click here to read more.

     

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

  • Has the Real Mount Sinai Been Found? Shocking Evidence Points Here, in Saudi Arabia

  • A growing number of researchers, including biblical scholar Joel Richardson, are challenging the traditional belief that Mount Sinai is located in Egypt, instead pointing to Jabal al-Lawz in Saudi Arabia as the true biblical site. In a recent No Longer Nomads podcast episode, Richardson presented striking evidence aligning this mountain with scriptural accounts: a scorched summit, a massive split rock, golden calf petroglyphs, and remnants of an ancient sacrificial altar. With Saudi Arabia now open to tourists, interest in visiting the proposed real Mount Sinai is growing. 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.

  • DNS: The Secret Weapon CISOs May Be Overlooking in the Fight Against Cyberattacks

  • As AI-driven cyber threats grow more evasive and scalable, Chief Information Security Officers are being urged to rethink DNS not as a background utility, but as a powerful, underutilized frontline defense. A new industry report highlights how protective DNS can thwart phishing, block malware command-and-control communications, and detect data exfiltration via DNS tunneling—all before attacks succeed. With AI helping threat actors spin up polymorphic malware and endless malicious domains, traditional right-of-“Boom” defenses are no longer enough. CISOs are now called to reassess DNS’s role in security architecture. 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.

  • Vance meets with former hostages, families of hostages in Washington

  • U.S. Vice President JD Vance met with former Hamas hostages and families of those still held captive, reaffirming the Trump administration’s commitment to their return. The meeting included Keith and Aviva Siegel and Iair Horn, who publicly credited President Trump’s efforts with saving their lives during the NRCC dinner. Vance echoed the administration’s stance, stating the reunification of remaining hostages should have happened long ago. The event highlighted the emotional toll on families and the political urgency the White House is placing on their safe return. Click here to read more.

     
THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 4/8/25

THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 4/8/25

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

“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.”

 

— Often attributed as a Japanese proverb

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

  • Navy Is About To Go Big On Massive Joint War Training Across The Pacific

  • The U.S. Department of Defense is shifting from isolated service-specific drills to fully integrated joint rehearsals in preparation for a potential large-scale conflict with China in the Indo-Pacific. This new approach, outlined by Vice Adm. Michael Boyle at the Sea-Air-Space Conference, aims to identify and refine operational requirements through tactical-level joint training that includes the Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Army, Coast Guard, Space Force, and Cyber Command. Exercises like REFORPAC and Bamboo Eagle are key to stress-testing U.S. forces’ readiness for sustained combat across vast distances, logistics under attack, and coordination with allies. These changes mark a strategic pivot to ensuring U.S. forces can fight and win as a unified team in future high-threat environments. Click here to read more.

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

  • Most Americans don’t trust AI — or the people in charge of it

  • A new Pew Research Center report reveals a growing trust gap between AI experts and the general public, with technologists largely optimistic about artificial intelligence while most Americans remain skeptical and uneasy. While 75% of AI experts believe the technology will benefit them personally, only 25% of U.S. adults agree. Concerns over job displacement, lack of regulation, and skewed representation in AI design are driving public distrust — especially among Gen Z, who, despite high engagement with tools like ChatGPT, report more anxiety than excitement. The data highlights a critical need for transparent, inclusive governance as AI becomes embedded in everyday life. Click here to read more.

     

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

  • Georgia Becomes 30th State to Pass Religious Freedom Restoration Act

  • Georgia has become the 30th U.S. state to pass a Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), a law aimed at shielding individuals from government actions that may infringe upon their religious exercise. Signed by Governor Brian Kemp after passing both Republican-controlled chambers of the state legislature, the law allows individuals to seek legal protection if their religious beliefs are burdened, unless the government can prove it is pursuing a compelling interest by the least restrictive means. Supporters, like Alliance Defending Freedom, hail the measure as a vital safeguard for faith-based living, while critics warn of potential legal conflicts over civil rights. Click here to read more.

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

  • US Treasury bank regulators’ emails accessed for years in “major” hacking incident

  • Hackers gained access to over 100 email accounts belonging to top U.S. banking regulators at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), exposing more than 150,000 sensitive messages from June 2023 to February 2025 in a breach only recently disclosed to Congress. The attackers infiltrated through a single administrative account, targeting high-level regulatory communications and financial oversight data. The OCC, part of the U.S. Treasury, has labeled the breach a “major incident” and is now under internal and third-party investigation amid public concern over systemic vulnerabilities. Click here to read more.

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

  • Kazakhstan textbooks promote tolerance, respect for Judaism, Israel – IMPACT report finds

  • A new report by IMPACT-se highlights Kazakhstan’s school curriculum as a model of religious tolerance, offering a respectful portrayal of Judaism and a nuanced view of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Textbooks describe Judaism as a foundational faith, acknowledge Jewish cultural contributions, and promote interfaith harmony. While Holocaust education remains limited and some younger-grade materials adopt critical tones toward Israel, high school curricula present a more balanced perspective on the conflict, naming groups like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad as terrorist organizations. Kazakhstan’s approach to pluralism is praised as a potential model for the region. Click here to read more.

     
THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 4/7/25

THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 4/7/25

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

“An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile—hoping it will eat him last.”

 

— Winston Churchill

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

  • Netanyahu, Trump Meet to Address US Tariffs, Iran Threat, Gaza Crisis

  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is heading to Washington to meet President Trump for high-level talks centered on Iran’s nuclear threat and U.S.-Israel economic ties. The Oval Office meeting comes after Netanyahu discussed a controversial 17% U.S. tariff on Israeli goods with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Netanyahu said confronting Iranian aggression would top his agenda with Trump. This follows Israel’s release of intercepted Hamas documents allegedly proving Iran funded the October 7 terror attack. Meanwhile, the U.S. has deployed a THAAD missile defense system to Israel, signaling deepening military coordination. The visit could shape future U.S.-Israel responses to Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Click here to read more.

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

  • Garmin Connect+ announcement leaves users outraged. Some are calling “the Pope to intervene”

  • Garmin users are pushing back against the company’s new paid subscription service, Garmin Connect+, by launching a petition demanding its removal. The backlash stems from frustration that premium smartwatch owners—many of whom paid hundreds or even thousands of dollars for high-end devices like the Fenix or Epix—are now being asked to pay extra for new features. The petition, shared widely on Reddit, calls for scrapping the paywall, unifying software across devices, and disabling subscription ads. While some users sympathize, others doubt Garmin will change course. The controversy highlights growing resistance to the rising trend of hardware-plus-subscription pricing. Click here to read more.

     

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

  • Archaeologists Discover Ancient Garden at Site of Christ’s Burial, Backing Biblical Narrative

  • A new archaeological study at Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre has uncovered traces of a 2,000-year-old garden with olive trees and grapevines—supporting the Gospel of John’s description of Jesus’ burial site. Led by Professor Francesca Romana Stasolla, the research used archaeobotanical and pollen analysis beneath the ancient church floor and revealed a cultivated area that likely predates Roman occupation. The discovery was made during major renovations of the basilica, the first since 1808, and adds historical weight to the biblical account of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. Click here to read more.

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

  • Fake AI ‘subject matter experts’ are infiltrating your news stream

  • Major media outlets have unknowingly quoted dozens of fake AI-generated “experts” in hundreds of articles, according to a new investigation by journalist Rob Waugh. News organizations including The Guardian, BBC, Fortune, Newsweek, and Vogue cited these digital personas, created for brand promotion and SEO. Some “experts” had fake names, AI-generated photos, and unverifiable credentials, yet were featured commenting on everything from psychology to climate science. Waugh traced many of the fake profiles to media networking platforms like Qwoted and ResponseSource, which are now working to remove them. The discovery raises urgent concerns about trust in mainstream media during the rise of generative AI. Click here to read more.

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

  • US and Iran will meet for high-level nuclear talks, Araqchi and Trump say

  • The United States and Iran will hold indirect high-level nuclear talks in Oman on April 12, marking the first such engagement since President Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal. While Iranian officials initially denied the talks would be direct, both Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and President Trump confirmed the meeting, which will involve mediators shuttling messages between delegations. Trump warned Iran faces “great danger” if talks fail, insisting it must never obtain nuclear weapons. Iran is unlikely to agree to dismantle its advanced nuclear infrastructure, which experts say could enable bomb production within months. Click here to read more.

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

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

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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.

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

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

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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.

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

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

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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.

     

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