THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 3/12/25

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

“Economic power begets military power.”

— Historian Paul Kennedy

China’s shipbuilding dominance a national security risk for US: Report
China’s dominance in global shipbuilding, now controlling over 50% of the market, has raised economic and national security concerns for the U.S. and its allies, according to a new CSIS report. In 2024 alone, a single Chinese shipbuilder produced more commercial vessels by tonnage than the entire U.S. industry has since WWII. The report warns that China’s state-owned shipbuilding giant, CSSC, benefits from Beijing’s military-civil fusion strategy, using foreign contracts to fund warship production and modernize the Chinese Navy. President Trump has vowed to revive American shipbuilding, proposing tariffs, docking fees on Chinese vessels, and a new White House office for shipbuilding to counteract China’s “dual-use” shipbuilding ecosystem. Click here to read more.

All this bad AI is wrecking a whole generation of gadgets
The anticipated AI-driven gadget revolution has failed to materialize as promised, largely because AI assistants like Siri, Alexa, and ChatGPT still aren’t reliable or transformative enough to change how we interact with technology. Tech companies bet big on AI-powered assistants replacing traditional interfaces, envisioning a future where voice commands replace typing and tapping. However, these assistants remain limited, unreliable, and far from game-changing. Meanwhile, the industry’s obsession with AI has led to a stagnation in innovation for hardware and overall gadget quality, leaving consumers without the groundbreaking devices they were promised. Click here to read more.

How to break free from perfectionism
The world pressures us to be perfect, and as Christians, Matthew 5:48 adds another layer: “Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” This pursuit can trap us in an exhausting cycle of high expectations, failure, and self-condemnation. However, Scripture reminds us that God never expected us to achieve perfection on our own. Romans 3:23 states that all have sinned, and John 15:5 confirms that apart from Christ, we can do nothing. True transformation comes not through striving but by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). The Holy Spirit refines us, and Christ’s righteousness completes us (2 Corinthians 5:21). Instead of chasing unattainable standards, we must embrace God’s grace, surrender to His perfection, and allow His Spirit to work through us. Let go of self-reliance, embrace vulnerability, and trust that His power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Click here to read more.

Massive research into iOS apps uncovers widespread secret leaks, abysmal coding practices
A Cybernews investigation into 156,000 iOS apps revealed that 71% of them leak at least one hardcoded secret, including API keys, cloud storage credentials, and even payment processor access, posing major security risks. The study found over 815,000 exposed secrets, with some apps containing unencrypted storage endpoints leaking 406TB of data. High-risk keys, such as Stripe financial keys and JWT authentication tokens, were also discovered, potentially leading to fraud and data breaches. Experts warn that Apple’s App Store review process does not check for such vulnerabilities, making it crucial for developers to remove hardcoded secrets and implement better security measures. Click here to read more.

IDF deploying ‘worm-sized’ spy devices in Gaza to track hostages, future targets – report
Israel has ramped up its intelligence-gathering efforts in Gaza, deploying drones to plant espionage devices and collect crucial data on hostages and potential military targets, according to reports from Palestinian terror factions. These drones are allegedly dropping surveillance equipment, including miniature wiretapping devices, in strategic locations such as cemeteries and urban areas. Hamas and other Gaza-based groups claim to have detected and neutralized some of these devices, while also monitoring drop sites for Israeli retrieval attempts. Amid heightened tensions, Hamas has issued new security measures, warning its members and families to avoid sharing sensitive information, particularly as Israel allegedly intensifies intelligence efforts during Ramadan. Click here to read more.