THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 5/30/25

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

“Necessity is the mother of invention.”

— Plato, paraphrased from The Republic

F-15E Armed With Drone Killing Laser-Guided Rockets Appears In Middle East
The U.S. Air Force’s F-15E Strike Eagle has emerged in the Middle East with a striking new air-to-air loadout, including six seven-shot 70mm rocket pods equipped with APKWS II laser-guided rockets, along with AIM-9X and AIM-120 missiles. This development transforms the jet into a formidable counter-drone and cruise missile platform with up to 50 engagement opportunities, significantly enhancing its magazine depth. While not officially announced, the APKWS II’s integration on the F-15E appears to be a rapid response to real-world challenges faced in defending Israel from Iranian drone and missile attacks. The relatively low-cost rockets offer a persistent, efficient solution for low-performance aerial threats, with potential expansion to more aircraft and upgraded dual-mode guidance systems underway. Click here to read more.

Dell, Nvidia unveil new powerhouse supercomputer to catapult ‘Nobel-worthy’ US scientific research
Chipmakers Nvidia and Dell, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy, have announced plans to build a next-generation supercomputer named “Doudna” at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory by 2026. Powered by Nvidia’s Vera Rubin platform and sponsored by the DOE, the Doudna will integrate AI, data, and simulation to accelerate breakthroughs in fusion energy, quantum computing, drug discovery, and astrophysics. Named after Nobel Prize-winning CRISPR pioneer Jennifer Doudna, the system is expected to deliver over ten times the scientific output of its predecessor while using just two to three times the power. Click here to read more.

Bear Grylls on Christianity: Jesus ‘Changed Me from the Inside Out’
Adventurer and TV personality Bear Grylls shared in a New York Times column how his Christian faith has deeply shaped his life, describing how a teenage encounter with Jesus’ message began his spiritual journey. Grylls emphasized that faith must be experienced personally, likening it to tasting ice cream or swimming, and said relying on Christ has given him strength during life’s challenges. He encouraged readers to be brave and seek God’s help, calling it a “beautiful, humble, powerful thing.” Grylls, who previously authored a devotional titled Soul Fuel, also helped baptize actor Russell Brand last year. Click here to read more.

Chinese Hacking Group APT41 Exploits Google Calendar to Target Governments
Chinese state-sponsored hacker group APT41 is using Google Calendar as a command-and-control system to target government entities, according to Google. In an October 2024 campaign, the group deployed a malware called ToughProgress through phishing emails and a compromised government website. The malware writes encrypted data to Google Calendar events and retrieves commands the same way. Google has disrupted APT41’s infrastructure, adding detections to Safe Browsing and alerting affected organizations. The group has also distributed other malware like Voldemort and DustTrap via free web hosting tools since August 2024. Click here to read more.

IDF strikes Syria, ‘no party will have immunity’ Katz says
The IDF confirmed it struck weapons depots and surface-to-air missile components in Syria’s Latakia region on Friday, targeting arms that posed an international threat and endangered Israel’s maritime navigation. One civilian was reportedly killed. Defense Minister Israel Katz said the strike was essential to defend national security. The attack comes amid ongoing direct talks between Israel and Syria, encouraged by the U.S., aimed at reducing border tensions following the fall of Assad. Washington’s recent diplomatic efforts include lifting some Syria sanctions and backing peace talks led by new envoy Thomas Barrack. Click here to read more.