THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 7/11/25

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

“Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.”

— General Douglas MacArthur

Some A-10 Warthogs may dodge retirement under proposed Senate bill
A new Senate defense bill could save more than 100 A-10 Warthogs from retirement in 2026, countering the Pentagon’s plan to phase out the entire fleet of 162 aircraft. The Senate Armed Services Committee’s version of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act also seeks to reverse sharp cuts to the F-35 program by restoring 10 jets to the Air Force’s order and bolsters funding for the E-7 Wedgetail, despite Pentagon efforts to scrap it due to cost and survivability concerns. The bill reflects growing bipartisan resistance to recent Air Force cuts, including from 16 retired four-star generals. Click here to read more.

Microsoft and OpenAI’s AGI Fight Is Bigger Than a Contract
A high-stakes contractual clause between Microsoft and OpenAI—dubbed “The Clause”—is at the heart of growing tensions between the tech giants, with profound implications for the future of artificial general intelligence (AGI). The agreement gives OpenAI the right to cut Microsoft off from future AGI models if certain conditions are met, including the board’s determination that AGI has been achieved and that it can generate over $100 billion in projected profits. Microsoft, barred from pursuing AGI independently, initially saw AGI as far-off, but with rapid AI advances and OpenAI restructuring into a public benefit corporation, Microsoft is now pressing to renegotiate or eliminate The Clause entirely. Click here to read more.

America’s first freedom: Freedom of religion
As America approaches its 250th anniversary, Richard D. Land reflects on the nation’s foundational principles, focusing on religious freedom as enshrined in the First Amendment. He recounts how Baptists, once persecuted by state-sponsored churches, helped secure constitutional protections for religious liberty through a pivotal agreement between Baptist leader John Leland and Founding Father James Madison. This guarantee of “no establishment” and “free exercise” of religion created a uniquely open religious landscape where belief is personal and voluntary. Land urges Americans to honor this freedom not only by preserving it but by actively practicing and appreciating it. Click here to read more.

Security pros run a 36-hour war room to close a critical DeFi backdoor, likely installed by North Korean hackers
Security researchers from Venn Network and allied teams worked non-stop in a 36-hour “war room” to shut down a critical DeFi backdoor likely planted by North Korea’s Lazarus Group, averting what could have been a multi-million-dollar exploit. The backdoor exploited uninitialized ERC1967Proxy contracts, allowing attackers to hijack and spoof Ethereum blockchain upgrades, giving them full control over affected smart contracts. Coordinated action by security pros and developers saved key DeFi protocols and bridges before any major damage occurred, with over $10 million in user funds at risk. Click here to read more.

Taiwan reshapes war manual on Chinese threats, based on Israel’s successes in Iran
As Taiwan stages its largest-ever military drills in response to mounting Chinese threats, the island is turning to Israel’s 12-day war with Iran as a strategic blueprint, adapting its defense doctrine, intelligence operations, and civilian resilience models. Taiwan’s leaders, closely watching Israel’s Operation Rising Lion, are drawing lessons in preemptive strikes, cyber defense, alliance coordination, and societal readiness—down to shelter construction and emergency alert systems. With new Abrams tanks on display and resilience drills planned for major cities, Taipei is accelerating efforts to prepare for potential conflict, believing that like Israel, its defense strength must begin at home. Click here to read more.