THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 8/1/25

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

“Big results require big ambitions.”

-Heraclitus

U-2 Just Set New Records On The 70th Anniversary Of Its First Flight
On the 70th anniversary of its first flight, a U-2 Dragon Lady spy plane set new endurance and altitude records for its category and class, according to an Air Force official. The mission began the night before from California and concluded with a dramatic zoom climb before landing, marking a symbolic achievement as the aging reconnaissance jet nears its planned 2026 retirement. Despite its Cold War origins and vulnerabilities to modern air defenses, the U-2 remains a uniquely high-flying platform for intelligence gathering, recently aiding border missions and monitoring foreign surveillance balloons. Click here to read more.

Reddit wants to become the next Google search
Reddit is aiming to become a full-fledged search engine, expanding its AI-powered tool, Reddit Answers, as a core feature of the platform. Launched in December, Reddit Answers already sees up to six million weekly users, and the company plans to deepen its integration and roll it out globally. CEO Steve Huffman told shareholders the focus is on turning user intent—millions seeking advice weekly—into Reddit’s native search experience. With over 416 million weekly visitors, Reddit’s move to boost its own search capabilities could reduce reliance on Google, even as the platform’s traffic has benefited from users adding “Reddit” to Google queries for human-generated results. Click here to read more.

Lauren Daigle Surprises Camp Mystic Survivor Who Rewrote ‘Hallelujah’ to Honor Camp Victims
Lauren Daigle surprised 12-year-old Skyler Darrington on Fox and Friends after the young flood survivor went viral for rewriting and performing Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” in memory of the 27 girls lost in the catastrophic July 4 flood at Camp Mystic. Skyler, whose cabin was hardest hit, co-wrote the tribute with her mother, Lacey, during what she called a day of grief and healing. Daigle praised Skyler’s strength and faith, saying, “You took the tragedy and turned it into something beautiful.” Skyler said the experience deepened her faith, adding, “We sang during the tragic event, and it just helped us grow.” Click here to read more.

Gen Z in the Crosshairs: Cybercriminals Shift Focus to Young, Digital-Savvy Workers
Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting Gen Z workers due to their tech fluency, polyworking lifestyles, and risky digital habits like password reuse and mixing personal and professional device use. Kaspersky and other experts warn that fake job offers, phishing, and social engineering attacks are tailored to this group, who often manage freelance gigs and corporate tasks from unsecured locations and devices. The blending of personal and work life makes them easy entry points into corporate networks. Experts recommend using strong password managers and staying alert to red flags like too-good-to-be-true offers. Click here to read more.

What are Israel’s choices in Gaza?
Israel’s objectives in Gaza—returning hostages, dismantling Hamas, and preventing future threats—remain consistent since the October 7 attack, yet double standards and misconceptions cloud international discourse, argues military strategist John Spencer. He critiques the insistence on a postwar plan before victory, unrealistic demands on civilian displacement, and selective outrage over Israel’s military tactics—all standards not applied to other nations at war. Spencer outlines possible paths to achieving Israel’s goals, including temporarily relocating civilians, continued military pressure, or Hamas’s surrender. He insists these aims are legal, achievable, and grounded in international norms. Click here to read more.