THE DAILY PRAETORIAN: Cybersecurity Trends – 8/26/25

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

“People, ideas, hardware—in that order.”

-John Boyd

F/A-XX Next Generation Naval Fighter Selection Could Still Happen
The U.S. Navy’s “Air Boss,” Vice Adm. Daniel Cheever, says he’s still “eagerly awaiting” an F/A-XX down-select even after the Pentagon froze the program to avoid competing with the Air Force’s F-47 NGAD effort; senior leaders and some in Congress continue to push F/A-XX as vital to future carrier air wing air superiority and a timely replacement for Super Hornets and Growlers. Meanwhile, Cheever sees the MQ-25 Stingray as a near-term game-changer: first flight expected this year and IOC targeted for FY27, freeing 20–30% of Super Hornet sorties from tanker duty, extending carrier reach, and opening the door to broader manned-unmanned teaming, added ISR, and potential follow-on roles alongside future Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Click here to read more.

Matter Is Finally Ready to Deliver the Smart Home It Promised
After years of hype, delays, and criticism, the Matter smart home standard is finally stabilizing with improvements in reliability, setup, and compatibility. Version 1.4 of Thread—the low-power, long-range networking protocol that underpins Matter—has streamlined device onboarding, strengthened cloud access, and improved cross-brand mesh networking. Industry leaders admit the early rollout suffered from high expectations, limited devices, and developer hurdles, but now see Matter reaching the point where both tech enthusiasts and casual consumers can benefit. With backing from Apple, Google, Amazon, Samsung, and others, Matter is poised to deliver on its promise of a unified, brand-agnostic smart home ecosystem. Click here to read more.

European church leaders call for a just peace in Ukraine
European church leaders are urging political leaders to act decisively to end the war in Ukraine, calling for a “just and lasting peace” in the face of what they describe as “territorial greed.” The Conference of European Churches (CEC), led by Archbishop Nikitas, pledged continued solidarity, prayer, and humanitarian support, while affirming Ukraine’s right to defend its sovereignty. The appeal comes as global churches joined in prayer for peace and amid tense U.S.-Russia talks, with President Trump pressing Vladimir Putin to negotiate directly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Putin has demanded Ukraine cede Donetsk and Luhansk, while Trump has threatened sweeping sanctions if Russia fails to show progress. Click here to read more.

ChatGPT leak reveals people will share everything with AI
A recent leak has revealed just how much people are willing to share with AI chatbots — and how risky that can be. At the start of August, thousands of ChatGPT conversations, some containing personally identifiable information like names, addresses, and ID numbers, were found indexed on Google. Researchers analyzing the leaked data found discussions ranging from education and law to deeply sensitive topics like mental health struggles, relationships, and financial issues. Experts warn that such oversharing poses real-world dangers, including identity theft, fraud, and blackmail, especially given the lack of strict privacy protections for AI services. Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot faced a similar incident, with over 370,000 user conversations exposed, some involving private files and even prohibited content. The leaks highlight the urgent need for stronger safeguards — and greater caution from users when engaging with AI. Click here to read more.

Was Mossad involved in getting Iran booted out of Australia? – analysis
An analysis suggests Israeli intelligence—potentially the Mossad and Unit 8200—may have aided Australia in uncovering an IRGC-linked plot behind antisemitic attacks, precipitating the expulsion of Iranian officials and the shuttering of Tehran’s embassy in Canberra. While Jerusalem is silent amid strained Israel–Australia ties, the piece cites Israel’s past role in foiling the 2017 Etihad airliner plot (later acknowledged by both Netanyahu and Australia’s home affairs minister) and notes a post–Oct. 7 surge in thwarted Iranian operations targeting Israelis and Jews worldwide. Given the political sensitivities, any cooperation may remain undisclosed, as Israel often works overtly or clandestinely with foreign services—even in countries not aligned with it—to stop attacks on their soil. Click here to read more.