CyberWire Daily Eyes in the sky, red flags on the ground.
7 snips
Dec 23, 2025 
Tim Starks, a Senior Reporter at CyberScoop, joins to dissect the latest in cybersecurity legislation and national security. He examines the recent Defense Authorization Bill and its implications for cyber provisions, including new phone security mandates. The conversation dives into funding increases for Cyber Command and NSA amidst a turbulent cybersecurity landscape. Starks also reflects on the challenges of rebuilding talent and programs in the face of growing cyber threats and the unsettling state of federal policy as we look towards 2025.
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Foreign Drones Deemed Security Risk
- The White House blacklisted foreign-made drones as national security risks, halting future sales while allowing existing devices to continue in service.
- The policy favors rebuilding a domestic drone industry but disrupts businesses and users reliant on affordable foreign-made hardware.
Africa Sees Large Coordinated Cyber Crackdown
- Interpol-coordinated Operation Sentinel led to 574 arrests and recovery of $3 million in alleged proceeds across Africa.
- The operation highlighted rapid growth and sophistication of cybercrime on the continent with over $21 million in linked losses.
Phishing Targets Russian Defense Personnel
- A pro‑Ukrainian group called GOFI used Russian-language lures and malicious XLL files to target Russian military and defense organizations.
- The campaign installed a new backdoor (echo Gather) and exfiltrated data to servers masquerading as a food delivery site.