Global Frequency - 20 July 2025

Cybercrime doesn't pay, crypto laundering does, and China cyber dynamics get increasingly more complex.

An AI agent bought paper towels for me on Amazon. This week on the Global Frequency...

Nvidia to start selling AI chips to China. (Read More)

Related: China's playbook for AI will follow its industrial ramp-up model. (Read More)

AI nudify websites are raking in millions. (Read More)

China's private sector emboldened to hack United States on behalf of government. (Read More)

Critical information being leaked accidentally via email is still a thing as Afghan relocation program takes security measures to counter unexpected risk. (Read More)

Concerns over crypto money laundering continue. (Read More)

Where might AI replace government employees? (Read More)

Chinese surveillance state powers enhanced with digital ID. (Read More)

US government data sources used by researchers and businesses are going dark. (Read More)

Cybercriminals increasingly more likely to die in prison. Stay for the money quote at the end by one of my favorite cyber defenders... (Read More)

Google actively using AI agents in cyber defense. (Read More)

Tether used to launder over $500m for Russians in violations of sanctions. (Read More)

The role autonomous robots will play in farming. (Read More)

Army Special Operations Command warns retirees of unspecified terrorist threat. (Read More)

Department of Defense to host Top Gun school for drone flyers. (Read More)

Mitre adapts ATT&CK framework for financial institution asset loss, namely around crypto assets. (Read More)

Inside ICE's facial recognition app. (Read More)

Russia outlaws some internet searches. (Read More)

Why cyberattackers are attracted to targeting EU hospitals. (Read More)

Use of LLMs showing up in malware attacks. (Read More)

Addressing context rot in LLMs. (Read More)

Are cyberdefenders winning? Jay will be going deeper on this at Black Hat 2025. (Read More)

Tracing the origins of China's espionage hackers. (Read More)

First major cryptocurrency bill signed into law. (Read More)

Fact or Fiction:

Several years ago I became obsessed with Karl Schroeder's book "Stealing Worlds" and invited him to have a keynote conversation with me at OODAcon that fall. During that conversation we talked about how environmental entities like forests and rivers might acquire legal status, be sensored-up, and represented by AI in courts, contracts, and other interactions. In a Ministry for the Future type arrangement where the current and future environmental ecosystem is appropriately represented to counter the free-market tendencies for near-term gains despite long-term consequences. Karl and I talked about the Magpie river in Quebec Canada and how it had been granted legal personhood. Is a River Alive?" by Robert Macfarlane is beautifully deep exploration of this concept that includes the Magpie river as one of the three case studies. While Macfarlane's examination of this topic is focused more on the heritage, spiritual, and abundance-focused human connections to these waterways, he does dive into the legal and representative issues as well. It is a worthwhile read for those looking to explore these concepts at a deeper level. (Amazon Link)

Quote of the Week:

"To be silenced is not the same as to be silent; to go unheard is not the same as to be speechless. No landscape speaks with a single tongue." - Robert Macfarlane

P.S.

The next three weeks are filled with vacation time in Vermont and hacker summer camp, so this newsletter "might" be a bit more sporadic. Long-time readers know that I usually end up producing it regardless, but providing fair warning in the event an edition is missing in your Sunday AM inbox.