Periodic Security Warning

In recent years I have repeatedly told friends and family that online security is fundamentally compromised and that their providers have nothing effective in place to protect people. Everybody should be demanding a much more affirmative posture from authorities and providers. At this point, a major system not proactively using AI for defense is near guaranteed to be hacked and its users compromised. As of now, the response of vendors is to blame their users, and even in the case of gross negligence to make users whole.

🛡️ The AI Defense Imperative — Revisited (2025–2026)

1️⃣ Why AI‑on‑AI defense is now essential

Cyber attacks now evolve in real time—policymakers at a June 2025 Axios event warned that AI is rapidly changing the cybersecurity landscape ([source](https://www.axios.com/2025/07/03/axios-event-policy-cyber-defense-ai)) :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}.

2️⃣ Why human/static defenses lag behind

Static, rule-based defenses are brittle against adaptive AI adversaries. Studies in adversarial machine learning highlight how such attackers can evade defenses trained only on past data :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}.

3️⃣ Adversarial self‑play: Defense that “learns like the attacker”

Research like “Self‑RedTeam” shows how online self‑play reinforcement learning, pairing attacker and defender models, uncovers novel threats and boosts robustness by ~65 % over static defenders :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}. Related frameworks such as AegisLLM and multi‑agent security explore autonomous agent pipelines that continually test and defend themselves :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}.

4️⃣ Key 2025 institutional developments

• In January 2025, a sweeping Biden executive order mandated AI-powered cyber defense programs, secure‑by‑design software development, and stronger CISA authority across federal systems :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}.
• The U.S. launched the International Network of AI Safety Institutes and created the TRAINS task force to manage AI threats to national security :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}.
• A recent Washington Post proposal advocates establishing a national tech academy (USATA) to train cyber and AI talent in defense roles, reflecting urgent workforce gaps :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}.
• Axios reported that ransomware attacks using AI-driven tactics now target SharePoint servers at scale, signaling real-time adversarial automation :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}.

5️⃣ What adversarially‑trained defensive AI delivers

• Ability to **anticipate novel threats** before they occur.
• Capability to **adapt defenses in real time** as attacks evolve.
• Scalability to **match attack speed** across distributed networks.
• Proactive **vulnerability discovery** through self‑attack regimes.

6️⃣ Risks of failing to adapt

Organizations relying on outdated, heuristic defenses face capability gaps and rising exposure to state-sponsored AI threats. Regulatory and insurance trends increasingly demand measurable adversarial robustness :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}.

✅ Bottom Line

For 2025–2026, deploying **AI-versus-AI cyber defense** is not optional—it’s essential. Systems must be trained via adversarial self-play, battle-tested continuously, and integrated with adaptive monitoring. Anything less is a brittle shield, destined to fail under AI-powered attack.

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🔗 References

• Axios: Policymakers on AI‑powered cyber defense (Jul 2025)
• Wired: Biden Executive Order on Cybersecurity & AI (Jan 2025)
• The Guardian: Biden strengthens U.S. cyber defenses (Jan 2025)
• Time: U.S. forms International AI Safety Institutes (Nov 2024)
• Washington Post: Proposal for U.S. Advanced Tech Academy (Jul 2025)
• Axios Future‑of‑Cybersecurity: AI‑driven ransomware threat report (Jul 29 2025)
• arXiv: Self‑RedTeam – online self‑play RL for safer models (Jun 2025)
• arXiv: Multi‑agent security for interacting AI agents (May 2025)
• arXiv: AegisLLM – multi-agent defense via self‑play (Apr 2025)
• NCBI/PMC: AI in cybersecurity – adaptability, adversarial ML (2025 overview)
• National Law Review: America's AI Action Plan – cybersecurity focus (2025)

A derringer featured in some show I was watching and I was curious about what ended being "Micro Compact" Handguns -- what was a modern update to a Derringer? Here's a link: https://gundigest.com/handguns/concealed-carry/best-micro-9mm-handguns. 

I was curious as to metrics on these things and a long discussion with ChatGPT about factors like particular firearms, ammunition, and best practice in the context of 'self-defense' (a common context within which these are discussed. What I finally ended up with were conclusions on the topic as practical considerations. These things would be more relevant to people in the United States. Here in Canada we are a bit more sober about Firearms and rightly so. Here's a poster for this:

⚠️ Practical Advice on Handguns for Civilian Self-Defense

Simple, evidence-based guidance for anyone considering a firearm

1️⃣ Guns Are Dangerous for the Owner

• Firearms increase the risk of accidental injury or death in the home.
• Access to a gun significantly raises suicide risk for household members.
• In close encounters, a weapon can be taken and used against its owner.

2️⃣ Awareness and Planning Come First

• Most real-life threats can be avoided by staying alert and identifying danger early.
• Have a simple response plan: where to move, how to escape, when not to engage.
• De-escalation and safe retreat stop more harm than any gun ever will.

3️⃣ If You Choose a Gun, Train Effectively

• Stress degrades accuracy; only practiced reflexes work under pressure.
• Good training means:
  • Safe handling every time.
  • Drawing, aiming, and firing accurately without hesitation.
  • Knowing what’s beyond your target before pulling the trigger.
• Accuracy beats power. A well-placed shot is more effective than a large caliber miss.

4️⃣ Keep It Simple: Standard 9mm Ammunition

• 9mm is the global standard for police and military due to balance of power, control, and availability.
• Standard-pressure loads are safer and more reliable than “+P” high-pressure ammo in small guns.
• Micro-compact pistols sacrifice velocity and precision—practice and ammo choice matter more than size or hype.

✅ Bottom Line

A firearm is not a shield. Owning one adds risk unless you train, stay aware, and have a plan to avoid using it. If you are determined to carry, keep it simple: a reliable 9mm handgun, standard ammo, and real practice will serve you far better than chasing “stopping power” myths.

This advice is based on data from law enforcement studies, defensive firearms training, and physics of small firearms.