Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared 2025 the "Year of the Defender of the Fatherland," but the soldiers whose patriotism he wants to champion could pose a threat to his rule when they return from fighting against Ukraine.

During former President Joe Biden's four years in the White House, he wasn't shy about describing Russian President Vladimir Putin and his allies in the Kremlin as a major cybersecurity threat to the United States.

The first contacts with the new American administration give us some hope,” the Russian president said in televised comments on Thursday.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered U.S. Cyber Command to pause cyber and information operations against Russia as Trump seeks to bring Putin to the negotiating table to end war in Ukraine.

Recent incidents indicate US is no longer characterizing Russia as a cyber security threat, marking a radical departure: ‘Putin is on the inside now’

Plus: The FBI pins that ByBit theft on North Korea, a malicious app download breaches Disney, spyware targets a priest close to the pope, and more.