The US has issued sanctions on organizations in Russia and Iran for attempting to interfere with the 2024 presidential election. The Treasury Department said on Tuesday that the groups tried to “stoke socio-political tensions” and influence voters.

One group, the Moscow-based Center for Geopolitical Expertise, has ties to Russia’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), and built a server to host its own AI tools “to avoid foreign web-hosting services that would block their activity.” The organization then used these tools to “quickly create disinformation” that it spread across dozens of fake online news outlets, while also providing US-based companies with money to maintain its AI server and operate a network of “at least 100 websites” used in its campaign.

Additionally, the Russian organization manipulated a video to “produce baseless accusations concerning a 2024 vice presidential candidate”. In October, the US accused Russia of creating a video that attempted to smear Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate, Tim Walz.

The Treasury Department also sanctioned the Cognitive Design Production Center, a subsidiary of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), for planning to interfere with the election “since at least 2023.” In the weeks leading up to the election, the US Department of Justice indicted Iranian nationals accused of waging a cyberattack against President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign, while OpenAI reported banning ChatGPT accounts linked to an Iranian influence operation.

“The Governments of Iran and Russia have targeted our election processes and institutions and sought to divide the American people through targeted disinformation campaigns,” Bradley Smith, the Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, said in the press release.

The United States has arrested a US Army soldier and charged him with being part of a hacking scheme to sell and distribute stolen phone records. An indictment alleges that 20-year-old Cameron John Wagenius knowingly sold “confidential phone records” over online forums and other communications platforms last November.

The indictment doesn’t detail the hacked material, but KrebsOnSecurity reports that Wagenius appears to be connected to a series of high-profile data breaches linked to the online alias “Kiberphant0m.” Kiberphant0m claimed to have hacked 15 telecom firms and was working with the person allegedly behind the Snowflake data breaches to sell the stolen information.

In November, Kiberphant0m posted what they claimed were AT&T call logs for President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. It’s not clear if the data was genuine, but AT&T did suffer a major theft of customer data as part of the Snowflake account breaches last year. In 2023, the hacker is also alleged to have sold “remote access credentials for a major U.S. defense contractor,” according to Krebs.

Krebs reports that Wagenius worked on communications at an Army base in South Korea. After the alleged leak of Trump and Harris data, Krebs did a deep dive into Kiberphant0m’s online communications and identified that they were likely a US soldier. In this latest report, Krebs spoke with Wagenius’ mother, who confirmed his connection to the alleged Snowflake hacker.

Cybersecurity experts reportedly received harassment for trying to track down Kiberphant0m’s identity, leading to this incredible quote from Allison Nixon, the lead researcher at cybersecurity firm Unit 221B, who was part of the work. “Anonymously extorting the President and VP as a member of the military is a bad idea,” Nixon told Krebs, “but it’s an even worse idea to harass people who specialize in de-anonymizing cybercriminals.”

Happy New Year! As 2025 begins, it’s the perfect time to set intentions and start fresh. Whether you’re aiming to adopt healthier habits, master new skills or take control of your finances, there’s an app to help you make it happen. Technology can be a game-changer in turning resolutions into realities, and we’ve come up with a list of tools designed to support your goals and keep you motivated all year long.

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1) Habitica to build better habits

• iPhone: 4.0 stars (at time of publishing)
• Android: 4.7 stars (at time of publishing)

If your goal is to create and stick to healthy habits, Habitica offers a fun, gamified approach to habit tracking. By turning your tasks into a role-playing game, Habitica motivates you to complete daily tasks, habits and to-dos to level up your character, earn rewards and avoid penalties. You can join parties with friends, participate in quests and tackle challenges together. The app is perfect for anyone who loves games and wants to make self-improvement enjoyable. Habitica is free with optional in-app purchases for customization and premium content.

Habitica app (Habitica) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

SKYROCKET TO A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE WITH THIS GEAR IN 2025

2) MyFitnessPal to master nutrition and fitness goals

• iPhone: 4.7 stars (at time of publishing)
• Android: 4.3 stars (at time of publishing)

MyFitnessPal is a powerful tool for tracking your nutrition, exercise and progress toward health goals. Whether you’re aiming to lose weight, gain muscle or maintain a healthier lifestyle, the app offers a massive food database, a barcode scanner and customizable goals to suit your needs. It also integrates with fitness trackers and apps to provide a comprehensive overview of your wellness journey. MyFitnessPal offers free features, with a premium subscription unlocking more advanced insights and features, such as macronutrient goals and meal planning.

MyFitnessPal app (MyFitnessPal) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

5 WAYS TECH CAN HELP YOU FEEL LESS ALONE

iPhone: 4.8 stars (at time of publishing)

Android: 4.4 stars (at time of publishing)

Headspace app (Headspace) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

The Headspace app can help you achieve your New Year’s resolutions of practicing mindfulness and meditation. You can access hundreds of tailored sessions, courses and exercises for various topics, such as stress, sleep, focus and happiness. Headspace can help you improve your mental health and well-being in 2025. You can try Headspace for free for 10 days and cancel anytime. Headspace offers discounts for students, educators and health care professionals.

iPhone: 4.8 stars (at time of publishing)

Android: 4.7 stars (at time of publishing)

Duolingo app (Duoloingo) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

If your New Year’s resolution is to learn a new language or improve your existing skills, the Duolingo app can help you accomplish your goals. With this app, you can set your own goals and track your progress as you learn from over 40 languages, including Spanish, French, Japanese and more. Duolingo makes learning enjoyable and effortless with bite-sized lessons, games and stories that fit your schedule and level. You can also use Duolingo for free with some limitations, such as ads, fewer lessons and no offline access.

BEST WIRELESS EARBUDS EXPERT REVIEWED

iPhone: 4.8 stars (at time of publishing)

Android: 5.0 stars (at time of publishing)

Serial Reader app (Serial Reader) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

If one of your New Year’s resolution goals is to read more books, you might want to check out Serial Reader, a mobile app that delivers bite-sized portions of books to your phone every day. The app lets you choose from over 700 classic books, from “Pride and Prejudice” to “War and Peace,” and sends you a 10-minute portion of the book every day. You can read at your own pace, adjust the font size and theme and sync your progress across devices. You can also earn achievements and badges as you complete books and challenge yourself to read more.

Serial Reader is a great way to discover new books, revisit old favorites or catch up on the classics you’ve always wanted to read. It’s also a fun and easy way to make reading a habit and a part of your daily routine. You can start reading for free or upgrade to Serial Reader Premium to unlock more features, such as offline reading, highlighting, notes and more.

SMART RINGS THAT CAN TRACK YOUR SLEEP, FITNESS, COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE

iPhone: 4.6 stars (at time of publishing)

Android: 4.6 stars (at time of publishing)

Yousician app (Yousician) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

If your New Year’s resolution is to learn and master musical instruments or vocals, the Yousician app can help you do just that. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, you can find the right lessons and songs for you. You can also practice with real-time feedback, track your progress and challenge yourself with new goals. The app supports guitar, piano, ukulele, bass and singing. You can choose from various genres, styles and levels of difficulty.

The app is free to download and use, but it has some limitations. You can only access a limited number of lessons and songs per day, and you can only use one instrument at a time. If you want to unlock unlimited access to all the features and content, you need to subscribe to the premium plan.

7) Nike Training Club to help get in shape

iPhone: 4.8 stars (at time of publishing)

Android: 4.4 stars (at time of publishing)

Nike Training Club app (Nike) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Nike Training Club is a versatile mobile app designed to help you achieve your fitness goals in 2025. Whether you’re aiming to lose weight, build muscle or improve overall health, Nike Training Club offers a wide array of resources to keep you motivated. With access to hundreds of free workouts for all fitness levels, including body-weight exercises, yoga and cardio, this app is perfect for getting started without any cost. The app also features personalized training plans, expert tips and instructional videos from professional trainers.

For those who want more, Nike Training Club provides a premium upgrade that includes HD workout videos, advanced workout tracking and comprehensive training plans tailored to your fitness journey. Get ready to crush your fitness goals with one of the highest-rated fitness apps on the market.

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iPhone: 4.7 stars (at time of publishing)

Android: 4.5 stars (at time of publishing)

QUITNOW app (QUITNOW) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

If one of your New Year’s resolution goals is to quit smoking, you might want to try QUITNOW, a mobile app that helps you break free from nicotine addiction. QUITNOW is an app that tracks your progress, shows you how much money you save and rewards you with achievements and health benefits as you quit smoking. You can also join a community of over 10 million quitters, chat with other users and get support and advice from experts and coaches. QUITNOW is a free app, but you can upgrade to QUITNOW PRO to access more features, such as personalized plans, motivational quotes and advanced stats.

iPhone: 4.8 stars (at time of publishing)

Android: 4.5 stars (at time of publishing)

Todoist app (Todoist) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Todoist is a mobile app designed to help you organize your life and achieve your New Year’s resolutions in 2025. With Todoist, you can create tasks, projects and subtasks, assigning due dates, priorities and labels to each. The app allows for seamless syncing across devices, enabling collaboration with others and integration with various apps and services. Todoist provides feedback, reminders and productivity statistics to keep you motivated. It is free to download, but you can upgrade to Todoist Premium or Todoist Business for enhanced features. The Premium plan offers additional functionalities such as comments, attachments, filters and templates. As of now, Todoist boasts more than 30 million users, reflecting its popularity as a task management tool.

iPhone: 4.8 stars (at time of publishing)

Android: 4.7 stars (at time of publishing)

YNAB app (YNAB) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

The YNAB app is a great mobile app for helping you create a budget, plan your spending and save more money in 2025. YNAB lets you connect your bank accounts, credit cards, loans and track your transactions and balances. You can also set goals, assign categories and prioritize your expenses. YNAB also provides you with reports, feedback and coaching to help you improve your financial skills and habits. YNAB is not free, but you can get a 34-day free trial to use the app.

iPhone: 4.8 stars (at time of publishing)

Android: 4.2 stars (at time of publishing)

Skillshare app (Skillshare) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Skillshare is a great app for helping you keep your New Year’s resolution of learning something new. You can discover new passions, hobbies and interests with the app. You can access thousands of online classes on various topics, such as photography, design, business and more. You can also watch videos, do projects and get feedback from experts and peers. The app also offers live sessions, workshops and challenges to keep you motivated and engaged. The app is perfect for anyone who wants to learn something new, explore their creativity or advance their career.

The app is free to download and use, but it has some limitations. You can only watch a limited number of classes and videos per month, and you can’t access the premium features and content. If you want to unlock unlimited access to all the classes, videos and features, you need to subscribe to the premium plan.

iPhone: 4.7 stars (at time of publishing)

Android: 4.5 stars (at time of publishing)

Lumosity app (Lumosity) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Is one of your New Year’s resolutions to improve your cognitive skills and mental fitness? Well, then the Lumosity app might be worth downloading. Lumosity is a brain-training app that offers personalized and adaptive exercises that challenge your memory, attention, speed, flexibility and problem-solving abilities. You can track your progress and compare your results with others. Lumosity also provides insights and tips on how to optimize your brain health and performance. Whether you want to sharpen your mind, boost your productivity or have fun, Lumosity could be the app for you. Lumosity has different subscription plans to suit your needs and budget. You can try Lumosity for free for 7 days and cancel anytime.

Connected Care app (Connected Care) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Experience the peace of mind that comes with being closely involved in your family’s caregiving with Connected Care. This lovingly designed, intuitive mobile app transforms the complexities of managing health care into a seamless and heartwarming part of your daily routine.

Imagine easily organizing your loved one’s doctor visits, medication schedules and medical history all within the palm of your hand. With Connected Care, not only do you get a comprehensive medical summary at a glance, but you also become part of a nurturing network that ensures your family member’s needs are attended to with the utmost care and attention.

Enjoy how easy it is to share important updates about your loved one’s care with other family members and caregivers. With Connected Care, you can create a team of people who are all on the same page and ready to give the best support. Connected Care is more than just an app; it’s a caring friend who helps you manage long-term care.

While the majority of features are free, the option for a subscription to Connected Care Premium allows you to enhance this experience, ensuring that you have all the tools you need at your fingertips. Should you opt for premium, the process is made simple through your Apple account, with the flexibility to manage your subscription directly from the App Store settings.

Discover how Connected Care can help you keep the heart of your family beating strong, every single day.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

A new year is a blank slate filled with endless possibilities, and these apps are here to help you make the most of it. Whether your goal is personal growth, better health or learning something new, these tools can make your journey more manageable and enjoyable. Start 2025 with purpose and let these apps be your partners in creating lasting change. Here’s to a year of progress, achievement and success.

What’s your biggest goal for 2025, and which app do you think will help you achieve it and why? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.

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