During January 2025, bbb@iki.fi focused on improving AES-GCM-SIV handling in the openssl/openssl repository, addressing a nuanced edge case in cryptographic message processing. By implementing a fix for zero-length message handling in accordance with RFC 8452, they ensured both software and hardware input validation paths were consistent and standards-compliant. Their work involved removing redundant checks in the C codebase, simplifying logic, and reducing the risk of misinterpretation in non-standard environments. They also expanded regression test coverage for AES-128-GCM-SIV and AES-256-GCM-SIV, enhancing reliability and interoperability. This work demonstrated depth in algorithm implementation and cryptography expertise.