The Lockdown - Practical Privacy & Security

In this episode, we go back to the basics as I discuss what I would do today if I were starting from scratch. It begins with deleting social media accounts, especially Facebook. Additionally, we have an update from Optery in response to listener feedback.We discuss tools like LibreWolf, Brave, and GrapheneOS, and compare privacy approaches for mobile devices, including Pixel and iPhone. A segment is dedicated to starting a privacy-first journey, from deleting social media accounts to adopting secure communication and password management practices. The episode also touches on how AI, including large language models (LLMs), is reshaping privacy concerns by building highly accurate profiles of users.In this week’s episode:Don't overthink privacy, especially web browsers with Brave, Firefox, and LibreWolfBack to the basics starting with deleting social mediaPixel vs iPhone (GrapheneOS)Show Links:Self-hosting Nextcloud: https://psysecure.com/self-hosting-nextlcoudLibreWolf: https://librewolf.net/GrapheneOS: https://grapheneos.org/Meta fined $1.3b: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/22/business/meta-facebook-eu-privacy-fine.htmlSurveillance Watch: https://www.surveillancewatch.io/"The world outside, the world that you know, it’s gone. It doesn’t exist." – Christof Podcast music: Recluse by Ray Heffer  

In this episode, recorded on October 10, 2024, I dive into privacy and security during natural disasters, highlighting essential tools like iOS 18’s satellite messaging and Starlink for maintaining communication when traditional systems fail. Next I dive into self-hosting in depth, particularly focusing on Nextcloud for privacy-conscious file sync. The episode concludes with a detailed analysis of a critical vulnerability in Firefox and the merits of switching to LibreWolf for enhanced privacy and security.In this week’s episode:Privacy During Natural Disasters. Using of iOS 18’s satellite communication features for emergency contact, Starlink for off-grid internet access, and the importance of internet and Sudo phone numbers for safety without compromising privacy.Bug out bags for emergency preparedness, the utility of Starlink and satellite phones for privacy in disaster zones.Overview of the blog post on hosting Nextcloud, importance of cloud backups using Backblaze B2 and Restic, encrypting backups and maintaining data privacy within home networks.Other Privacy Tools and Practices, including Blue Iris for managing surveillance cameras without internet access, use of Proxmox for virtual machines and running DNS servers with PiHole.Analysis of the Firefox vulnerability (CVE 2024-9680), discussion on the benefits of LibreWolf as a more private alternative to Firefox.Show Links:Self-hosting Nextcloud - https://www.psysecure.com/self-hosting-nextlcoudStarlink - https://www.starlink.com/Backblaze B2 - https://www.backblaze.com/cloud-storageRestic FAQ - https://restic.readthedocs.io/en/latest/faq.htmlNextcloud End-to-End Encryption - https://docs.nextcloud.com/server/latest/admin_manual/configuration_files/encryption_configuration.htmlFirefox Users Fingerprinted via Cached Intermediate HTTPS Certificates - https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/firefox-users-fingerprinted-via-cached-intermediate-https-certificates/Certificate issue causing add-ons to be disabled or fail to install - https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/fixed-certificate-issue-causing-add-ons-to-be-disabled-or-fail-to-install/39047Firefox CVE 2024-9680 - https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/security/advisories/mfsa2024-51/LibreWolf - https://librewolf.net/All warfare is based on deception.- Sun TzuPodcast music: Recluse by Ray Heffer 

In this episode, we have a special guest, Tyler Murphy, co-founder of EasyOptOuts, a data removal service focused on helping people remove their personal information from publicly accessible people search sites. Tyler discusses the inspiration behind EasyOptOuts, the challenges of maintaining privacy in a world of constant data breaches, and offers insights into data removal from various brokers. This conversation is packed with advice for anyone looking to regain control over their online privacy.In this week’s episode:Tyler shares how EasyOptOuts was founded, the challenges faced, and their mission to make data removal accessible.Discussion on the widespread availability of personal data on people search sites and the complexities of removing it.Insights into how EasyOptOuts automates data removal, and comparisons with manual removal processes.The challenges posed by bot detection, CAPTCHAs, and deceptive removal processes that often require membership or payment.The potential implications of data breaches, evolving bot detection, and the future of digital identity verification.Tyler shares his own privacy techniques, including the use of VPNs, alias names, and minimizing data exposure online.EasyOptOuts approach to scaling their service, future plans for business and family tiers, and their commitment to remaining a two-person operation.Show Links:EasyOptOuts - https://www.easyoptouts.com/Imagine, then, this situation where we have the huge electronic intercommunication so that everybody is in touch with everybody else in such a way that it reveals their inmost thoughts, and there is no longer any individuality. No privacy. Everything you are, everything you think is revealed to everyone. - Alan WattsPodcast music: Recluse by Ray Heffer

In today’s show, I discuss the National Public Data (NPD) breach, which contains 2.7 billion records, including the social security numbers of US residents. I cover how to check if your SSN is part of the breach and emphasize the importance of setting up a credit freeze for yourself and your kids. I also explore some useful tools for searching large datasets and share my thoughts on a Reddit post.In this week's episode:On the brink of giving up!Using OnlyOffice as a Google Docs alternativeNational Public Data (NPD) breachRipgrep (rg) and Silver Searcher (ag) tools for searching massive datasetsCredit freezesBest efforts for Windows 11 privacyElevenTray, a useful utility to always show Windows 11 tray iconsShow Links:Simplewall - https://github.com/henrypp/simplewallElevenTray - https://github.com/locksec/eleventrayOnlyOffice - https://www.onlyoffice.com/LibreOffice - https://www.libreoffice.org/Credit Freeze Guide - https://inteltechniques.com/freeze.htmlCredit Freeze for Kids:Equifax - https://www.equifax.com/personal/education/identity-theft/articles/-/learn/freezing-your-childs-credit-report-faq/(800)685-1111Equifax Security Freeze, PO Box 105788, Atlanta, Georgia 30348Experian - https://www.experian.com/help/minor-request.html(888)397-3742Experian Security Freeze. PO Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013TransUnion - https://www.transunion.com/credit-freeze/credit-freeze-faq#freeze-other-minor-0(888)909-8872TransUnion, P.O. Box 380, Woodlyn, PA 19094https://www.transunion.com/credit-disputes/child-identity-theft-inquiry-form> I know why you're here, Neo. I know what you've been doing... why you hardly sleep, why you live alone, and why night after night, you sit by your computer. - Trinity (The Matrix)Podcast music: Recluse by Ray Heffer