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PODCAST

The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update.

R. Prescott Stearns Jr.

Into year five for this award-winning, light-hearted, lightweight IT privacy and security podcast that spans the globe in terms of issues covered with topics that draw in everyone from executive, to newbie, to tech specialist. Your investment of between 15 and 20 minutes a week will bring you up to speed on half a dozen current IT privacy and security stories from around the world to help you improve the management of your own privacy and security.

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All Episodes

00:11:28

EP 250.5 Deep Dive. Cry me an AI. The IT Privacy and...

The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update. ·

2025/07/10

Emerging Trends in Privacy, Security, and AIDecentralized, Offline Messaging with BitchatJack Dorsey’s Bitchat is a privacy-first messaging app that bypasses internet and servers, using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) mesh networking to transmit encrypted, ephemeral messages between nearby devices. It doesn’t require phone numbers, accounts, or cloud storage, and messages disappear by default. Bridge devices help extend communication range, making Bitchat ideal for secure, off-grid use.Google Gemini AI

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00:15:29

EP 250. Cry me an AI. The IT Privacy and Security...

The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update. ·

2025/07/09

This week takes us from blueteeth to AI emotional supportJack Dorsey’s innovative Bitchat app pioneers secure, internet-free messaging via Bluetooth, redefining decentralized communication.Google’s Gemini AI introduces context-aware assistance on Android, sparking privacy debates with its opt-out data access model.A major breach exposes Catwatchful’s invasive stalkerware, compromising thousands of Android devices with covert surveillance.Finally, AT&T’s Account Lock feature empowers customers to

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00:15:25

EP 249.5 Deep Dive. Loadsa Money. The IT Privacy and...

The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update. ·

2025/07/02

North Korean IT Worker Fraud Scheme:The U.S. Department of Justice uncovered a covert North Korean operation involving IT workers fraudulently securing remote jobs at over 100 American tech companies using stolen or fake identities. These workers operated within U.S.-based "laptop farms" and created shell companies to obscure over $5 million in illicit earnings. Funds were funneled to the North Korean government, supporting weapons development. The scheme also involved data theft,

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00:19:09

EP 249. Loadsa Money. The IT Privacy and Security...

The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update. ·

2025/07/02

This week we've got loads of news and loadsa money!North Korean IT workers secretly landed remote jobs at over 100 U.S. tech companies, funneling millions to fund Kim Jong Un’s weapons program. The operation ran for years undetected—until the FBI knocked on the wrong contractor’s door.Android 16 is getting a stealthy new feature that alerts users when their phone connects to suspicious cell towers.Think your phone isn’t being watched? Your operating system might soon say otherwise.A massive

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00:14:51

EP 248.5 Deep Dive. No Telly. The IT Privacy and...

The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update. ·

2025/06/28

What are the latest trends in large-scale cyberattacks, and how can individuals help prevent them?Large-scale cyberattacks, especially Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS), are growing in both scale and sophistication. One recent attack hit 7.3 Tbps, unleashing 37.4 TB of junk traffic in 45 seconds. These attacks often harness botnets made up of compromised Internet of Things (IoT) devices—like home routers or cameras—that have default credentials or unpatched software.How to help prevent

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00:20:30

EP 248. No Telly. The IT Privacy and Security Weekly...

The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update. ·

2025/06/25

In this week's update: A massive 7.3Tbps DDoS attack overwhelmed a Cloudflare customer’s site with 37.4 terabytes of junk traffic in just 45 seconds, highlighting the growing scale of cyber threats.Smart TVs equipped with Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) technology track viewing habits across devices, raising significant privacy concerns due to extensive data collection.Then the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office has issued new guidance to curb excessive data collection by smart devices

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00:14:48

EP 247.5 Deep Dive Broken Windows. The IT Privacy and...

The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update. ·

2025/06/19

Windows Hello's Facial Authentication UpdateMicrosoft updated Windows Hello to require both infrared and color cameras for facial authentication, addressing a spoofing vulnerability. This enhances security but disables functionality in low-light settings, potentially inconveniencing users and pushing some toward alternatives like Linux for flexible authentication.EchoLeak and AI Security'EchoLeak' is a zero-click vulnerability in Microsoft 365 Copilot, discovered by Aim Labs, allowing

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00:18:55

Broken Windows. The IT Privacy and Security Weekly...

The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update. ·

2025/06/18

EP 247. ... and in this update, Microsoft has updated Windows Hello to require both infrared and color cameras for facial authentication, improving security by addressing a spoofing vulnerability, though it now requires visible lighting. This increases biometric reliability and inconvenience to users in low-light settings. Consider exploring alternative operating systems like Linux for flexible authentication options. Aim Labs identified and helped patch 'EchoLeak,' a zero-click

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00:15:40

EP 246.5 Deep Dive. OverReach. The IT Privacy and...

The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update. ·

2025/06/12

Meta and Yandex covertly tracked Android users through their apps, which listened silently on local ports to intercept browsing data and link online activities to user identities, evading common privacy measures like cookie deletion or Incognito Mode. Users can protect themselves by uninstalling these apps, switching to privacy-focused browsers (e.g., Firefox, Brave, DuckDuckGo), and closely managing device permissions.Sonoma County faces criticism and a lawsuit from the ACLU for expanding drone

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00:20:23

Overreach. The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update...

The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update. ·

2025/06/11

EP 246...And in this update, the subject of overreach. Just last week, Meta and Yandex ceased covert tracking practices on Android apps that exploited localhost communications to collect user data, prompting recommendations to use privacy-focused browsers like Firefox, Brave, or DuckDuckGo. The ACLU filed a lawsuit against Sonoma County, California, alleging its drone program, initially for tracking illegal cannabis, has expanded into unauthorized surveillance of private properties, raising ire or

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00:13:14

EP245.5 Deep Dive. The IT Privacy and Security Weekly...

The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update. ·

2025/06/05

Recent digital developments show a growing gap between technological innovation and the protections needed to safeguard privacy, autonomy, and society at large. A string of high-profile incidents showcases the systemic vulnerabilities across sectors.Data breaches remain rampant. LexisNexis Risk Solutions, a leading data broker, suffered a breach via a third-party vendor, compromising the PII of over 364,000 individuals. This underscores the inherent risks of outsourcing sensitive data and the

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00:21:04

The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update "Explodes"...

The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update. ·

2025/06/04

EP 245 In this week's update: A trove of sensitive Russian nuclear facility documents was unintentionally published through a government procurement site, revealing critical infrastructure details, raising global security concerns and providing your child's science class with a new talking point.A new study shows that large language models struggle to manage even simple long-term business operations, often collapsing into erratic or irrational behavior.A new benchmark evaluates how

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00:14:20

EP 244.5 The "Rain on me" Deep Dive from The IT...

The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update. ·

2025/05/29

Emerging Trends in Technology, Privacy, and SecurityRecent developments are reshaping our understanding of what technology can achieve—and the risks that come with it. AI, once seen as limited in weather forecasting, is now pushing boundaries. Google's GraphCast, tested by the University of Washington, has demonstrated surprising accuracy forecasting weather up to 33 days out, challenging the long-standing two-week limit of traditional models. While not yet deployed for real-time use, this

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00:18:31

Rain on me. The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update...

The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update. ·

2025/05/28

EP 244. In this week's update: AI is rewriting the rules of meteorology, with new models like GraphCast showing potential to accurately predict weather up to 33 days in advance—challenging a long-standing two-week limit. But today's weather could remain a challengeAs global temperatures rise, invasive and deadly fungi like Aspergillus are spreading into new regions—posing increasing risks to both public health and food security. Watch where you go out to play.A high-profile breach at

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00:05:13

Physical Security Checklist for High-Value Crypto...

The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update. ·

2025/05/23

What physical security measures are recommended for protecting high-value wallet signers' homes?Recommendations include implementing a high-security safe (like a TL-30 rated safe) for storing hardware wallets and seed phrases, reinforcing doors and using strong locks such as deadbolts and smart locks with biometric access. Inside, security cameras with remote monitoring are advised for critical areas, along with motion sensors and panic buttons. Perimeter security should include high fences, gates,

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00:19:28

EP 243.5 Deep Dive. You found What in my What? The IT...

The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update. ·

2025/05/22

Cybersecurity Evolution:Cybersecurity has evolved from early academic and hobbyist roots—like 1970s viruses and 1980s ransomware—to defending against today's state-sponsored attacks, data breaches, and AI-driven threats. Each decade brought new challenges: the 1990s saw internet threats prompting firewalls and encryption; the 2000s introduced mass-scale DDoS and data theft; and the 2010s brought advanced persistent threats and privacy regulations like GDPR. The field continues to adapt as AI,

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00:24:04

You found What in my What? The IT Privacy and...

The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update. ·

2025/05/21

EP 243. In this week's update: A History of CybersecurityFrom Cold War codebreakers to cloud-native firewalls, the story of cybersecurity is a decades-long arms race between innovation and intrusion.Rogue Communication Devices in Chinese InvertersWhen your solar panels start phoning home to places you didn’t authorize, it’s time to rethink who you trust with your grid.Microsoft Teams Captures Student Biometrics in NSWNSW’s education department just got a masterclass in how not to handle

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00:11:13

EP 242.5 Deep Dive Flying with the IT Privacy and...

The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update. ·

2025/05/15

The evolving digital and geopolitical landscape reveals mounting tensions between innovation, privacy, and national security. A proposed $400 million private jet gift to Donald Trump from Qatar exemplifies this collision of interests. Though offered at no cost, the aircraft would require extensive and costly retrofitting to meet U.S. presidential security standards—ranging from secure communications to electronic warfare defenses. Beyond logistics, experts flag the deeper risk: accepting such a

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00:17:21

Flying with the IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update...

The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update. ·

2025/05/14

EP 242. In this week's update:A luxury aircraft gift from Qatar to Trump highlights the hidden cost of “free” when it comes to retrofitting for U.S. presidential security.Well-timed trades on Melania Trump’s memecoin are raising serious questions about insider access in the unregulated world of crypto.Repeated credential leaks tied to a federal security engineer underscore the long-term risks of weak password hygiene—even for insiders.A proposed mandate for decryption backdoors failed in

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00:13:47

EP 241.5 Deep Dive Cheap Sunglasses and The IT...

The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update. ·

2025/05/08

Wearable technology like Ray-Ban Meta glasses presents significant privacy concerns by enabling frequent data collection without clear user controls, potentially capturing personal information of users and bystanders unknowingly.TikTok received a €530 million fine from the EU primarily because user data was remotely accessible from China, raising surveillance risks, and the platform failed to transparently disclose data transfer practices, violating EU regulations.Recent password security analysis

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313 results

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