My Mission
I am on a mission to raise the awareness of everyday, non-technical people on the crucially important topics of cybersecurity and privacy. There are plenty of resources for computer geeks (like me), but I’m striving to reach the 99% of the population who use the Internet all the time but have no real idea how safe they are nor how to make themselves safer. It might seem like a lost cause, but trust me, it’s not! There are dozens of free and simple things we can all be doing to protect ourselves, our family, and our friends.
Book: Firewalls Don’t Stop Dragons
All of this started with the publishing of my book, Firewalls Don’t Stop Dragons, now in its fifth edition. I always wanted to write a book and I have a knack for explaining complex technical subjects using simple analogies and plain English. When the Edward Snowden bombshells dropped in 2013, it all crystallized for me: I needed to help people understand why computer security and online privacy are important – not just individually, but for any healthy democracy – and tell them what they can do to improve both. The book has over 200 tips and techniques for mitigating or eliminating cyber-weaknesses, online tracking, mass surveillance and general hackery.
Podcast: Firewalls Don’t Stop Dragons
I am the host of the podcast Firewalls Don’t Stop Dragons. The podcast is released every Monday, featuring the week’s most relevant cyber-news and interviews with knowledgeable guests – all geared towards regular, everyday, non-technical people.
You can find the show on iTunes, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, and other podcast and streaming radio venues. You can see some of my top guests by clicking here.
Newsletter & Blog
I publish a bi-weekly newsletter of timely cyber-security and privacy tips. My goal is to keep it short and to the point, with links for you to dig further and learn more if you have the time. You can sign up for the newsletter here. When you sign up, you will receive my booklet Carey’s Top 5 Security Tips for free, as well as the first chapter of my book! I will never give our your email address to anyone else (privacy is sorta my thing).
Teaching & Public Speaking
I teach a class on cybersecurity and privacy as part of the Osher Life Long Institute (OLLI) program at Duke University. I started teaching the class in spring of 2016 and now teach twice a year (fall and spring terms).
I also do some public speaking on the basics of privacy and cybersecurity. My goal is to educate normal people who don’t have a technical background about what the real threats are and how to defend against them, in a fun and engaging way. I minimize the jargon and use helpful analogies to drive the points home. If you have a group that might be interested in a talk on how to stay safe in the digital world, see the Contact page to submit a request.
Consulting
Now that I’m retired from my career in software engineering, I’m doing some very limited consulting for people who need help improving their security and privacy. I can walk you through specific changes to your computer, smart phone or online accounts, or you can just ask me questions. I can consult in person or virtually. If you’re interested, see the Contact page for an email link.
Bio
Short version
Carey Parker is the author of the book “Firewalls Don’t Stop Dragons: A Step-by-Step Guide to Computer Security and Privacy for Non-Techies”. He hosts a podcast of the same name, as well as a blog and a newsletter. He recently retired from a 28-year career in software engineering to focus on teaching others how to defend their digital devices and protect their personal data.
Medium version
Carey Parker is an author, podcast host, speaker and retired software engineer. Carey’s early interests in computers and electronics culminated in a masters degree in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University and a 28-year career in software engineering. After working for large and small telecom firms, Carey retired from the rat race in 2020. Deeply disturbed by the Snowden revelations, Carey wrote a comprehensive book on cybersecurity and privacy aimed squarely at non-technical readers. Now in it’s 5th edition, the book Firewalls Don’t Stop Dragons spawned a successful podcast of the same name, which combines important cyber news with interviews of security and privacy experts. In retirement, Carey’s mission is teaching everyday people how to defend their digital devices and protect their personal data.