UPDATE [Jan 7, 2021]: Facebook is now forcing WhatsApp users to share their data or have their service cut off. It’s time to quit using WhatsApp. I suggest using Signal. Also, a good article on getting started with Signal. Ever since WhatsApp was acquired by Facebook in 2014 for a staggering $19B, the extremely popular
Facebook, I’m breaking up with you… It’s not me… it’s you. In the last few weeks, Facebook has been rocked by one scandal after another. First the Cambridge Analytica thing, then the “Ugly Truth” memo, and then news that it’s been saving all your text messages and call info. But these are just the latest
There’s a new option in the Facebook mobile app called “Protect”. Click this will take you to the app store and point you at the VPN service called Onavo. Facebook bought this company back in 2013 and it’s very clear that the purpose of pushing people to use this service is to collect more data
[UPDATED 1/23/2021] I’ve removed the introduction to this list. If you’re not already convinced that privacy is a basic human right and that we (as consumers and as citizens) need to actively demonstrate our desire for privacy, read this. Here’s your action plan for Data Privacy Day. You can do all of this in a
The holiday season is upon us, and that means people will be scrambling to find the best presents for their friends, family and loved ones. Geeky gadgets are always popular, but not just for the recipients! The Internet of Things (IoT) has been a major boon for hackers and marketers, as well. So let me
[last updated: Nov 16, 2021] Thanksgiving is almost upon us here in the US. I felt it was a good opportunity to say thanks to some of the wonderful organizations out there working very hard to improve our security, protect our privacy, and defend our rights. If you believe in a cause but don’t have
Your primary portal to the Internet is your web browser. Choosing the right browser to increase your security and privacy can be hard to do, but in this article I will walk you through it and give you my personal recommendations. Furthermore, browser plugins can both help and hurt your browsing safety - I'll help
Full disclosure: I’m an Apple user and have been for decades. But one of the reasons I’ve been such an ardent Apple fan is that I’ve always felt like they had my back. I’m not sure how much of this is altruistic – but you can argue that the actual reasons might be more compelling
(It’s been a while since I’ve written a full blog post. I’ve been putting most of my efforts into my weekly newsletter – be sure to subscribe to get weekly tips and news on cyber security and online privacy.) Headline Hyperbole This week, we saw the following headline from The Guardian: “WhatsApp vulnerability allows snooping
I’ve been a Yahoo Mail user for 19 years. My Yahoo user ID has only 4 characters in it. It’s been my public (read spam) email address since 1997. I’m sure it’s the longest actively-used email account I’ve ever had. But now it’s time for me to move on. You should, too. Here’s why, and
