Digital Self-Defense

Questions we answer in this episode What is the website, ID.me used for? What are the two PIN numbers used in filing your taxes? How can I get an identity protection (IP) PIN? What does it mean (in online security) to plant your flag? Episode summary When filing your taxes, there are 2 different PINs you might use. The first is called your self-select PIN. It's 5 digits long, and pointless. The se...

Questions we answer in this episode What is a DDoS attack? What social media platform was recently the target of a DDoS attack? How can your home network be impacted by one? What can you do to protect your home network? Episode summary DDoS attacks are growing faster than the squash in my garden - seriously, it's wild! The slaves in the army? Devices quietly hijacked by hackers. There are millions...

Helpful episodes to listen to first Episode 40 - Website and Email Filtering Episode 56 - Home Network Attacks From Within Episode 57 - How Firewalls Protect You And What You Might Be Missing Questions we answer in this episode What is a trojan horse? What are two ways an outbound firewall protects you? What is an outbound firewall's greatest frustration and greatest strength? What is an allow lis...

Helpful episodes to listen to first How to Access Your Router Home Network Attacks From Within Questions we answer in this episode What is a guest network? How can it protect my home network? Does everyone need to use it? What are the 3 categories of Internet of Things (IoT) devices? Episode summary A guest network is a second wifi network you can set up at home. It lets visitors use your internet...

Helpful episodes to listen to first Don't Answer the Phone Bulletproof My Home Home Network Attacks From Within Questions we answer in this episode What is a firewall? Why do I need more than one firewall? Which device already has a firewall enabled? What kinds of devices have an increased need for a firewall? Episode summary Firewalls in buildings stop fire from spreading. Firewalls on computers...

Helpful episodes to listen to first Don't Answer the Phone Questions we answer in this episode What is a computer virus? How does a computer virus spread? How does patient (device) zero get infected? What protection do we NOT have against these attacks? Episode summary What happens if a device in your home gets infected with a computer virus? Just like a human virus, it wants to spread. But how do...

Questions we answer in this episode What are the seven most critical router security settings? What is WPS and when is it okay to use? What is a brute force password attack? Which unexpected setting helps against this attack? Episode summary Default passwords and settings make a hacker's job easy. It's time to take just a few minutes and strengthen your router's security. If you don't know how to...

Questions we answer in this episode Why do I need the manual for my router? What's the first step in accessing my router? How many passwords are there for my home network? What are the two methods for connecting to a router? Episode summary If you can install an app, and visit a website, you can learn to access your router. Reading the section in the router's manual should help. Yes, I realize man...

Questions we answer in this episode What is the awesome new tool we're building? How can you get free lifetime access to it? What problem does it solve? What is a computer network port? Episode summary Computer network ports are like phone extensions in a corporate office building. But instead of using an extension to reach a specific person, computer use ports to access specific services. Service...

Questions we answer in this episode What is the simple rule to keep your home network safe? Why is breaking that rule so common? How do I know if MY router is following the rule? What new tool are we building? Episode summary Your home network's guardian from internet based attacks is your router. To keep your home safe from these attacks, your router needs to follow one simple rule: Don't answer...

Questions we answer in this episode  What is a router?  How many episodes will be in this series?  Is Makani trying to turn me into a network engineer?  What is the metaphor we will use for this series?  Episode summary  Every internet connected device is under constant threat of attack.  Especially the router on your home network.  In order to protect your devices, you don't need to become a netw...

What are the phone protections the FCC mandated in 2024?  What is a sim swap attack?  What is a port-out attack?  What is your second most important online account?  How to lock your phone number FCC Adds Rules for Cell Service Providers FCC Explains Cell Phone Fraud

You may have heard the official announcement from the government. Nine major telecommunications companies in the United States have been hacked. Including Verizon, AT&T, and Lumen. Yup, you read that right. The bad guys? A group dubbed The Salt Typhoon, working for the People's Republic of China. Is it time to panic? No, but it is time to start using Signal, my favorite secure communications a...

The short answer: yes! Passkeys are the future of secure logins. Start with email -- the most critical account you own. It's the master key to your online identity. Before you get started with passkeys, listen to this episode, the final one in our series on passkeys. The purpose of this episode is to pave the way for you to have a smooth first passkey experience. We start by talking about 3 issues...

Ready to start using passkeys? First, you’ll need a password manager. By default, your phone or laptop might offer to store your passkeys in your browser. But here’s the catch: if you do, your secret isn’t so secret anymore—Google or Microsoft could have access to it. The smarter move? Use a dedicated password manager. I recommend 1Password, ProtonPass, or Bitwarden. In this episode, we dive into...

What is the one key difference between a passkey and a password?  How can I create an unforgeable digital signature?  What are the 4 steps of logging in with a passkey?  How is logging in with a passkey safer than with a password?  Join us for free in the IHP Academy! 

What is a public key?  What is a private key?  How do they work together?  What are the 4 steps of creating a passkey?  How do they compare to the steps in creating a password?  Join us for free in the IHP Academy!

There is a master key to your online identity.   Listen now to learn what it is and one way you can safeguard it.   You can sign up for notifications of new podcast episodes by clicking here .  Join us for free in the IHP Academy!  

What is a protection partner and how can having one help you? It's a free strategy that anyone can use. It will give you an extra layer of security against many types of threats, but especially scams. Listen now to learn the details.    You can sign up for notifications of new podcast episodes by clicking here .  Join us for free in the IHP Academy!  

What are passkeys?   How are they different from passwords?   Why are passwords so flawed?   What are 3 big problems with passwords?   Could passkeys be the solution we've been waiting for to make the internet safer?   links: Learn more about passkeys Join us for free in the IHP Academy!

What is Makani’s favorite way to send money to friends and family, and why?   Which disturbing Venmo privacy setting has been causing problems for years?   What major PayPal policy change is coming next summer?     links: Get Weekly 1-Minute Security Tips Zelle Pay Make your Venmo transactions private Opt out of PayPal selling your data I Know What You Did on Venmo research - this is a PDF downloa...

How do an estimated 91% of cyberattacks start?   What critical feature is email missing that every modern messaging app has?   How can we use an allowlist and a blocklist together?   What experiment does Makani want your help with?   links: Adding a Friend System to Email Join us for free in the IHP Academy!

What free tool can help you block harmful websites on any device without slowing it down?   Wait, free? What's the catch?   What bonus protection does the WARP service provide?   What does it mean to rip pages out of your internet phonebook?   links: https://one.one.one.one/ Instructions for installing & filtering Join us for free in the IHP Academy!

What is an allowlist?   What is a blocklist?   How can they keep me safe?  

How is a cookie banner like a road sign?   What does it mean to "read the signs"?   How can you use cookie banners to build good security habits?