The AI, Privacy, and Security Weekly Update

Tech & Privacy FAQ - Week of January 14th, 2025 1. What's this new job referral "side hustle" all about? Some tech workers are making up to $30,000 by referring strangers for job openings. They connect with job seekers through platforms like Blind and Glassdoor, and sometimes use services like Refer Me and Refermarket to facilitate these referrals, even charging a fee. While referrals can impr...

EP 225 This week referring strangers for jobs is the new tech hustle... Proof that even networking has gone freelance. The Texas AG claims apps and insurers are snooping so hard they probably know your snack habits while he goes for big lunch money. The EU just fined itself €400 for breaking GDPR, demonstrating that even bureaucracies aren’t above self-sabotage. Your data’s safe today, but quantum...

Tech & Security Weekly FAQ: January 7th, 2025 1. Why is Apple paying $95 million in a lawsuit about Siri? Apple is settling a lawsuit alleging Siri "unintentionally" recorded private conversations without user consent. The lawsuit claimed these recordings were shared with third parties and used for targeted advertising. While denying wrongdoing, Apple will compensate affected users up to $20 p...

Episode  224 Loose Lips Sink Ships.  The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update for the Week Ending January 7th 2025. 1/7/2025 0 Comments ​Episode  224 - click the pic to hear the podcast -  In this week's update:  Siri couldn't keep her ear shut, and then her loose lips cost Apple $95M as they learned the lesson: "Privacy isn’t optional." Nothing says 'secure' like a password-free server holding 6...

IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update FAQ - December 31st, 2024 1. Why isn't Apple building its own search engine? Apple has stated that developing a search engine is "outside of its core expertise" and would require substantial investment and resources. The company also cites the rapidly evolving field of AI as a deterrent, making such a venture "economically risky." Apple currently receives a si...

EP 223 For this update, a completely diverse collection of stories starting with Apple dodging the search engine game by insisting that search ads are not Apple's "core" expertise. Then another serving of fruit and Raspberry Pi’s billion-dollar boom proving that tiny computers with huge valuations says you don’t need size to make a big impact. Chinese hackers demonstrate that it makes "cents" to h...

We go deep into this week's topics and break into the stories covered. What's happening with bot detection these days? Traditional CAPTCHAs are becoming ineffective as bots are now able to solve them easily. This has led to developers exploring alternative methods like behavior analysis and biometrics, but these come with their own privacy and accessibility concerns. The rise of AI agents further...

Episode 222  For our first story Bot Detection Is No Longer Working.  CAPTCHAs are now a reverse IQ test—humans fail while bots ace them effortlessly. Then senators rip into the automakers: Car makers sell your data but won’t let you fix your car—talk about a two-for-one insult. Fancy digital plates? Cool until someone hacks them to dodge tolls—or make you pay theirs. A GPS tracker company left cu...

FAQ: IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update (Week Ending December 17th, 2024) 1. What is the main takeaway from the recent US Telecom breach? The breach linked to Chinese hackers highlights the dangers of government backdoors in encryption systems. The 1994 CALEA law, intended to assist law enforcement, created vulnerabilities exploited in this incident. Experts emphasize that backdoors weaken secu...

Episode 221 Our first update has an important security lesson, "When you build a backdoor, don’t be surprised when everyone comes walking through it." Then a very topical subject when an insurance chatbot is exposed... now you can experience the chatbot denying your claims in real time! Microsoft’s Recall feature: capturing sensitive info, even when it promises it won’t—because AI still struggles...

IT Privacy and Security FAQ - Week Ending December 10th, 2024 1. What happened to Stoli, and how can I protect my business from the same fate? A ransomware attack crippled Stoli Group's IT systems, leading to bankruptcy for its US and Kentucky Owl subsidiaries. The attack highlighted the importance of robust cybersecurity measures. To safeguard your business, prioritize secure IT systems, keep sof...

Episode 220 This week we solve a mystery that has may have more impact this holiday season than you could imagine, and what you can do to stop the same thing happening to you. A Chinese hacking campaign targets telecoms globally, proving that no phone call is truly safe. The FCC takes a hard stance on telecom cybersecurity, warning companies: fix those flaws or face hefty penalties. Google's "end-...

Deep dive into The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update moves into Low Earth Orbit for the Week Ending December 3rd., 2024: Your FAQs Answered 1. What is the FTC doing to protect my location data? The FTC has taken action against companies like Gravy Analytics and Venntel selling sensitive location data without user consent. This data, often gathered from smartphones, was being used for surveilla...

EP219 For this update, yes we are up again.  We start off on terra firma, but we definitely end up in the clouds. A double whammy from the FTC who just put the brakes on companies selling your location data—because privacy should come first, (even if you’re just visiting a coffee shop.) and then suddenly notices that your smart devices might not be as 'smart' as you thought—especially when it come...

FAQ: 1. What measures are US senators proposing to enhance cybersecurity in healthcare? A bipartisan group of US senators has introduced the Health Care Cybersecurity and Resiliency Act of 2024. This act mandates healthcare organizations adopt basic cybersecurity standards like multi-factor authentication (MFA), improved coordination between the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and th...

Episode 218   For this Update we start with an attempt to stop a spoiler and end with quite a few ways to slice a Pi. In the US a few senators have gotten together a tablet of requirements they'd like to see healthcare organizations swallow in the US. Australia, moves forward with a reporting requirement for all firms paying ransomware demands. China is back in the news in the backdoor of all the...

Privacy & Security FAQ: Week Ending November 19th, 20241. What happened with T-Mobile and Chinese hackers? Chinese hackers, suspected of ties to Chinese intelligence, infiltrated T-Mobile as part of a larger cyberespionage operation. This attack targeted telecom companies to gather intelligence on high-value targets. While T-Mobile claims no significant impact on their systems or customer data...

EPISODE 217  If you drive a car you'll want to listen out for the sixth story in our update this week.  We tell you how you can even join in the fun! On the day after 45 people were sentenced to prison by the Chinese authorities for pro-democracy activities in Hong Kong we get confirmation that the Chinese have broken into T-Mobile. Google gives a gift that could stop phone fraud in its tracks, bu...

The team discusses the week's IT Privacy and Security Update and offers a different perspective. Enjoy!

Episode 216 In this week's update we move from alarming outfits to stormy data sharing. We start with retailers are eyeing thread-thin tech to tackle shoplifting and then move to Cyber-criminals stealing private data by pretending to be the police. Then that iPhone the police took off you when your paid for shirt set off the alarm... well suddenly rebooted.  Then Apple again dreams up a plan that...

For Episode two one five and a half our couple does a deep dive into this week's topics. Enjoy!

Episode 215  On U.S. election day, this is the update that will tear you away from the endless all night results shows. Schneider Electric gets hacked, and the cyber thief is demanding $125,000 in something peculiar – a data breach with a French twist! Scientists have discovered that plants “see” light by bending it through tiny air gaps – proving they don’t need eyes to point to something bright....

Episode 214.5 This deep-dive session takes a more conversational look into the topics covered in Tuesday's update. More to enjoy!

EP214  Hacks, Zachs, and Smacks from the IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update for the week ending October 29th., 2024 10/29/2024 0 Comments EP214  ​This week's update whirls us around the living room for a collection of stories demonstrating that your privacy and security are nothing to be taken for granted. We start with a report with more troubling news about another robot vacuum cleaner gone r...

for EP 213.5 take a deep dive into the Honeypots of this week's update!