Firewalls Don’t Stop Dragons with Carey Parker

We all use technology. Things like internet browsers, search
engines, instant messaging, and payment apps. But we aren’t
always aware of the data being collected. This information can
not only impact your privacy, but those around you as well.


Today’s guest is Carey Parker. Carey is the author
of Firewalls Don’t Stop Dragons, a step-by-step guide to
computer security and privacy for non-techies. He also hosts a
podcast by the same name. He recently retired from a career in
software engineering to focus on teaching others how to defend
their digital devices and protect their personal data.
Show Notes:

[0:53] - Carey shares his background and what provoked the
motivation for a career shift.

[4:07] - If we all did the small things that protect privacy,
we would all be stronger.

[5:20] - Even if you have already shared a lot of your
information online, it is not hopeless and it’s not too late.

[6:32] - Your security and privacy overlap with other
people’s.

[8:35] - We need to be protecting privacy for all of us, not
just ourselves as individuals.

[10:17] - Carey explains why and how apps and companies
collect data.

[11:48] - Foreign governments would love to get their hands
on the data that is collected by countless companies and apps.

[13:53] - Data is valuable to software developers for honest
reasons. Collecting data isn’t inherently bad.

[17:16] - When determining what connection to use, you are
trading off who you trust - your ISP, the public wifi connection,
or a VPN.

[23:10] - Carey shares some easy things you can change right
now to protect your privacy.

[25:25] - Companies love to get your email address and your
phone number. These become unique identifiers.

[27:05] - Search engines collect data as well. This is
important to remember.

[28:05] - Payment apps are another obvious type of website
that collects data. Which ones should you avoid?

[30:32] - There is value in social media. Make sure the
things you post are not public by default.

[32:19] - Metadata and location tools are used on any social
media image.

[34:37] - Messaging apps collect data and share it. There is
a gold standard app though that Carey suggests.

[36:31] - Email is trickier because it is open standard. It
wasn’t designed with encryption in mind.

[38:55] - Carey discusses automated AI systems like Alexa.

[41:26] - When using AI tools, assume that the information is
collected and could be public.

[42:35] - Car privacy is horrible and there is almost nothing
you can do about it.

[46:18] - It is not true that you need to give up privacy for
security. Carey discusses the differences.



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Firewalls Don’t Stop Dragons Website

Firewalls Don’t Stop Dragons Podcast

Firewalls Don’t Stop Dragons by Carey Parker