Category: Personal Security

Watch your back

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Power-On Self-Test

Business and Personal life continuity in our new lockdown era ramps up the criticality of pings.

Cut off anyone’s internet access and with seconds that are flapping around like a fish in the floor. Within minutes their brain will implode and after an hour irreversible brain damage will kick in. Well, a slight exaggeration but you get me point.

Over 90% of our service requires an internet connection and it much cheaper now.
So with these old vulnerabilities in plain view why craft up new malware and exploits. Just reuse the classics, this Christmas, for example, we may see the same threats resurfacing. Privacy is so 2018 as many “bend the knee” to be tracked to “protect” society.

If you really want to socially distance yourself and isolate simply kill your WiFi, job done. No constant stream of toxic global pandemic news sending your brain into panic and disbelief but no entertainment [Sad Face?].

Time to dig up all DVDs or maybe actually talk to the person you live with…if you are lucky enough to co-habit.

Anyhow, my Internet Diet of 24-hours is over and I’m back online uploading this article.

Poor old UK Government has no idea what to do next

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What’s Love got to do with it?

C8H11NO2

The question of “Do you love me?” can come up after an argument or major disagreement.  But chemicals needed for Love such as Norepinephrine and Dopamine are often too low during classic fight or flight conflicts.

The no gameplay routines of a lifetime gamer can be more destructive than anything and raise resentment of this level of deprivation often demanded by your inner circle, like taking candy away from a grown child. Is it acceptable to play games in an office environment? 

The gamers’ environment encouraged by some tech giants has always claimed it nurtured genius and productivity. But like any drug not taken in moderation, gaming can be catastrophic as the gamer neglects real-life commitments and normal habits abandoning social interactions for this “safe space”.  It’s a matter of balance.

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Penalties, traps and cancellation exploits

Consumers are overwhelmed with choices nowadays, so companies routinely use penalties, fees and traps to lock you in.  Backed up by long wait times to customer services, hidden addresses and a “you must call us to cancel” approach, the average customer just gives up and pays the ransom.

So how to avoid the traps?

  1. Before signing up for anything ask how
    1. do I cancel?
    2. How much does it cost to cancel?
    3. What is the postal address? Old school letters are still binding and more effectively than 20 mins waiting on the phone or arguing with 1st line customer services.
  2. Use a dedicated email address for subscriptions to you can ghost (delete the email account) them if things get tricky.
    1. Give only mandotory info about yourself.
  3. Ask for a list of penalty charges.  These are probably published in the terms and conditions that you never read.  So, ask them which clause to look for.

Sounds easy but many “busy” consumers never do this and end up paying over 2000 GBP for a mobile phone.

Exploit successfully executed

Next time you sign a contract
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Hidden

Not feeling much about anything lately….

Hiding online is a task nowadays but achievable if you can bring yourself to the point of disabling your gadgets.  The problem is your connections’ social media ramblings.

Safer away from folk

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28 Years ago, I should have known better

On reflection, I now crave the simplicity of my life in the 90’s.  The flow of data was slower, less widespread and simpler to secure as not many people knew it was there in the first place.

Today, we are swimming in data flows and everyone is their own system administrator.  iOS Beta 3 is now available, I can’t see the differences but no doubt the vendor is crunching an exabyte of test device data.  I’m still hooked on the Screen Time application.

I’m part of the generation that didn’t realise what it actually meant to push all end-users to be Network-centric and eventually dependent.  Now, turn off the Network and all hell breaks loose.  The option to live an offline digital life is now cumbersome, awkward and attracts suspicion as to why you are “not online”.

Data availability

28 years ago I knew users would have to be on the network to make data availability work, now I realise that helping to create that dependency was a mistake.  And like South Londoner, Michelle Wallen sang so wonderfully as Pica Paris “I Should’ve Known Better”.

Back in days of the BootLeg

Of course, it creates a nice arena for Data Privacy specialist like me.

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Erase yourself

Probably inspired by GDPR, some Global vendors are following the tracks of social media giants by making it easy to download ALL your data.

It will take seven (7) days but I just put in my request for info to Apple hoping for some surprises.  There will be many of us who state that we have “nothing” to hide and don’t care what information is held.

You don’t know what you don’t know

https://privacy.apple.com

Self-discovery is always a healthy thing gives you the power to decide to delete ALL, correct or reset.

Basic discovery

App Store, iTunes Store, 
iBooks Store and Apple Music activity
Apple ID account and device information
Apple Online Store and Retail Store activity
AppleCare support history, repair requests and more
Game Center activity
iCloud Bookmarks and Reading List
iCloud Calendars and Reminders
iCloud Contacts
iCloud Drive files and documents
iCloud Mail
iCloud Notes
iCloud Photos
Maps Report an Issue
Marketing subscriptions, 
Marketing downloads