June 2025

"Easy" vs "Overkill"

*sponsored by Yubico 2FA Keys​

Shifting Focus to what's EASY

When it comes to general advice for privacy and security, it doesn't take much to fall into the trap of going overboard. Do we need to go off-grid? Delete Facebook? Stop using Apple phones? Whether for the sake of yourself or maybe for your parents, this week I'm trying to simplify all the confusion:

​11 EASY Privacy Tips ANYONE Can (or should!) Do →​

*FYI...I've had a few comments about the intro so I'd like to address this right now: I respect all the creators and the advice they've given, I'm just using clips from their videos to highlight the privacy advice that might be overkill for the average person.

Go Deeper: one of the easiest ways to establish better security and privacy is to use a 2FA key from Yubico. If you've never used something like this before, here are a couple videos to get you started.

Which 2FA Key? Not sure which of the Yubikeys is right for you? Here's a quick breakdown. ​Choosing a 2FA Key →​

Setup Guide Learn how to set up a Yubikey on these four important accounts. ​Yubikey Setup Tutorial →​

Keep It Simple, Stupid

Hi [CORRECTED_NAME GOES HERE], did anybody ever hit you with the "K.I.S.S." acronym back in the day? I'm not sure if it's popular anymore, but I remember my teachers and even my boss repeating this mantra:

Keep It Simple, Stupid. (K.I.S.S.)

It's a great reminder, really. We have a tendency to overcomplicate things, especially the longer we do them.

Don't just use a password, be sure you print out a copy and keep it in a vault in your house. Keep the code to the vault in a safety deposit box at a nearby bank. Use an alias to set up the deposit box and then have SpaceX send any documents that connect you and that alias up to space.

Slightly overcomplicated, don't you think 😉

Sometimes it's good to get back to the basics and remember that it's the simple things that can often make the biggest difference.

Or maybe it's worth forwarding to your parents or someone else who is intimidated by privacy and security.

Sponsored by:

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This Week in Privacy News

​Apple Blocks $9 BILLION in Fraud​

Apple on Tuesday revealed that it prevented over $9 billion in fraudulent transactions on its' app store in the last five years, including more than $2 billion in 2024 alone.

--> thehackernews.com/2025/05/apple-blocks-9-billion-in-fraud-over-5.html

​​
The Meta AI App is a Privacy Disaster​

Although it shouldn't come as much of a surprise, this article from Tech Crunch details exactly how much of a privacy nightmare this new AI is.

--> techcrunch.com/2025/06/12/the-meta-ai-app-is-a-privacy-disaster/
​

​Supreme Court Rules on DOGE​

The U.S. Supreme Court temporarily lifted an injunction on June 6, 2025, allowing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to access sensitive Social Security Administration data. Critics, including privacy advocates, argue this violates the Privacy Act and raises risks of data misuse, with dissenters like Justice Jackson warning of "grave privacy risks for millions."

--> cnn.com/2025/06/06/politics/supreme-court-restores-doges-access-to-sensitive-social-security-data

Who needs to hear this?

Masking personal data, using Tor, and setting up end-to-end encryption for all data is great advice...but it may not be practical for a lot of people.

Privacy starts with some EASY steps.

Who do you know in your life that needs to hear this simple message? Forward this along to them.

✌️

Josh

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3824 Cedar Springs Rd #801-8170, Dallas, TX 75219
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